I had the privilege of praying with a group of other pastors and community leaders, including County Judge Bryan Wilson at the Burnet County Courthouse this morning (2 July 2026). My assigned task was to pray for the governments of our nation, which came after a reading from 1 Timothy 2:1-4 which encourages us as believers to pray for worldly leaders that we may live our lives in peace.
Prayer for Governments on the 250th
Birthday of the United States of America
Almighty God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
We acknowledge this morning that you are the head, the shepherd, the guide, the source of all that is and we beseech you, O Lord, to lead us.
We also recognize that in your grace you have given us human leaders, both in the kingdom of God and in the kingdoms of this world – and it is for the leaders of our nation that we give thanks and pray.
I pray this morning for President Donald Trump, for his health to be good, for his family to be a source of joy, and for his countenance to be lifted up. I pray you protect him, and all those in elected office, from harm and violence. I ask that President Trump be surrounded by men and women of integrity and skill who will give him good counsel as to what is best for our common good.
I pray also for those elected to the House of Representatives and United States Senate, and the leadership of both parties – Republicans and Democrats – to likewise experience the blessings of this life and the peace which comes from accomplishing meaningful work that makes a positive difference in our nation.
I pray also for the nine justices of the United States Supreme Court, who make decisions which impact our daily lives and the lives of so many Americans. May they be thorough in their deliberations, intentional in their verdicts, and free from the politics of the moment or the pressures of fear.
I pray for the men and women serving our nation in the armed forces. I pray you bless their service and sacrifice with the special gift of your presence that assures and comforts.
The leaders, Lord, who have the greatest influence on our day-to-day lives are our neighbors and friends here in Burnet County – so we pray for our County Judge Bryan Wilson, for our Sheriff Calvin Boyd, and for the various deputies and officers of our cities and towns – for them to be protected from harm as they labor to provide a safe and pleasant community where we all may thrive. We bring before you mayors, city councils, school boards, and the various organizations, clubs, and groups which provide much needed leadership for our very active and growing part of the nation.
Now, O Lord, I lift all of these – our president, our elected leaders, those in the judiciary, our fighting forces, and all those who serve the nation in any capacity – from secret service to legislative assistants – and I pray for them all to have courage, courage to do the right thing at the right time for the right reason. I pray for them to be brave, brave enough to withstand the corrupting power of money and the special whims of the billionaires, bravery to engage important issues rather than kicking them down the road. I pray for them all to have wisdom, wisdom that comes from sound advice, from learning, from experience, and most of all from you – for we all are lacking in wisdom, so we appeal to you from above.
I perceive, O Lord, there is a wound upon the soul of our nation. It is a self-inflicted wound which can only be completely healed by you and primarily through the work of your people in the various expressions of the Kingdom of God in our local churches. But certainly, part of that healing should come from our elected leaders and governments. I ask that you use our leaders to be healing agents who will help us live up to the wonderful ideal of being one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
In the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. Amen.