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Does your heart break over the shedding of innocent blood in America? If you’ve been petitioning the Lord to end abortion and all other means of killing the innocent, I wanted to encourage you with a list of seven specific scriptures to add to your prayer arsenal.
Have you taken your place on the wall?
Praying God’s own Word back to Him is one of THE most effective ways to intercede for our land.
Isaiah 55:10–11 reassures us that God’s Word will not fail to accomplish His will! This passage says:
For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:10–11).
Therefore, as you pray, lift up these words from God’s own mouth back to Him. As you do, His Word will take root and bring forth good fruit on the earth — yes, even in our great nation that sometimes feels beyond repair!
Beloved, God’s Word is more powerful than any number of sinners sinning, even when those sinners lead governments. Our God can and will help us, keeping justice and preserving righteousness; for He is mighty to save!
Let’s look at a short list of just seven scriptures to pray for protection of the innocent in America:
- Exodus 23:7: Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked.
For this passage, pray that all of America, including her government and legislators in every state and territory, would adhere only to God’s truth. Implore the Lord to do what it takes to prevent our legislators and judges from perverting justice. Pray that a great honor for LIFE would come forth in America, and that no person or organization would kill anyone who is innocent or righteous.
- Isaiah 1:17: Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.
With this passage, pray for a fresh anointing of compassion to fall on our nation toward the helpless, the orphan, the widow, the poor, and the stranger. Ask the Lord to send this fresh awakening to our government and to every person. Ask Him to remind the Body of Christ in America that it is also our job to help the poor. Pray that we would not be mere onlookers, but that we would instead, like Jesus, be moved with compassion to defend and assist those less fortunate in our nation.
- Proverbs 6:16–19: These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.
Pray that we would be humble in America again. Ask the Lord to awaken our consciences (at the individual, corporate, and governmental levels) to remember that right is right, and wrong is wrong, and that those things are only rightfully defined the way God’s Word defines them. Ask Him to bring unity around His truth and that our whole nation would rally together in unity in the camp of the Lord.
- Jeremiah 22:3: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.’ ”
With this scripture, ask the Lord to deliver those who are being plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Pray that, as He did for Paul and Silas, He would personally loose their chains. Ask the Lord to send angels to release their bonds, open the prison doors, and deliver the innocent ones who are being persecuted (as He did for Peter).
Additionally, pray that every American in every place would only execute just judgment and righteousness, so that the innocent are no longer pursued and violated.
- Matthew 18:14: “Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”
Remind the Father that it is not His will that one baby should be aborted, and that it is not His will that one child should suffer infanticide. Point out to Him that it is not His will for even one human to be lost, but that all should come to repentance. Plead with Him for His Spirit of righteousness and justice to rise up in our nation, taking over every conscience on behalf of LIFE — and making abortion unthinkable.
Also, ask the Lord to pour out His Spirit on our nation, showing every person what Jesus looks like and who He is, convicting every person of their sins and bringing them into radical, saving encounters with the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Psalm 127:3: Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.
Ask the Lord to pour out His spirit of Elijah on every person in America, turning the hearts of the parents to the children; the children to the parents; and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. Ask Him to wake up a great love in us for every child.
Also, pray that the Lord would help every American (both ordinary citizens and politicians at every level) to recognize that children are our heritage, our reward, and one of our greatest national treasures. Ask the Lord to help us value children again like He does!
- Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Point out to the Father that He has eternal purposes and plans for every person, even preborn children. Ask Him to do whatever it takes to spare the lives of the innocent, so that the plans He made for them from the foundation of the world might come into fruition. Pray that Jesus would receive the reward of His suffering through our children’s lives, with them living for Him and fully carrying out their divine purpose and calling!
Beloved, God loves and protects the innocent ones.
Whether the innocent ones are orphans, widows, preborn babies, or even adults who are falsely accused, God takes it personally when we kill, persecute, or assault them. So, use this list as a spiritual weapon of war, praying His own scriptures back to Him and asking Him to move and send a revival of compassion in America!
What are your favorite scriptures to pray for the innocent ones? Leave your most beloved prayer strategies on this topic below!
Jamie Rohrbaugh is the founder and CEO of From His Presence. She is the author of over 40 books, including her two latest collections of prayer tools, Wind of Heaven and New Season. She seeks to equip you to carry God’s manifest glory everywhere you go. Her resources have been published by YouVersion Bible Plans, The Elijah List, Spirit Fuel, and various other ministry outlets. Download her free prayer tool, Praying the Names of God: 555 Biblical Names of God and How to Use Them in Prayer and Worship, here. Photo credit: trestletech/pixabay via Canva Pro.