We have been richly blessed and have much to be grateful for.

We live in the greatest nation on earth, endowed with the gift of self-government and blessed with a standard of living that even the wealthiest kings and queens of history could scarcely have imagined.

Two hundred fifty years ago, on July 4, 1776, our Founding Fathers established a new nation built on the conviction that all men are created equal and endowed by God with unalienable rights, Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness, and that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.

Many members of the Second Continental Congress were men of deep faith, shaped by a biblical worldview passed down through previous generations.

During the War for Independence, they set aside May 17, 1776, as a day of “humiliation, fasting, and prayer,” calling on the colonies to confess their sins and seek God’s mercy and guidance. (Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9; Psalm 32:5; James 5:16)

Today, we still enjoy many of the “blessings of peace and liberty” for which our founders prayed. We have countless reasons to thank God for His faithfulness and to seek His continued blessing on our nation. (Psalm 103:2)

Yet while we recognize God’s hand in history, we must also remember that His greatest work is the transformation of human hearts through salvation in Jesus Christ. If we hope to see true cultural change, it must come one life at a time.

As we celebrate America’s semiquincentennial (250th) anniversary, any hope for true national renewal must first begin with us — through repentance and the transforming of our minds through Christ. (Romans 8:29; 12:2 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 2:5).

May God move in the hearts and minds of people across our land and use us to faithfully point our families, friends, and neighbors to Jesus Christ and His Word. (Matthew 5:16; 2 Corinthians 5:20)

Thanksgiving & Praise

• Thank God for blessing the United States and extending His mercy and His blessings toward us in amazing ways. (Psalm 95:1-5; James 1:17)

• Thank Him for our nation’s Christian heritage and foundation.

• Thank the Lord for His patience, kindness, and long-suffering toward us. (2 Peter 3:9; Romans 2:4)

• Thank the Lord for the gift of self-government; religious liberty; and the unalienable rights He has bestowed upon us.

Repentance & Spiritual Renewal

• Pray for an honest awareness of our sins before a holy God and a contrite spirit of repentance. (Acts 17:30–31; Acts 26:20)
• Confess that our nation has grieved the Lord through rebellion, trading truth for lies and pursuing selfish agendas.
• Pray that believers would return to their first love, the Lord God Almighty.
• Pray that the Holy Spirit would convict Christians and bring true repentance in every church.

• Pray that believers would keep their minds fixed on the things of heaven rather than earthly things.

• Ask God to heal our land and restore a reverent fear of the Lord among His people. (John 8:32)

• Pray for revival in our state and nation and for the fruit that accompanies genuine repentance. (Matthew 3:8; Luke 3:8–14; Acts 3:19)

• Pray for God’s mercy and grace over our nation and state.

Moral & Cultural Issues

• Pray for God’s forgiveness for the sins of abortion, sexual immorality, human trafficking, drug abuse and addiction, gambling expansion, and the erosion of marriage and family.

• Pray that our culture would embrace the sanctity of human life and God’s design for marriage, sexuality, and children.

• Pray that the “Greater Than” campaign would be successful in its fight to overturn the devastating Obergefell decision, which legalized same-sex “marriage” and further eroded God’s design for the family by making moms and dads increasingly optional in the culture.

• Pray that the horrors and consequences of abortion would be exposed and understood by our nation.

• Pray for wisdom and opportunities to expose the deception that portrays abortion pills as “safe and simple.”

• Pray that people would understand the harms of marijuana use, gambling addiction, and the sexualization of children.

• Pray for righteousness to once again be honored in our culture, recognizing that “righteousness exalts a nation.”

• Pray that evil influences attacking the biblical family structure would be exposed and restrained.

Wisdom, Truth, Discernment & Courage

• Pray that self-identified Christians would immerse themselves in God’s Word to not be deceived. (Matt. 24:24)
• Pray for wisdom in these deceitful days — wisdom to recognize truth and discern cultural lies.

• Pray for discernment to identify leaders who stand for righteousness rather than merely telling people what they want to hear.

• Pray that believers would stand behind Christ above every political identity: not right, not left, not ours — but Christ’s way.

• Pray that Illinois voters would overcome apathy, reject deception, and awaken to truth.

• Pray for strength to remain faithful and bold as Christian ambassadors in our families, churches, communities, and public square.

• Pray that Christians would understand the importance of engaging every area of culture as representatives of Christ.

• Pray for courage to stand firmly for biblical truth with humility and wisdom.

• Pray that the Lord would thwart evil schemes we cannot even see and reveal His wisdom in every effort.

• Pray for God’s protection over families, churches, and communities.

• Ask God to expose hidden works of darkness and bring truth into the light.

Government Leaders & Public Officials

• Pray for our military leaders, troops, sailors, and intelligence personnel serving in dangerous areas. Pray for God’s protection over them and for a swift and peaceful end to the conflict with Iran.

• Pray for those serving in the FBI, Secret Service, ICE, and Department of Homeland Security as they work to protect our nation. Pray that God would grant them wisdom, protection, integrity, and strength for the responsibilities before them.

• Pray that God would raise up political leaders who are wise, discerning, honorable, and who understand His ways.

• Pray for wisdom and godly counsel for leaders at every level of government and their staffs. Pray for your local and county officials.

• Pray that many godly counselors, pastors, and Christian leaders would seek ways to minister to elected officials. (Proverbs 11:14)

• Pray that God would work in the hearts of national leaders including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, their administration, and the leaders in Congress. (Proverbs 21:1)

• Pray that God would work in the hearts of Illinois leaders including Governor JB Pritzker and the leaders serving in the General Assembly. (Daniel 2:21)
• Pray that the Holy Spirit would soften the hearts of His people to worship Him alone and to love Him with all of their heart, strength and soul. (Mark 12:30)

• Pray for the U.S. Supreme Court as it considers the legality of mailing of abortion pills nationwide, birthright citizenship and other major issues affecting life, family, and constitutional matters.

IFI & IFA

• Pray for the staff and board members of Illinois Family Institute and Illinois Family Action.

• Pray that God would provide resources, funding, volunteers and strategic opportunities to boldly bring biblical principles to the public square.

• Pray for wisdom, endurance, and faithfulness as we seek to advance biblical truth in Illinois.