Prayer of Hope Using the Star Spangled Banner During Life Problems
When you need a prayer for hope, The Star Spangled Banner can be a powerful way to help you pray. Fear and hopelessness can hit you hard, especially at night. When one of our sons was going through a very hard time, I used the Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key as a way of remembering to stop and say a prayer of hope when things seemed dark and I most needed it.
Start your prayer of hope by singing the words of the Star Spangled Banner
If you’re around people and can’t sing out loud, mentally sing the words. Combining the words with a melody and/or the physical act of singing them out loud causes your prayer of hope and for hope to be better imprinted in your mind. This also increases your sense of emotional well being because the song usually connects us to times when we were feeling a strong sense of community.
Oh say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there
Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave O‘er the land of the free and the home of the brave ?
Meditate on the song and claim Scripture as a prayer of hope as you repeat each stanza
Here is a way to use the Star Spangled as a prayer of hope:
Oh say can you see by the dawn’s early light
Father, help me to believe that the first gleam of morning will come after a long night of fear. I now speak courage, hope and encouragement to my battered soul, because morning never fails to come again, even when things seem darkest.
I claim God’s promise: “My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.” (Psalm 120:6, NIV) “Weeping may remain for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5 NIV)
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming
Before this problem came upon me and before this battle with darkness and fear broke out in my life, it was so much easier to feel confident that I wouldn’t be defeated. It was much easier to feel strong and optimistic.
I claim God’s promise: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
Please help me remember the times in the past when terrible things happened you were at work. Help me see progress being made. Help me feel the growth within my soul as I draw closer to you. Make me confident again that that with your help I can stand firm and hold my ground. Help my heart to vividly sense that you were here with me.
I claim God’s promise: “On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.” Psalm 6 3:6 NIV) “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.” (Psalm 77:11 NIV)
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there…
There are times during the dark night when I was under such awful attack that I was sure all was lost. Let me view those frightening attacks as ways you opened my eyes to my need for you. May these attacks help me seek you and see that you were still there during the terrible night.
I claim God’s promise: “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.” (Exodus 13:21 NIV)
Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave, O‘er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Dear Lord, You are the one who brought me through the night to the morning light. Your protection is always over me. Because I trust in you, you have freed my spirit form sorrow and despair so that I might live in joyful peace and hope. I sing now a new song of victory. Keep me brave through every dark night in my life now and forever.
I claim God’s promise: “May he give you the desire of your heart and make your plans succeed. We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant your requests. Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he answers them from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we will rise up and stand firm.” (Psalm 20:4-8 NIV)
Amen.
The story behind this prayer prayer of hope
When one of our sons was going through a very tough time in life, I found it hard to pray. Many times I would lie awake at night with hundreds of worries and fears going through my head. As time went on and his situation didn’t improve, I became oppressed and hopeless.
One dark January morning as I was walking in the neighborhood I saw an American flag under a floodlight on a house waving in the wind. I stopped and the phrase “By the dawn’s early light…” came into my mind. As I continued to walk, I realized that our National Anthem is a song of hope.
Over the next few months whenever I saw an American flag, I used it as an opportunity to thank God for his nearness in my times of struggle to keep hope alive. This helped me through a very difficult time and I hope it will help you, too.
Other helpful articles
Strong Biblical Prayer for Healing for You and Your Loved One
Copyright Karen Barber 2017. All rights reserved.
