There’s a National Day of prayer and fasting in the UK on Friday 22nd of January. Will you pray for our nation? You could:
- Contact a few Christian friends and pray for 30-60 minutes together online
- Set reminders on your phone throughout the day, and pray by yourself, or just with those in your household/ bubble
- Join the free event online “Day of Prayer for our Nation” from 6-7pm (Click here for the ticket link)
If you don’t know anything about this, here’s some information:
This message, from Pastor Ian Christensen, included a verse from 2 Chronicles 7:14
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
What an incredible verse from God’s word. I’m no expert on prayer, but here’s a simple pattern you could use.
Prayer suggestions:
Praise God!
What better way to start than to praise His name!
Father, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon
Luke 11:2
Humble ourselves:
Do you long for revival, for God to move in a powerful way and for huge numbers to turn to Christ? This will only happen if we humble ourselves. Is there anything we need to repent from:
- personally
- as a church
- as a nation?
Maybe spent some time asking God these questions and listening to Him.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Psalm 139: 23-24
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Psalm 19: 12-14
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Forgiveness and restoration
Thank God that He is merciful to those who repent and turn to Him.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
Psalm 51: 12-17
and make me willing to obey you.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
and they will return to you.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,
that my mouth may praise you.
16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Make your requests (A few ideas)
- May we be singing joyfully of our forgiveness to those around us- both in our attitude, and in our actions
- Pray for protection of those working on the front line; teachers, NHS staff, care home workers, carers. The list goes on- God knows them and their struggles. Pray that God will use their gift and talents (and add to them) so they can serve or bring healing to others. May the glory go to God.
- Pray for those in leadership, especially for our government. Ask that they would have a fear of the Lord, that their decisions would be godly.
- Pray for children and young people. May they not feel pressurised with school work or have a fear of the unknown.
- Pray for the elderly and socially isolated. May they know they have a Father who knows and loves them.
- Pray for those who don’t feel safe. Those in abusive relationships or clinically vulnerable. May their eyes be fixed upon you.
- Pray for those who are ill, in hospital, especially if family are not allowed to be near them. Pray for healing and that they may know God’s comfort and peace.
- Pray for those who are mourning.
- Pray for local businesses
Pray blessings on your local community:
I found this prayer of blessing online from Local Houses of Prayer, maybe you could pray this as a blessing over your community:
Heavenly Father, we take upon ourselves the mantle of authority that Jesus delegates to His disciples, and in this unprecedented season we speak to every household in our communities and we say to you:
‘‘We bless you in the Name of the Lord. We bless you that the peace of God that passes all understanding may reign over your homes. We bless your marriages that they may be strong and whole. We bless the partners in each marriage that the relationship between them may be loving, forgiving, merciful and strong. We bless every intergenerational relationship within each household that there may be peace and love and understanding flowing between each one.
In particular we bless those in our communities who are feeling alone or isolated at this time. In Jesus’ name we bless every network of wholesome and supportive friendship. We bless you with innovative ways to connect and support one another. We bless your relationships that they may be strengthened and deepened during this season.
We bless the health of all those in our communities that you may be strong and well. In particular we lift up those who have underlying health conditions and we in Jesus’ name we resist any sickness or disease which seeks to invade this community. To every person both young and old we say, be well, be strong, be healthy. To any who are currently suffering with Covid-19 we say we bless you in Jesus’ name with a speedy recovery. We bless the relatives and friends of those who are sick that the Lord may comfort you at this time.
To those working on the frontline in health services, we honour you and we bless you in Jesus’ name. We bless you with great strength, wisdom, and divine strategies to bring health to those who are suffering so acutely at this time. We bless you with a sustained resilience as you continue to serve the most vulnerable.
To the business owners in our community who continue to serve us we bless your wealth. We bless you with divine strategies for your business during this challenging season. We bless you to have enough to live and enough to give. We bless the work of your hands that whatever you turn your hand to which is wholesome may be profitable.
We bless the grass of the fields that it may be strong and nutritious throughout the year. We bless the flocks and herds that they may be well and strong and that they may multiply. We bless the cultivated land that it may yield rich harvests.
We bless the local schools at this time. We bless the teachers with creative and engaging strategies to impart principles and learning. We bless the children’s capacity to learn and develop relationships and we bless their simple trust in Jesus, that their trust may grow and become enriched. We speak to the churches and all other places of Christian worship and we say we bless you in the name of the Lord. We bless you as you meet and connect online and in new ways that the Holy Spirit and the word of God may flow out from you in power. We bless the hearts of all who live in this community that you may be quickened to hear and respond to the voice of the living God.
We bless all who live and work here, that the overspill of the blessings of the presence of the Kingdom of God may fall upon you. We bless you that unprecedented breakthroughs would follow this season of brokenness.”
Amen
You can download this prayer of blessing here:
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