Prayer points with Scriptures · 20 points
Prayer Points for the Month of July
These prayer points for the month of July begin where the month does, with Independence Day on the Fourth, then follow the summer: vacations, family trips and church mission teams heading out. For individuals, families, prayer meetings and churches, they give thanks for our nation, pray for it and for those who serve it, celebrate the deeper freedom we have in Christ, ask for real rest, and cover mission trips. Each prayer is paired with its verse.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 (BSB)
Pray the two nation sections in the days around the Fourth, perhaps at a church picnic or a family cookout, and the rest a section a week. When your church gathers to pray, read the verse aloud, pray the prayer together, then name leaders, service members and each person on a mission team your church is sending.
Thanks for our nation
1A nation whose God is the Lord
LORD, blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD. Thank You for the faith that has shaped so many lives in this country. Keep us from taking Your blessings for granted, and turn many hearts in our land back to You.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His inheritance!
Psalm 33:12 (BSB) · Pray this verse →2Remembering who gave the good land
LORD our God, when we have eaten and are satisfied, You call us to bless You for the good land You have given. As we gather for cookouts and fireworks, help us thank You first, and keep us from forgetting You in our comfort.
When you eat and are satisfied, you are to bless the LORD your God for the good land that He has given you. Be careful not to forget the LORD your God by failing to keep His commandments and ordinances and statutes, which I am giving you this day.
Deuteronomy 8:10-11 (BSB)3Placed here for a purpose
God, You made every nation from one man and set the times and boundaries of their lands, so that people would seek You. Thank You for placing us here, now. Use our freedom so that our neighbors seek You and find You near.
From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands. God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.
Acts 17:26-27 (BSB) · Pray this verse →4Boundary lines in pleasant places
Lord, the lines have fallen for us in pleasant places. Thank You for safe streets, clean water, open churches and the freedom to read the Bible without fear. Make us grateful and generous, remembering believers who have none of these.
The lines of my boundary have fallen in pleasant places; surely my inheritance is delightful.
Psalm 16:6 (BSB)
Our nation and those who serve it
5Leaders like the morning light
God of Israel, You said that one who rules with justice and in the fear of God is like the light of morning at sunrise. Give our leaders of every party justice, integrity and reverence for You, so that their leadership refreshes the land.
The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God, is like the light of the morning at sunrise of a cloudless dawn, the glistening after the rain on the sprouting grass of the earth.’
2 Samuel 23:3-4 (BSB)6Honor for everyone
Lord, You call us to treat everyone with high regard, love the brotherhood of believers, fear God and honor those in authority. In a divided season, keep Christians from contempt and mockery. Let us disagree without hatred and speak with respect.
Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
1 Peter 2:17 (BSB)7Peace with our neighbors
Father, as far as it depends on us, help us live at peace with everyone: at the family table, on social media, across the fence and across political lines. Make us peacemakers in a country that needs them.
If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 12:18 (BSB)8Those who keep watch
LORD, unless You protect the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain. We pray for our service members, police officers, firefighters and first responders. Protect them, strengthen their families, and keep their hearts close to You.
A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.
Psalm 127:1 (BSB)
Freedom in Christ
9Free indeed
Lord Jesus, if the Son sets us free, we are free indeed. In a month when we celebrate national freedom, we thank You for the greater freedom You won on the cross: freedom from sin’s power, from guilt and from the fear of death.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:36 (BSB)10No condemnation
Father, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Set free those who still live under shame for what they have done. Let the Spirit of life loosen every chain that sin and death once held.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2 (BSB)11Freedom used to serve
Lord, we were called to freedom, but not to use it as an opportunity for the flesh. Teach us to spend our freedom serving one another in love, giving our time, our weekends and our resources for the good of others.
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
Galatians 5:13 (BSB)12Liberty to the captives
Lord Jesus, You came to proclaim liberty to the captives and release the oppressed. We pray for those bound by addiction, those in prison and those trapped in hidden sin. Set them free, and bring Your good news to them through Your people.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Luke 4:18-19 (BSB)
Summer rest
13His presence and His rest
LORD, You told Moses that Your Presence would go with him and You would give him rest. Go with us on our travels and vacations, and give us real rest for our souls, not only time off from our jobs.
And the LORD answered, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33:14 (BSB)14Green pastures and quiet waters
Good Shepherd, make us lie down in green pastures and lead us beside quiet waters this summer. Restore our souls. Help us slow down long enough to hear You, and guide us in paths of righteousness for the sake of Your name.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.
Psalm 23:2-3 (BSB) · Pray this verse →15Strength in quiet confidence
Lord GOD, You told Israel that by repentance and rest they would be saved and their strength would lie in quiet confidence, but they were not willing. Forgive our restless busyness, and make us willing to be still before You.
For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “By repentance and rest you would be saved; your strength would lie in quiet confidence—but you were not willing.”
Isaiah 30:15 (BSB)16Shade in the summer heat
LORD, You are our keeper and the shade on our right hand; the sun will not strike us by day. Watch over those who work outdoors in the heat, those traveling on busy roads, and the elderly in homes without cool air.
The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is the shade on your right hand. The sun will not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
Psalm 121:5-6 (BSB) · Pray this verse →
Mission trips
17Beautiful feet
Lord, how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news and proclaim salvation. Bless every mission team our church sends this summer, across town or across the world. Let them carry the gospel with humility and joy.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Isaiah 52:7 (BSB)18Your salvation among all nations
God, be gracious to us, bless us and make Your face shine on us, so that Your ways may be known on earth and Your salvation among all nations. Let our summer trips serve that purpose, not our own adventure.
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song. May God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah that Your ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.
Psalm 67:1-2 (BSB)19Shrewd and innocent
Lord Jesus, You sent Your disciples out like sheep among wolves and told them to be shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves. Give our teams wisdom, health and cultural humility, and protect them from danger and harm.
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Matthew 10:16 (BSB)20Praying for those who go
Lord, Paul asked the believers to join his struggle by praying for him. We pray for our missionaries and short-term teams: for protection, for service that is welcomed, and for a joyful return that refreshes everyone back home.
Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.
Romans 15:30-32 (BSB)
A closing prayer
Father, thank You for the land You have given us and for every freedom we enjoy. Have mercy on our nation, guide our leaders, and protect those who serve. Thank You most of all for Jesus, who sets us free indeed. Teach us to use our freedom to love and serve. Give us rest in Your presence this summer, and send Your gospel to the nations through our teams. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pray with a voice
Short prayers with a voice to pray along with, each drawn from one passage.
Questions
How can Christians pray on the Fourth of July?
Independence Day marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Christians can give thanks for the nation’s blessings, pray for leaders of every party and for those who serve, confess where we have fallen short, and remember the greater freedom Christ gives (John 8:36). Scripture tells believers to pray for all in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
How can our church pray for a summer mission trip?
Before the team leaves, pray for unity, health, funding and humble hearts. While they are away, pray for safety, open doors and clear gospel conversations. After they return, pray for lasting fruit and for the team to share what God did. Many churches give each team member a prayer partner who prays for them daily.
What Bible verses are good for July?
For our nation: Psalm 33:12, Deuteronomy 8:10-11 and 2 Samuel 23:3-4. For freedom in Christ: Galatians 5:1, John 8:36 and Romans 8:1-2. For summer rest: Exodus 33:14 and Psalm 23:2-3. For mission trips: Isaiah 52:7 and Psalm 67:1-2.
More prayer points
Every verse on this page is quoted word for word from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), which its publishers dedicated to the public domain. Copy, print and share these prayer points freely with your church.