Prayer for America

By Tonianne Zottoli

Father,

We bring to you the past, present, and future state of the world. While it is easy for us on Earth to become internally restless by looking out to our horizon, give us the grace to remember that You provide eternal rest, and that to obtain peace we need only look up to You. Give us a heart and mind that seeks what is above before it seeks what is in front of us. 

Lord, preserve us from all evil. Open our eyes to where we are blind to evil in our own lives. Preserve us from the deadliest sins, and from our easiest and most comfortable sins.  

We implore You to give special grace to those who are in worldly positions of power, domestic and abroad. We ask that You soften our leaders’ hearts with humility and speak true wisdom to their hearts to govern justly.

We give you the innocent, the convicted, the sick, the lonely, the angry, the homeless, the displaced, the hungry, the wealthy, the confused, and the apathetic. We give back to you all of Your children who desperately seek your loving direction – us included.

Give us a true desire for what is good, true, and beautiful. Help us to live healthy and integrated lives centered on You and return all glory back to You. Give us a heart for wisdom and discipline to order our lives well in the life of virtue. Enrich our personal and professional lives with the Truth.

Grant us courage to speak the Truth always and to understand the responsibility that our lives are not our own, but Yours for us to fulfill on Your behalf. We know You have counted us worthy to be Your sons and daughters. Help us to live lives fit for such an identity.

May we understand that the material world passes away and that our true allegiances lie in the next life with You. Invigorate and bless our efforts on this earth and help us to keep our lives in perspective, that we would not make idols out of success, followings, influence, or wealth. Instead, enable us to be grateful for Your abundant blessings and be quick to share them with others.

Just like You promised the prophet Isaiah, You continue to promise us today that “When [we] walk through fire, [we] shall not be burned, nor will flames consume us].” (Isaiah 43:2)

Help us, in moments of isolation and doubt, to remember that You always keep Your promises and that where You are present, we will not be overcome.

Photo via National Catholic Register