28 Days of Praying Scripture for the Nations

Praying Scripture for the nations is a simple step to pray for peoples and countries you may never see in person. 

In Isaiah 61, Jesus gave a vision for God’s kingdom and shared the ways He would make all things right. Using Isaiah 61:1-3 as a model for this prayer calendar, consider selecting a country or part of the world to focus on. Then watch to see how God enlarges your heart for this part of the world and guides your prayers.

Use the Scripture and prayers below as a starting point for your prayers for the nations. You may want to pray with a friend, your family, or even a small group.

Praying for the Nations: Proclaim Good News

Day 1 – “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor” Isaiah 61:1 (NIV).

Father, thank You for Jesus and His sacrifice so all nations might hear the gospel proclaimed.

Day 2 – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV).

Father, lead the Church in ways that draw all people and nations to You.

Day 3 – “For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth’” Acts 13:47 (NIV).

Father, strengthen Your light in each nation and expose the darkness for what it truly is.

Day 4 – “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect . . .” 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV).

Father, infuse hope into every nation through Jesus Christ as Lord.

Day 5 – “And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken” Isaiah 40:5 (NIV).

Father, may all people and nations be in awe of You and Your glory.

Day 6 – “Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name” Psalm 80:18 (NIV).

Father, remove the obstacles that keep people from turning toward You, bring revival to the nations and may You be praised.

Day 7 – “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should” Colossians 4:3-4 (NIV).

Father, open doors for the gospel to be proclaimed and lead the Church to proclaim it fully and clearly.

Praying for the Nations: Proclaim Freedom

Day 8 – “He has sent me to…proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,” Isaiah 61:1 (NIV).

Father, release those held captive through human trafficking and may they experience healing and freedom through Your unfailing love.

Day 9 – “He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire” Psalm 46:9 (NIV).

Father, in Your power, make wars cease and may Your peace be known in every nation.

Day 10 – “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV).

Father, restore the dignity of all people. May they deeply know they are Your handiwork and masterpiece.

Day 11 – “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed” Psalm 82:3 (NIV).

Father, defend the weak, vulnerable, fatherless, motherless, poor, and oppressed. 

Day 12 – “‘A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another’” John 13:34 (NIV). 

Father, help us to love people of all nations as You have loved them.

Day 13 – “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” Romans 12:21 (NIV).

Father, may those who know You show Your love even to their enemies, so more people and nations will be reconciled to You.  

Day 14 – “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance” Psalm 32:7 (NIV).

Father, be a hiding place full of hope for those who need protection from trouble or unrest in their nation.

Praying for the Nations: Proclaim Joy

Day 15 – “to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them . . . the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” Isaiah 61:2-3 (NIV). 

Father, comfort those who grieve and mourn over loss and give them Your unexplainable joy.

Day 16 – “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” James 2:15-17 (NIV).

Father, help those in the body of Christ to be aware of the needs around them and live out their faith through action and generosity.

Day 17 – “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’” John 6:35 (NIV).

Father, be the Provider of all nations. May those who are physically hungry and thirsty be fed and filled, leading them to their ultimate satisfaction in You, Jesus.

Day 18 – “On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations” Revelation 22:2 (NIV).

Father, bring Your healing to the nations as You envision it.

Day 19 – “…your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” Matthew 6:10 (NIV). 

Father, may we see Your kingdom come here on earth.

Day 20 – “May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth” Psalm 67:4 (NIV).

Father, lead the nations toward joy and gladness with You as their sovereign guide.

Day 21 – “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV).

Father, help the Church lead the way in humility by turning from sin and following You, so the land, nations, and people may be healed and reconciled with You.

Praying for the Nations: Proclaim a Crown of Beauty

Day 22 – “…to bestow on them a crown of beauty, instead of ashes…” Isaiah 61:3 (NIV).

Father, instate life-giving leaders in every nation who fear and honor Your Name.

Day 23 – “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV).

Father, we pray for all those in positions of authority that they will lead those under them in peace, godliness, and holiness.

Day 24 – “for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations” Psalm 22:28 (NIV).

Father, may a fear and reverence for Your ultimate authority be known by all nations.

Day 25 – “In the LORD’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him” Proverbs 21:1 (NIV).

Father, may the kings of this world have tender hearts for You and those they oversee, seeking Your wisdom and ways.

Day 26 – “Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant…” Matthew 20:26 (NIV).

Father, teach those who rule nations how to be a servant leader.

Day 27 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV).

Father, surround leaders of nations with those who can hold them accountable and help them to rule from a place of humility and selflessness.

Day 28 – “For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations” Isaiah 61:11 (NIV).

Father, raise up leaders of nations who follow You and desire Your righteousness to spring up in every sector of society.