21 day prayer diary

Prayer diary Week 3 – The ends of the Earth!

This week we will focus on the world. Each day we will pray for two or three items: for one of our overseas workers, for a country in the headlines, and for a key global issue. I’ve tried to deal with big issues in short paragraphs. Apologies that some of these issues have been simplified, but I hope that it opens our eyes to what’s going on , and so helps us to pray…

Day 15: Saturday 5/02/2005

Indonesia This is the 4th most populous nation in the world and the largest Islamic nation in the world. Whole Christian communities have been attacked and destroyed by Muslim militias in recent years and violent attacks on churches and believers still continue. The northern end of Indonesia – Aceh on the island of Sumatra – was the worst hit area by the recent tsunami in the Indian ocean – whole towns and villages have been wiped out. Pray for protection for the Christian population in volatile areas of Indonesia. Pray for the government and world community to work actively to protect them. Pray for the survivors of the tsunami to be able to rebuild their lives and communities and that the disaster relief would be well co-ordinated in helping the survivors to do this. Pray for workers for the harvest. Pray for church planting movements to be established in every nation of the world.

Day 16: Sunday 6/02/2005

Iraq. Pray for ordinary Iraqis who suffered under Saddam and now suffer under anarchy. Pray for Christians who lack any physical protection from Muslim attacks, save to flee the country. Pray for those who are sharing their faith. Pray that the US and UK governments would not seek their own interests but the interests of the Iraqis. Pray for peace and stable government. Pray that the physical and spiritual forces of violence would be disarmed.

The Global Economy. Pray for Christians in positions of influence in corporations and governments to bring about policies that are a genuine blessing to poorer nations. Pray that greedy, powerful corporations would not be able to get away with dictating policy to nation states. Pray that the church in the West would not compromise with mammon. Pray that we would all learn to have the servant heart of Jesus.

Day 17: Monday 7/02/2005

China. The most populous nation in the world, and the one with the fastest growing economy and fastest growing church. The miracle of massive church growth that God has brought about through the house church movements of ordinary Chinese is incredible. The commitment of the believers is unshakeable.
Pray that the Chinese regime is blind to the activity of the church and cannot see to attack it. Pray that the passionate commitment of the Chinese believers would stay pure. Pray for the release of Chinese pastors held in prison. Pray that Chinese missionaries travelling through Asia would understand the nations in which they are working and see church planting movements established.

Global Terrorism. Pray that terrorist networks would be uncovered and broken up. Pray that any genuine injustice fuelling terrorism would be properly addressed. Pray that Islamic fundamentalists would see and discover a relationship with the living God revealed in Jesus. Pray for Western governments to know the appropriate response to terrorism and not to make the problem worse. Pray that the church world-wide would rise us in prayer to do battle in the heavenlies with the forces of the enemy that control such demonic activity.

Day 18: Tuesday 8/02/2005

Nigeria. Nigeria, in West Africa, is one of the largest and strongest nations of Africa. It is also one of the main places where Christian sub-Saharan Africa meets Muslim North Africa. The result is often violence. A number of regions in the North of Nigeria have imposed Islamic Shar’ia law and sought to impose it upon Christians as well as Muslims. In March, April and May 2004 many churches were burnt down by Muslim mobs and riots resulted in hundreds of Christians dying. The church in the south of the country is strong and bringing blessing to other parts of the world, including Camberwell! Pray that the Nigerian government would know how to handle religious and ethnic tension, yet still take a firm stand against Islamic fundamentalism and violence. Pray for the advance of the gospel in the north of the country. Pray that from the church would become a blessing to the whole world. Pray that the nation would use its oil revenues wisely, and that there would be stability and justice in the nation.

Day 19: Wednesday 9/02/2005

United States of America – The USA is the biggest in so many ways – economic and Christian. We have so much to be grateful for from the US, not least how God has used many key US Christian leaders to minister blessing into the world-wide body of Christ. From Azusa Street to Pensacola, Vineyard to Morning Star we have been blessed. Yet at the same time two key issues face the US. A growing secular agenda at home and a growing violence abroad. US Christians tend to stick with George Bush because of his stance against secularism, yet seem unable to come to terms with the gun-ho attitude abroad. Since 1945 the US has invaded or interfered in an average of one foreign nation per year. History will record whether US foreign policy preserved our freedom or accelerated the decline of everyone else’s. Pray for Christians in the US to discern what is really going on. Pray that moves to promote gay “marriage” and abortion would fail. Pray that Christians would be able to speak and live out the truth in Christ-like love for all. Pray that freemasonry would be exposed among the powerful in nation and government. Pray that the US would understand how to relate to other nations without resort to violence or control. Pray that instead the US would send out more and more missionaries.

Day 20: Thursday 10/02/2005

Aids. There were 40 million people with AIDS world-wide in 2004. Pray that those suffering from AIDS would not be shunned or neglected – either by individuals or the world community. Pray that Western drug companies would make available drugs to those in poorer nations at a reasonable price. Pray that health would take priority over profits or patents. Pray for effective sex education that also promotes Godly living. Pray for spiritual transformation in South Africa, India and Nigeria, all nations that have significant Christian populations, yet need to turn to the Lord in a new way.

Day 21: Friday 11/02/2005

Pray for International Network (INet). This is The Wells mission’s agency through which we, along with the other churches of the Transform Network, support around 40 workers in 12 different nations around the world.

More workers Luke 10:2 “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into the harvest field. Go!” Pray that the Lord would send more workers. Pray that our eyes would be opened to the harvest. Pray that more workers and finance would be devoted to the least reached areas. Pray that as a church we would make a significant impact to the completion of world evangelisation.

Israel / Palestine. Pray that the demonic cycle of violence would be broken. Pray for the new Palestinian leadership to be empowered to deal with the militias on one side and the Israeli government on the other. Pray for reconciliation between Arab and Jewish believers. Pray that Arab Christians would not lose hope, and be protected from attacks. Pray for a massive turning to Jesus by Arabs and Jews.

Global Prayer. In the last decade a global prayer movement is starting to arise. Praise God! His people are taking seriously the call to lay hold of heaven that the earth may be changed. Sunday 15th May this year will mark the first Global Day of Prayer and we will be part of that. Millions and millions of believers will be gathering together in groups of all sizes in all countries to come before God. Pray for leaders in the global prayer movement to be protected and to hear clearly from God. Pray that a new army of intercessors would be mobilised to pray in change where our governments have been unable to succeed. Pray that as The Well we would know how to take our place in this movement. Pray for the organisation of the Global Day of Prayer. Pray for the gospel to go to the ends of the earth and for the return of our Lord Jesus!