1. Begin with Repentance
We need to have clean hearts and be in right standing to come before the Lord on behalf of the nations and fight the enemy. Repent for yourself and the people and nations you are standing in the gap for.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalms 51:10 KJV
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
2. Worship & Give Thanks
Worship and thanksgiving prepares our hearts to be aligned with the Lord. When we focus on the holiness and greatness of God it sensitizes our hearts and minds to what is important to HIS heart. We receive our orders and direction from the Lord during worship. Focusing on what is important to Him is a powerful way to bring heaven to earth, join in the fight to defeat spiritual wickedness in high places, win spiritual battles, and shift atmospheres and the fate of nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song, For He has done marvelous and wonderful things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him. Psalms 98:1 AMP
Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the [enemy] who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 2 Chronicles 20:22 NKJV
3. Speak Out & Decree the Word of God
Search the Word of God to find similar situations, strategies and tactics used by the Lord. Have a working knowledge of the Bible and listen to the Lord for His direction. He will show you specific scriptures and biblical principles to decree over people, situations, cities, regions and nations. When we are led by the Lord and decree His Word, we can have faith that it will be accomplished.
You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways. Job 22:28 NKJV
It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. Isaiah 55:11 NLT
Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it”. Jeremiah 1:12 ESV
4. Know Your Authority & Use Wisdom
Use wisdom engaging the enemy. Have a direct command from the Lord to engage the enemy. No one wants to end up like the sons of Sceva (Acts 19:11-20). Ensure you understand your spiritual authority and have proper teaching in praying for nations. The battle over nations is not about earthly people, politics and power, but is a spiritual battle for the souls of the people.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. Eph 6:12 AMP
For the battle is the Lord’s 1 Samuel 17:47 NKJV
I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you Luke 10:19 NIV
5. We have the victory!
We know the end of the story and can pray with faith that God wins.
“No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And this is their vindication from Me,” says the LORD. Isa 54:17 ESV
“O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.” 2 Chronicles 20:6 ESV
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Rev 7:9-10 NIV
Declarations over the Nations
Speak these decrees out loud with faith, worship and praise. Where there is a blank, fill in the name of a situation, city, region, country and/or nation. These are example decrees, there are many, many others as you pray, listen to the Lord and search the scriptures.
Salvation
I decree & declare that ____________________will call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.
For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. Romans 10:13 NLT
Harvest
I decree & declare that the Lord of the Harvest will send out many workers to bring in the harvest in _____________.
These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. Luke 10:2 NLT
God’s Kingdom
I decree & declare the Lord reigns in ____________ and the kingdom of God come and His will be done on earth in __________________ as it is in heaven.
May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Matt 6:10 NLT
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!” 1 Chronicles 16:31 NIV
Church
I decree & declare that the Church in __________________ would be in love with Jesus, repent of sin, and listen and obey what the Spirit is saying to them.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me…Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 2-3 NIV
Freedom
I decree & declare that the Spirit of the Lord would be released in ____________________ because where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Freedom.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV
Justice
I decree & declare that God’s justice & righteousness for those oppressed in __________________.
But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amos 5:24 ESV
The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. Psalms 103:6 ESV
Glory
I decree & declare that God’s glory and power will fill ______________________.
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14 ESV
For dominion belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations. Psalms 22:28
Written by Audrey Beckett, Beverly Pegues-Tucker, CS Joseph
©Gateway Prayer Garden Oct 2022