Displaying items by tag: call to pray

Jay Slater, 19, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, has gone missing in Tenerife after attempting an 11-hour walk back to his accommodation following a night out. On 17 June he told his friend Lucy he was lost, needed water, and had only 1% phone battery. His phone then cut off. Former Coronation Street actress Vicky Entwistle, a distant relation, urged prayers for his safe return. His mother Debbie has flown to Tenerife to aid the search efforts, joining local authorities and a specialist mountain rescue team. A Facebook group with over 142,000 members has also been set up to assist. The foreign office is supporting the family. Slater's stepfather described him as 'streetwise' but feared he got lost in the dark, while his mother believes he was disoriented by the unfamiliar area. Emergency services, including firefighters and a police helicopter, are involved in the search.

The annual G7 summit, in Japan, is from 19 to 21 May. The World Prayer Centre is calling people globally to join them on Zoom on 20 May at 10 am GMT +1, to pray for the summit and all the G7 leaders, together with the president of the European Council and the president of the European Commission. If you would like to join the event online via Zoom video conferencing. You will need to set up an account and download the app to your device Log in when the meeting is due to start, using these details. Topic: WPC PRAYER WATCH Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 819 5187 5317 Passcode: jesuslives You will then be admitted to a waiting room until WPC permits access. Once admitted, please put your mic on mute. WPC look forward to seeing you!

The current president's strategy for handling the former president's impeachment trial has been to keep the whole ordeal at arm's length. The Biden administration's long-term political fortunes rest on success in dealing with the pandemic, the economy and the American public's other concerns. In the end, the trial lasted only three days. The chamber can’t take up Biden's Covid relief bill until the House passes the version that they have spent the week working on. Pray that the much-needed relief is released swiftly. With the trial concluded, the Senate can now resume confirming Biden's administration appointments, after it returns from a week recess. Pray for wisdom to flow through all appointments yet to be made, and that the price of a speedy trial without witnesses will not mean a political price being paid later.

Latin American churches have played a key role in helping those affected by coronavirus. Their role goes beyond running food and medicine banks. ‘It’s a case of being there for people and keeping in contact, without a religious agenda. Sometimes all you can do is hold somebody's hand in the dark.’ The Most Rev Gregory Venables said: ‘Pray that we will have wisdom in accompanying people through the next weeks and months. Because it's not going to go away quickly, we've got to act wisely.’ This area has five out of the ten countries globally with most coronavirus cases. There's illness and insecurity. Most Latin American countries are economically bankrupt. People live hand to mouth; they have nothing. The situation is very desperate. Some of the longest lockdowns in the world and strict rules don’t seem to have stopped the spread.

The world is shutting down in an unparalleled global response to coronavirus. Pray for God to cause a mighty wind of His Holy Spirit to turn the tide of sickness and fear. The current strategy of shutting down large parts of society is not sustainable in the long term. Pray for countries to agree to an exit strategy that will restrain social and economic damage. Scientists say that the coronavirus is not going to disappear entirely. Let us ask God to convict communities of the need to change permanently behaviour that enables contagion, so that there is a sound global immunity to infection. Vaccines are said to be 12-18 months away. Pray for God to guide the researchers and scientists as they seek to develop them.

As the virus spreads, pray for everyone to listen to the advice from local authorities, and show care and regard for one another - especially the elderly and most vulnerable. If ever there was a time for prayers and supplications, this is such a time. Let us join together in united prayer as we pray for: governments and local authorities who bear large responsibilities in confronting this challenge; WHO and all professionals working to safeguard public health; industry leaders and all taking precautions and making decisions to confront this challenge; and pastors, church leaders, and community leaders, who provide care and guidance for those they lead. As a global family, this is a time to let the light of Christ shine healing rays throughout the world.

In 1940 Britain faced her darkest hour with troops trapped at Dunkirk. Then a call for help went out, prayers were offered and 338,000 men lived to fight another day - ten times more than Churchill and the generals expected. It was a miracle. The sea was becalmed. Hitler uncharacteristically ordered his troops to halt, even though they surrounded the British in a pincer-like movement. Cloud covered Spitfire pilots, and 800 fishing and pleasure boats mounted an extraordinary rescue. Today we’re in a Dunkirk-like dark hour: Christ’s light is dim in the chaos of our nation. But prayer changes things. Intercessors are the ‘little ships’ crossing the currents of secular culture to rescue Britain. We must remember that it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit’ (Zech. 4:6) that the enemies of God will be defeated. For the source of these thoughts click the ‘More’ button.

Many observers are saying that the fresh wave of protests across Sudan could be pivotal. On 30 June at least seven were killed and 200 injured in clashes when thousands took to the streets demanding that the ruling military council hand over power to a civilian government. For Christians, the revolution initially brought hope of religious freedom, but now there is a keen sense of disappointment. A local Christian said, ‘If there is more of a democracy, hopefully, prayerfully there will be more freedom to be able to evangelise, and to share the message of Jesus’ love. What can we do? We need to be praying for the situation in Sudan.’ Pray for definitive peace and stability between the people and military commanders who continue to vie for power. Ask God for government leaders to rule with integrity and justice. Pray for the church to grow spiritually strong despite intense suffering and persecution.

Unless there is a postponement or a second referendum, the UK will leave (or partly leave) the EU on 29 March. Whatever the exact outcome, this will mark a watershed in our nation’s history and lead to a time of much disruption. The call to prayer is therefore urgent. Christians are primarily citizens of Heaven, and need to be about the King’s business. Pray that the Lord will give Christians, both rural and urban, renewed strength to show exemplary love for one another (John 13:34-35), ‘preach the word in season and out of season’, and to walk as ‘children of light’ in the midst of a dark world.

Across the nation people are saying “It is time to pray.” No wonder we have been rapidly plunged into a time of confusion and uncertainty. Terrorism has created fear and suspicion and we have the grief of devastated parents, families and friends and the increasing pressure on our public services.

The Grenfell Tower fire has added to that fear and grief and created a sense of rage against greed and lack of care that exposed so many people to the fast spreading flames.

The political uncertainty surrounding a hung parliament and a Prime Minister who many see as ‘damaged goods’ is creating a lack of confidence – happening so soon before complex and difficult Brexit talks adds to the nation’s vulnerability.

On top of all this, we have a range of vitriolic attacks on Christian politicians that either causes them to water down the gospel or risk being silenced in a range of areas.

A CALL TO PRAYER
The United Kingdom urgently needs your prayers. In June and July, we are asking church leaders to give prayer a central part in their services, small groups and bible studies to put quality time aside for prayer. As individuals, pray how you want to – in a quiet place, on a busy bus, in your car, at home, work, school or leisure.

HOW CAN I PRAY?
Here are four simple to follow themes:

Key leaders
Pray for key people in the nation and locally, that God will give them great wisdom and authority.
• Cressida Dick – the Metropolitan Police Commissioner and other Police leaders.
• Politicians – all of them under enormous stress – from Theresa May to Jeremy Corbyn, Amber Rudd the Home secretary and David Davis leading the Brexit negotiations.
• Pray for our national church leaders to be heard.

Protection
Pray as you drive, walk and travel “Lord protect and defend this area”.
• For God to expose and confuse terrorists.
• Pray against lawlessness breaking out on our streets or clashes between different communities.
• Pray for the Anti-terrorist teams near you to have Godly wisdom and insight.

Against fear
The enemy’s tactic is to make us afraid to go anywhere, to put a divide between Muslims and other communities and undermine our confidence that God is Sovereign.
• Pray for God does not give us a spirit of fear “but gives us love, power and self-discipline.” 2 Tim: 1.7. We are in an intense spiritual battle.
• Pray for God’s love, power and self-discipline to replace fear in crowded areas, schools, and communities.

God’s Kingdom to Come
We are in a spiritual battle. Many people are coming to Christ including many Muslims. The nation has been stirred to pray and the enemy hates the church, hates children and hates the Gospel. In the midst of uncertainty, let us pray this simple but powerful prayer – “Your Kingdom Come and your will be done” in the places we love.

Jesus wept. The Holy Spirit is the comforter. Let us pray for a great hunger for the presence of God in His Church. This nation needs the love of Christ and the peace of the Holy Spirit and it needs a Church that can take Jesus into every corner of our Isles. So our final prayer is:

“Lord draw me close to You, may I see Your face and know the depth of Your love. Amen”