Evolving Prayer: From Structure to Sincerity

Praying for Change: A Path to National Reconciliation

Feeling stuck on how to pray for America? You’re not alone—but there is a path forward. In this timely episode, Good Faith “founding friend” and New York Times columnist David French lays out five virtue-based ways to pray for our nation with clarity, courage, and compassion. Drawing upon Scripture with a healthy dose of personal reflection, David extols the importance of praying for America as a daily act to seek God’s best for our country and each other—restoring unity and healing what’s broken.

Episode Companion: Prayer Guide

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Scriptures mentioned in this episode:

• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
• The Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:5-13 (ESV)
• "The Ministry of Reconciliation" in 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (ESV)
• Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:36-46 (ESV)
• Micah 6:8
• Ephesians 4:3
• Isaiah 42:3
• Psalm 34:18

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The Ongoing Los Angeles Protests
• Australian journalist shot by rubber bullet during L.A. protests (video)
• Waymo taxis Ablaze in Los Angeles
• Georgetown scholar recalls ‘mockery of due process’ in immigration jail
• The Westminster Confession's Standards for the 9th Commandment
• South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission
• Les Miserables: The Bishop and the Redemption of Jean Valjean
• What Is Restorative Justice?
• More about the work of Brennan Manning
• Tim Keller’s Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God
• Dennis F. Kinlaw’s Prayer: Bearing the World as Jesus Does
• E.M. Bounds on Prayer
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Praying the Psalms
• The work of Michael Card
• More about the work of Rich Mullins
• The Lost Dogs’ Pray Where You Are (song & lyrics)

More From David French:

• David French’s New York Times pieces HERE
• Follow David French on Threads

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