Category: ESV First Person

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for the Young and the Old

Intercession 5.19 | ESV

For the several ages and conditions of men, as they stand in need of mercy and grace.

For those who are young and setting out in the world.

Lord, give to those who are young to remember their Creator in the days of their youth; Ecclesiastes 12:1(ESV) that thereby they may be kept from the vanity which childhood and youth are subject to, and may be restrained from walking in the way of their heart and in the sight of their eyes, by considering that for all these things God will bring them into judgment. Ecclesiastes 11:9(ESV)

Lord, make young people self-controlled; Titus 2:6(ESV) and let the word of God abide in them, that they may be strong and may overcome the evil one. 1 John 2:14(ESV)

From the womb of the morning let Christ have the dew of your youth; Psalm 110:3(ESV) and let him be formed in the hearts of those who are young. Galatians 4:19(ESV)

Keep those who are setting out in the world from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire; 2 Peter 1:4(ESV) and give to those who have been well-educated, to hold fast the pattern of sound words, 2 Timothy 1:13(ESV) and to continue in what they have learned. 2 Timothy 3:14(ESV)

For those who are old and of long standing in profession.

There are some who are old disciples of Jesus Christ; Acts 21:16(KJV) Lord, give them still to bear fruit in old age, to declare that the LORD is upright, that he is their Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. Psalm 92:14-15(ESV)

Now the evil days have come and the years of which they say, “I have no pleasure in them”; Ecclesiastes 12:1(ESV) let your consolations cheer their souls. Psalm 94:19(ESV)

You have said, “Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you.” You have made them, Lord; I beg you, bear, yes, do carry and save them. Isaiah 46:4(ESV)

Those whom you have taught from their youth up and to whom you still proclaim your wondrous deeds, now, also, when they are old and gray headed, forsake them not; Psalm 71:17-18(ESV) cast them not off in the time of old age; forsake them not when their strength is spent. Psalm 71:9(ESV)

Let every gray head be a crown of glory to those who have it, being gained in a righteous life, Proverbs 16:31(ESV) and give them to know whom they have believed. 2 Timothy 1:12(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for the Educational Institutions and Common Citizens of your Nation

Intercession 5.18 | ESV

For all the universities, schools, and nurseries of learning.

Let the schools of the prophets be replenished with every good gift and every perfect gift from above, from the Father of lights. James 1:17(ESV)

Throw salt into these fountains and heal its waters, 2 Kings 2:21(ESV) so that from them may issue streams that shall make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. Psalm 46:4(ESV)

For the common people of the land.

Give grace to all the subjects of this land, that they may, under the government God has set over this nation, lead peaceful and quiet lives, godly and dignified in every way, 1 Timothy 2:2(ESV) dwelling together in unity, Psalm 133:1(ESV) that the Lord may command a blessing upon his people, even life forevermore. Psalm 133:3(ESV)

Let everyone of every denomination who fears God and works righteousness, be acceptable to him; Acts 10:35(ESV) yes, let such as love your salvation say continually, “Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servants.” Psalm 35:27(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for the Ministers of God’s Holy Word and Sacraments

Intercession 5.17 | ESV

For all the ministers of God’s holy word and sacraments, the masters of assemblies.

Teach your ministers how they ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, 1 Timothy 3:15(ESV) that they may not preach themselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, 2 Corinthians 4:5(ESV) and may do their best to present themselves approved to God, workmen who have no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15(ESV)

Make them competent in the Scriptures, Acts 18:24(ESV) that from them they may be equipped for every good work, 2 Timothy 3:17(ESV) in teaching showing integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned. Titus 2:7-8(ESV)

Enable them to give attendance to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching; 1 Timothy 4:13(ESV) to practice these things; 1 Timothy 4:15(ESV) to devote themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word; Acts 6:4(ESV) to immerse themselves in them and to persist in them, that they may save both themselves and their hearers. 1 Timothy 4:15-16(ESV)

Let words be given to them in opening their mouths boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, that they may speak as they ought to speak, Ephesians 6:19-20(ESV) as competent ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; 2 Corinthians 3:6(ESV) and let them by the Lord’s mercy be trustworthy. 1 Corinthians 7:25(ESV)

Let the arms of their hands be made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob; Genesis 49:24(ESV) and let them be full of power by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts, Micah 3:8(ESV) to show your people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. Isaiah 58:1(ESV)

Make them sound in the faith, Titus 1:13(ESV) and enable them always to teach what accords with sound doctrine, Titus 2:1(ESV) correcting their opponents with gentleness; and let not the Lord’s servants be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach. 2 Timothy 2:24-25(ESV)

Make them good examples to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity; 1 Timothy 4:12(ESV) and let them purify themselves who bear the vessels of the Lord, Isaiah 52:11(ESV) and let HOLY TO THE LORD be written upon their foreheads. Exodus 28:36(ESV)

Lord, grant that they may not labor in vain or spend their strength for nothing and vanity, Isaiah 49:4(ESV) but let the hand of the Lord be with them, that many may believe and turn to the Lord. Acts 11:21(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for your Judges and Judicial Rulers

Intercession 5.16 | ESV

For the magistrates, the judges, and justices of peace in the several counties and corporations.

Make those who rule over my nation just, ruling in the fear of God; 2 Samuel 23:3(ESV) and let those who judge remember that they judge not for man but for the LORD, who is with them in giving judgment, that therefore the fear of the Lord may be upon them. 2 Chronicles 19:6-7(ESV)

Make them able men and trustworthy, men who fear God and hate a bribe, Exodus 18:21(ESV) that justice may run down like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amos 5:24(ESV)

Enable my nation’s magistrates to defend the weak and fatherless, to maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute, to rescue the weak and the needy, and to deliver them from the hand of the wicked; Psalm 82:3-4(ESV) and let governors never be a terror to good works, but to the evil. Romans 3:14(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for all who are Employed in the Conduct of Public Affairs

Intercession 5.15 | ESV

For the advisers, cabinet members, members of Congress or Parliament, the ambassadors and envoys abroad, and all who are employed in the conduct of public affairs.

Counsel my nation’s counselors, and teach its elders wisdom: Psalm 105:22(ESV) O give them a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and might, a spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD, to make them delight in the fear of the LORD. Isaiah 11:2-3(ESV)

O do not deprive of speech those who are trusted nor take away the discernment of the elders, Job 12:20(ESV) nor ever let the things that belong to the nation’s peace be hidden from the eyes of those who are instructed with the nation’s counsels. Luke 19:42(ESV)

Make it to appear that you have taken your place in the divine council and hold judgment in the midst of the gods, Psalm 82:1(ESV) and that when the princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham, the God of Abraham himself is among them; and let the shields of the earth belong to the Lord, that he may be highly exalted. Psalm 47:9(ESV)

Let there be those among my nation who rebuild its ancient ruins and raise up the foundations of many generations, that they may be called the repairers of the breaches and restorers of streets to dwell in. Isaiah 58:12(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for the Safe and Righteous Continuation of your Civil Government

Intercession 5.14 | ESV

For the safe and righteous continuation of our civil government, that a blessing may attend it, that peace and truth may be established in our days and secured to posterity, and that the hopes of our adversaries and all their aiders and abettors may be extinguished.

Lord, preserve to us the lamp that you have prepared for your Anointed, Psalm 132:17(ESV) that the next generation may know you, even the children yet unborn, that they may set their hope in God and keep his commandments. Psalm 78:6-7(ESV)

Let the gospel-believing church abide before God forever: Appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over it, so we will ever sing praises to your name. Psalm 61:7-8(ESV) Thus, let the Lord save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and the offspring of your servants shall inherit it, and those who love your name shall dwell in it. Psalm 69:35-36(ESV)

Let their design who would choose a leader to go back to Egypt, Numbers 14:4(ESV) be again defeated; and let not the mortal wound that has been given to the beast be healed anymore. Revelation 13:11-12(ESV)

Let our eyes see Jerusalem, the city of our appointed feasts, an untroubled habitation, an immovable tent: Let none of its stakes be plucked up, nor any of its cords be broken, but let the LORD in majesty be for us a place of broad rivers and streams; for the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king, he will save us. Isaiah 33:20-22(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for your Head of State

Intercession 5.13 | ESV

For all orders and degrees of men among us, and all we stand in any relation to.

For our Head of State, that God will protect his person, preserve his health, and continue his life and government long a public blessing.

Give our ruler your justice, O God, and your righteousness, Psalm 72:1(ESV) that he may defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor. Psalm 72:4(ESV)

Let his rule be established with righteousness, Proverbs 25:5(ESV) and upheld with steadfast love. Proverbs 20:28(ESV) Give him long life and length of days forever and ever, and let his glory be great through your salvation. Make him glad with the joy of your presence: through the steadfast love of the Most High let him not be moved. Psalm 21:4-7(ESV)

Clothe his enemies with shame, but let him shine; Psalm 132:18(ESV) and continue him long, very long, as a foster father to your Israel. Isaiah 49:23(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for the Healing of your Nation’s Unhappy Divisions and Success Against your Nation’s Enemies

Intercession 5.12 | ESV

For the healing of our unhappy divisions and the making up of our breaches.

For the divisions that are among us, there are great searchings of heart; Judges 5:16(ESV) for there are three against two and two against three in a house. Luke 12:52(ESV) But is the breach as vast as the sea, which cannot be healed? Lamentations 2:13(ESV) Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored? Jeremiah 8:22(ESV) Lord, repair the breaches of our land, for because of them it totters. Psalm 60:2(ESV)

I beg in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that there may be no divisions among us, but that we be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10(ESV)

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant us to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together we may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 15:5-6(ESV) and promote the common salvation. Jude 1:3(ESV)

Lord, keep us from judging one another and despising one another, Romans 14:10(ESV) and give us to pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding; Romans 14:19(ESV) that living in love and peace, the God of love and peace may be with us. 2 Corinthians 13:11(ESV)

Let nothing be done from rivalry or conceit, but in humility let me count others more significant than myself; Philippians 2:3(ESV) and grant that my reasonableness may be known to everyone, because the Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:5(ESV)

For victory and success against our enemies abroad who seek our ruin.

Arise, O LORD, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you, but return, O LORD, to the ten thousand thousands of your Israel. Numbers 10:35-36(ESV)

Grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man. With God let our forces do valiantly; yes, let God himself tread down our foes, Psalm 60:11-12(ESV) and make them like dust with your sword and like driven stubble with your bow. Isaiah 41:2(ESV)

Let us be a people saved by the LORD, as the shield of our help and the sword of our triumph; Deuteronomy 33:29(ESV) and make our enemies sensible that the LORD fights for us against them. Exodus 14:25(ESV)

Those who risk their lives to the death for us on the heights of the field, Judges 5:18(ESV) train their hands for war and their fingers for battle; Psalm 144:1(ESV) give them the shield of your salvation, and let your right hand support them, Psalm 18:35(ESV) and cover their heads in the day of battle. Psalm 140:7(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for the Moral Decency and Civility of your Nation

Intercession 5.11 | ESV

For the success of all endeavors for the reformation of manners, the suppression of vice and profaneness, the support of religion and virtue, and the bringing of them into reputation.

O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and establish the righteous – you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God. Psalm 7:9(ESV) Spirit many to rise up for you against the wicked and to stand up for you against evildoers. Psalm 94:16(ESV)

Let the Deliverer come to Zion and banish ungodliness from Jacob; Romans 11:26(ESV) and let the filth of Jerusalem be cleansed from its midst by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of burning. Isaiah 4:4(ESV)

Let all wickedness shut its mouth; Psalm 107:42(ESV) and let the infection of that plague be stayed by intervening judgment. Psalm 106:30(ESV)

Let those who are struggling against sin never grow weary or fainthearted. Hebrews 12:3-4(ESV)

Remove the spirit of uncleanness from the land, Zechariah 13:2(ESV) and change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that they may call upon the name of the LORD. Zephaniah 3:9(ESV)

Set your people high above all nations in praise and in fame and in honor by making us a people holy to the LORD our God. Deuteronomy 26:19(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for the Continuance of your Nation’s Outward Peace and Tranquility

Intercession 5.10 | ESV

For the continuance of our outward peace and tranquility, our liberty and plenty, for the prosperity of our trade, and a blessing upon the fruits of the earth.

Let God himself be a wall of fire all around us and the glory in the midst of us; Zechariah 2:5(ESV) yes, let his gospel be our glory, and upon all that glory let there be a defense; and create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. Isaiah 4:5(ESV)

Peace be within our borders and security within our towers, Psalm 122:7(ESV) the prosperity both of merchandise and husbandry, that Zebulun may rejoice in his going out and Issachar in his tents. Deuteronomy 33:18(ESV)

Set up salvation for us as walls and bulwarks; and, to that end, let the gates be opened, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. Isaiah 26:1-2(ESV)

Make our overseers peace and our taskmasters righteousness; let violence never be heard in our gates, devastation or destruction in our borders, but let our walls be called Salvation and our gates Praise: Isaiah 60:17-18(ESV) Never let our land be termed Forsaken and Desolate, but let the Lord delight in us, and let our land be married to him. Isaiah 62:4(ESV)

Let our peace be like a river and, to that end, our righteousness like the waves of the sea. Isaiah 48:18(ESV) Let that righteousness abound among us which exalts a nation, and deliver us from sin, which is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 14:34(ESV)

Never make our heavens as bronze and our earth as iron, Deuteronomy 28:23(ESV) nor take back your grain in its time and your wine in its season; Hosea 2:9(ESV) but give us rain moderately, the early and the latter rains in their seasons, Joel 2:23(ESV) and keep for us the weeks appointed for the harvest, Jeremiah 5:24(ESV) giving us fair weather also in its season. Let our land yield its increase and the trees their fruit, that we may eat our bread to the full and dwell in our land securely. Leviticus 26:4-5(ESV)

Abundantly bless our provisions and satisfy our poor with bread, Psalm 132:15(ESV) that those who garner it may eat it and praise the LORD. Isaiah 62:9(ESV) Do not blow it away, for then when we look for much, it will come to little; Haggai 1:9(ESV) but bless our blessings, that all nations may call us blessed and a land of delight. Malachi 3:10-12(ESV)