Lyrics
Everywhere I look I see this land giving in
It seems as though this country has forget Him
The land was so proud and free
Now its lost Lady Liberty
By His truth is how we came about
Lord, have your mercy on us now
Lord, have your mercy on us now
Pray for our nation
The land of red, white, and blue
Pray for our nation
The land that was so proud and true
God, I pray for our nation
That it will turn its way back to you
They try to take you out of the schools
When were supposed to teach them about you
We debate over when life begins
And who has the power to make it end
Now they claim what marriage really should be
Lord, have your mercy on us now
Lord, have your mercy on us now
Pray for our nation
The land of red, white, and blue
Pray for our nation
The land that was so proud and true
God, I pray for our nation
That it will turn its way back to you
God, heal this broken land
Father, forgive us for where we've been
For they know not what we do
Lord, have your mercy on us now
Lord, have your mercy on us now
Pray for our nation
The land of red, white, and blue
Pray for our nation
The land that was so proud and true
God, I pray for our nation
That it will turn its way back to you
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
"Prayer For Our Nation" voices concern over moral and spiritual decline in a country once described as "proud and free," pointing to specific examples: prayer removed from schools, disagreement over when life begins, and shifting definitions of marriage. Glen Reed frames each example as evidence that the nation has drifted from the faith it was founded on, repeating the plea "Lord, have your mercy on us now" after each list of concerns.
The chorus turns from lament toward petition, asking that the nation "turn its way back to" God rather than dwelling only on what has been lost. The final verse extends this into confession, asking forgiveness "for where we've been" and echoing Christ's words from the cross about those who "know not what" they do.
Structured as a direct appeal rather than a narrative, the song positions corporate repentance and mercy as the path back toward the nation's earlier sense of identity and purpose.
Related Scripture
- 2 Chronicles 7:14 This verse's call for a nation to humble itself, pray, and turn back to God closely matches the song's central petition.