Human Trafficking

…a prayer for:

• Those held in slavery, especially children and young women;
• Those who enslave;
• Those who fight against it.

Facts:

• Boys, girls, young women from around the world: 14,500 to 17,500 people are trafficked into the U.S. each year, primarily from Thailand, Mexico, Guatemala, Philippines and China.
• An additional 100,000 U.S. children exploited by the commercial sex industry each year.
• 200,000 U.S. citizens (primarily children and young women) face high risk of being trafficked within the U.S. for sexual purposes.

Please pray with me:
Father, human trafficking seems like something we only see on television. It seems to live somewhere else, removed from our reality. It is unthinkable that it is on our street, in our communities, in our parks…even right in front of us. We are unaware, unconscious, and therefore we miss it.

Forgive us for being so self-absorbed that we have overlooked such heinous activity. Father, we easily overlook these individuals and we dismiss them, rather than recognizing that they are each unique, one-of-a-kind, and precious in Your sight.

These are people You created and that You know. We minimize their value and their existence. Open our eyes, transform our awareness, raise up anger, and show us what we can do about this industry that is born of evil.

Father, little girls and boys, even toddlers, and young women —these most vulnerable people are held as slaves, hidden, abused, and without hope of escape. They are stripped of any value, treated as disposable animals, and repeatedly sold on a daily basis until they are finally discarded as trash. Surely, on every day of their lives, a part of them dies.

Where is hope? How can they find it? Strengthen them to hold strong. Comfort them in some mysterious way. Give them ideas of escape and a deep belief that there are people who seek their release and healing. Affirm in them that You, their Creator value them deeply and that You have not abandoned them.

Did you not speak to the child, Samuel, and call him? Children are precious to You. Are they not part of your inheritance? Rise up on this matter. Raise up an army so that these children and young women do not hope in vain.

What about family members who steal the self-worth through incest? Surely You must cry as this heinous sexual misconduct steals every speck of value from these victims. The damage is done. Something deep inside of them has been changed and only You can heal this deep, deep damage to their body and spirit. ONLY You! Truly, the damage is so deep that only You can reach it. Will You?

Forgive us for ignoring what is so difficult to even consider. Forgive us for knowing about it and turning our backs. Forgive us for filling our lives and minds up to the brink with frivolous amusements so there is no room to consider these realities that are before us. O Lord God of judgment, how will we stand before You. Surely, unless we change, we will weep at what we have attended to and what we overlooked. Save us from this fate!

We give You thanks that You are sovereign and that You beckon us to turn to You for help in time of need. Lord God, on this matter, we have been sparse in seeking You. Forgive us and put these things on our hearts. Bring true repentance and grant us prayers that we may seek You continuously on those things that are of such grave consequences.

We are to hate what You hate and love what You love. Surely You hate this industry and those who participate for their personal gain. Raise up Your army, Lord God of the Universe. Did You not tell us in Psalm 50 that the world is Yours? …and the fullness thereof? Then we ask for the following:

FOR THOSE WHO TRAFFICK:
It seems unbelievable that there are those who have sunk so low as to profit from the sale of another person. How can we have sunk so low? Father, what horrid, atrocious thing happened to those that are involved with the trafficking of human beings, selling their bodies, and organizing these hell-houses where others come and pay to indulge themselves? What goes so incredibly wrong that people visit these places?

Bring newness of life to those who organize, transport, and otherwise participate in this industry for their physical and financial gain. Open their minds and hearts to switch sides that many may be saved. Did you not do this with the Apostle Paul? And did he not serve You faithfully for the remainder of his life? Can You not do it here in this time and in these places? We ask it.

FOR THOSE WHO WOULD JOIN THE BATTLE:
Father, for an army of prayer warriors. Please protect the longevity of these prayer commitments. Enable them to continue and not tire. Protect them emotionally as they scope out the stories. Place an individual, perhaps a youth who is missing, for each person to pray for specifically.

Protect these prayer warriors from Satan who will hate and attack them. Place a wide and tall hedge about them and may the light of Christ be so bright that it blinds the enemy’s sharpshooters. Preserve and protect those who pray.

Place organizations in front of those who would join in the battle; and prick the spirit of those who would serve in them. Uphold these individuals, press and urge them to become involved.

You changed and hardened Pharaoh’s heart! You redirected the servants of King Saul and they prophesied. Can You not change the hearts of those who would become involved in this industry? Aren’t You able to redirect those who do evil, and focus those who would fight to raise up the cause of Christ.

FOR THOSE WHO FIGHT:
What about organizations like Love 146? They stand steadfast and unflinching. Daily, they move on the street. Strengthen their hearts and resolve. Protect their innermost beings from fainting at the disgust and waste that they face every day. Oh Father, protect their families and may they see clearly the balance between their unending work with it’s dire urgencies— and their families. May their families not be without their presence.

Holy Spirit, give them solutions, strategies, and raise up a network of protagonists to advocate for what is needed. Do they need funding? Physical houses? Offices? Staff? What about marketers, lawyers, temporary places of safety? Who will speak on behalf of Love 146 and other organizations? Must they do it themselves, in addition to their “street work”? Father, please bring many people alongside them with a deep commitment to help.

There are other organizations too. Put your shadow of invisibility over all of them that they become elusive to the enemy. Yet send out Your messengers to speedily bring miracle after miracle that You are glorified, and that Your testimony goes forth…and that these soldiers may be encouraged. May their joy be complete as new survivors move into recovery.

Give these warriors-for-the-cause a boldness, an undying strength. Give them insight and tactics to undermine this industry. Give them advocates to speak on their behalf and carry on the education to those of us who have been indifferent. May hearts be turned. May their words cause listeners to become activists.

Work in the hearts of the Church at large that we may hate this as much as You do. May we seek You with great audacity and feverous, vehement, and unceasing pesterings, that You would be compelled to move speedily and mightily!

Wage the war against this blight. May the light of Christ shine in the face of the enemy, so brightly that he enemy is blinded and left impotent to retaliate. May these warriors of Christ, snatch these victims out from under the hands of Satan.

All things are at Your disposal! All the money, all the resources – create a supply line of assistance, of revenue, of financial support, of people who will commit to helping to the rescue and healing of these people who have been imprisoned.

Father, may this army be unrelenting through Your strength, Your strong right arm, and Your hand and surely, by Your Spirit. May Jesus Christ be served with excellence that may we all stand honorably before You on the day of our judgment.

In the Name of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!

References:
Please read this article by World News Magazine
The Global Shame of Sex Trafficking:
http://www.worldmag.com/2015/08/the_global_shame_of_sex_trafficking

Those trafficked into the U.S.
http://misacor-usa.org/index.php/who-is-trafficked-in-the-usa-from-where

Types of human trafficking in the U.S.
http://misacor-usa.org/index.php/what-types-of-human-trafficking-in-the-usa
…are often forced to work in massage parlors, brothels, strip clubs and escort services. Some examples of human trafficking for forced labor in the United States include domestic work in private homes, small, family businesses such as restaurants, begging rings, factories and agricultural farms.

What the Bible teaches about human trafficking
http://www.gotquestions.org/human-trafficking.html

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime:
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html The United Nations defines human trafficking as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.”

Abortion in the U.S.

...a prayer for the wounded, the participants, and those who fight for the unborn.

The numbers: over 57 million abortions, 133,333 more every month and many mothers who have died during the procedure. Millions of mothers suffer from Post-Abortion Syndrome (PAS).

Please pray with me:

O great God of Creation, God of Life and Author of our faith. We come with heavy hearts as we see the changes in the U.S. culture, especially with regard to abortion. We seek Your guidance and Your will on how to respond.

Your Word tells us that: Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. (Psalm 127:3)

We seek You on behalf of all those who are involved in the eradication of Your inheritance. We have robbed You of Your reward. We have squandered Your inheritance… which was not our own.

People, especially women, have been lied to…and many have given up their children. Many have died during the procedure. Convenience has become our top priority.

We acknowledge that You are the God who changes hearts and we seek to do our part, to be responsible, to work as faithful stewards to testify of Your love and to fulfill our part in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20).

We pray for those considering abortion. Father, cause them to question their decision. Move in their hearts to seek alternatives. Bring credible people alongside each person—people who are equipped with a reasonable, tangible solution and alternative. By Your powerful Holy Spirit, may many lives be saved and may You receive the glory.

We pray for the thousands of people who participate in this lethal procedure. Lord God, who convicts the hearts of people. Please send Your Holy Spirit to work in their lives. Did You not turn the heart of the Apostle Paul? He was murdering Your children, yet, You changed his heart to serve You. We pray that these people will have a similar change of heart and become an army against this heinous slaughter.

We pray for those who suffer from the consequences from abortion: women and men, mothers, fathers, siblings, extended family, those who speak out against abortion, those who participate in the procedure, and those who choose not to care.

Father, so many millions of women suffer from Post Abortion Syndrome. It is a hidden shame and they suffer in silence. Raise up those ministries that currently minister to these people. The women as well as the men and their families. You know which organizations reach out to these people. Father, raise up the needed monies to extend their reach. Pour out the technology and oversee its functionality that no one who needs help is missed, or passed by. Lord may these people find help in their moment of need. Grant a steady flow of the healing balm of Gilead.

Father, we ask for additional ministries to rise up. For each abortion in history, rescue those involved, 57 million, to know the saving grace and forgiveness offered through the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Then, may they become ministers that together bring a healing can wash across the United States. Lord God, by Your hand, by Your Spirit, and for Your glory.

For those who support the pro-life movement: Father, move in the hearts and minds of those who feel strongly about the pro-life movement. Give them persuasive words that many more may be drawn to action. Create leaders in this movement who speak and act in love. May they not be silenced. May their words be you’re your heart and may they open the hearts of others that this movement may grow.

Bring hope and light. We look to You for it. We look for encouragement, and for a diligence of action that pleases You.

Father, our culture has turned from You. Have we been diligent in prayer? Have we taken a stand that prevents us from regrets when we stand before You? Oh God, where this is not the case, may we repent this moment and here on out, seek you diligently on behalf of our culture. Grant us all diligence and discernment to move stealthily and overcome the enemy.

Scriptures:
Jeremiah 1:5 KJV
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations

Psalms 139:13-16 KJV
13 For thou hast possessed my reins:
thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
marvellous are thy works;
and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee,
when I was made in secret,
and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect;
and in thy book all my members were written,
which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Proverbs 6:16-17
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

1 Peter 2:24
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Matthew 11:28
Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Philippians 3:13
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Resources:
Hope After Abortion
http://hopeafterabortion.com/

Hope and Healing After Abortion:
http://www.sistersoflife.org/hope-and-healing-after-abortion

Finding hope, help and healing:
http://www.silentnomoreawareness.org/articles/hopehealing.htm

What the Bible says about abortion:
http://americanrtl.org/what-does-the-bible-say-about-abortion

Effects of Abortion:
http://familyandlife.org/resources/faq/effects-abortion

Studies Show Abortion’s Negative Effects on Mothers:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1584019/posts

After Abortion:
http://afterabortion.org/

Number of abortions:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/1.72-billion-abortions-worldwide-in-the-last-40-years

http://www.numberofabortions.com/

Prayer for those persecuted for their faith in Christ

As Christians, we can expect to be persecuted for our faith in Christ. We should not be surprised.

2 Timothy 3:12 (KJV)
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Today, many will die for their faith in Christ. Around the world, believers are daily giving their lives for their Savior Christ.

Please pray with me.

Father in heaven,


(From Psalm 18)
Lord, many are persecuted for their faith in Christ. Today, many will lose their lives. Children will watch as their parents are murdered. Parents will watch as their children are taken from them, or are killed on the spot.

Terror is the weapon of choice. Lord, help us pray diligently!

May the Body of Christ love Thee with all our strength. As terror closes in, may each heart be established with Christ as the Rock, the Fortress, as the Deliverer. May each persecuted person be strengthened, and find peace in putting their trust in You.

You are their Buckler, the Horn of their Salvation. Lord, You are their High Tower. Lift up each heart in the joy that You promise. Holy Spirit, fill them with promises from the riches in Your Word:

1 Peter 4:12-14 (KJV)
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

May they truly rejoice in their heart as they offer their testimony of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. May their faithfulness be a sweet aroma before You. Holy Spirit, grant them presence of mind, and Christ-likeness to forgive their persecutors. May Your presence be their mainstay.

For their steadfastness:
Father, the sorrows of death compass about these people. Protect their hearts from fear. Ungodly men flood their minds and torture their bodies—hell envelopes them from every side. Focus their minds to call upon You and cry out knowing that You will hear their voice.

Fight their battles Father. All of heaven and earth beckon to Your voice. Did not the earth itself become formed at Your Word? Draw these treasured believers out of the waters. Deliver them from the enemy, from the day of their calamity. Be their stay.

Father, delight in these, Your servants who are steadfast for the cause of Christ. Shine brightly through them in this darkness of their life. Your way is perfect. You are a buckler to those who trust in You. You are their Rock. Save them Lord. Gird them with strength.

Teach them to war not against the powers of flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Eph. 6;12).

Give them the shield of thy salvation and uphold them by Thy right hand. Enlarge their steps that their feet not slip. Gird them with strength unto the battle and subdue those whom the enemy uses.

For their persecutors:
May the joy of those who are persecuted be so evident that their persecutors take pause. May Christ speak boldly and directly into the hearts and minds of those who kill, steal, and destroy as they serve the purposes of the enemy. And may they search and find Christ because of the testimony of those who die daily for Christ’s sake.

For those of us who know:
Father, we know these things are happening and yet we get so busy that we do not even stop and pray. Show us how to do our part and diligently pray for these, our honored brothers and sisters in Christ.

Help Lord…that we may be found faithful in the day of Your coming! You are the only Hope. Encourage us. Help us to prioritize our lives and align with Your will.

North Korea Publicly Executes 80 for Possessing Bibles Read more.

Prayer for Christian Churches in the U.S.

We know that Jesus is coming. The Bible tells us:

You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Luke 12:40 ESV)

Are we ready? Are churches ready? Are we as individuals ready? Each day, we are closer. Have we done our part?

Please pray with me:
----------------------

Father in heaven, You are the Great Designer, and You have created and ordained the earth. By contrast, we bring sin with us everywhere we go and we taint the beauty of Your Handiwork. Truly, we have spoiled Your stunning Creation. Our sin has such great cost.

And how did You respond? You sent Your Son. You came to us. You paid the price—which was so great. How can we understand such love? We don’t know how. We are humbled. We are grateful.

Praise and acclamation belong to You alone for Your patience and Your compassion. You have made us a new creature to those who believe in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (Lam 3:22-23).

Bring this to our understanding that our commitment to Your will and Your work in us can be complete. Let us not forget Hebrews 12:2:

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

May Your Word bring us great consolation, peace, gratitude and joy. May Your Word incite commitment and resolve to do Your will moment by moment.

We choose to be bound by our sin. Forgive us. Yet, this need not be! Hope is complete through Jesus Christ, who came to

“… preach good tidings unto the meek …bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

“… to comfort all that mourn; …to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:1, and Luke 4:18)

Where we have fallen short, where we have not been a message of hope to our communities, guide our churches to repent before You. We ask You to forgive us and open our eyes to see opportunity.

Surely we are Your body – Your outreach into the world to proclaim the Living Christ! But we fall short. We have not accepted the beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Therefore, we are not a “tree of righteousness” that glorifies You!

Help Lord! You can turn all this around! Have mercy on us! Oh Holy Spirit convict the hearts of whole churches to repent, to receive Your joy, Your beauty, and to exalt You with praise. May we eagerly cast off the spirit of heaviness! Establish churches as “trees of righteousness” —both individually and through their outreach. Let us cry out to You and may You clothe us in commitment!

Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, establish the root systems—roots that go deep and solid and are founded in Your Word. Water each church—the Holy Spirit leading and guiding the leadership and members. Cause each tree to grow into a balanced, stalwart foundation within each community.

May Your Holy Spirit have free reign that the fruit grow soundly and without blight. As fruit, may we be mature, firm; inviting and tasteful. May the Word of hope in Jesus Christ follow every member through every interaction of their week. And may Jesus Christ be glorified! Hallelujah!

May each church member gather in anticipation of glorious worship each Sunday, amazed at Your work to grow them both individually and collectively. May we be so excited to share what You have accomplished, that we can’t wait to encourage others and worship You in one accord.

May our worship rise up and may it be a savory perfume to You. May You be pleased with us daily—both individually and collectively. And may we find Your joy and peace as we enthusiastically demonstrate the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a habit of living in our lives.

In the Name of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!

Prayer for those held captive by pornography:

According to the Institute for the Study of Labor, a private, global, independent economic research institute, in their article on the impact of pornography on marriage, they indicate that in 2010, 13% of all Internet traffic is for “erotic content.” Essentially, pornography is replacing marriage. To hear an 11-minute podcast on this topic, from World News Group, please click here.

Please pray with me:

Adoration:
“Father, You know us (Rom 8:27). You know our hearts and minds, and You are a God of compassion (Psalm 145:8). You are gracious. You care diligently about our well being (I Peter 5:7).

You are holy and worthy of our praise and worship. Your love for us is without bounds, and You consistently beckon us to seek You, to seek Your help, and to receive Your grace and mercy.

You are the ultimate care and love for us. Your compassion is at the ready to embrace us and lift us from the muck and mire of our daily existence and bring us to a place of peace, security, and sufficiency.

Confession:
“We have not prayed as we should to save the institute of marriage, as You define it. We have not been diligent to find ways to preserve and mentor new marriages to increase their success rates—especially when they faced challenges. Forgive us.

“We have allowed marriage to become a temporary arrangement for a tax credit, rather than the covenant that You designed. We have forgotten that You are the Author of marriage and we have re-purposed and modified Your gift to accommodate our sin. Forgive us.

“We have allowed the media to pour out erotic messages and flood the public places with alluring sexual content. We have not been diligent in prayer against these messages or in prayer for those behind it, or the victims in front of it. Forgive us.

“We seek to satisfy our bodies without respecting them, or acknowledging them as a gift from you. We have not been good stewards. Forgive us.

“We have forgotten Your directive to populate the earth and we devised and elevated our own thinking to gratify ourselves without commitment or responsibility. Forgive us.

“We have followed this path of destruction for so long, that nations are now on the path to extinction. We know about this and we haven’t taken heed or corrective action. Forgive us and have mercy on us.

Thanksgiving:
Thank You that You care about each of us, and every part of our being (Luke 12:7). Thank You for Your commandments and instructions that You have given us— that we might be kept safe; that we can be protected against the harm of our enemy (John 10:10).

Thank You that You are a God of hope. Romans 15:13. Thank You that You have not left us without help, and You encourage and even command us to ask for Your assistance in all things. (Matthew 7:7)

Thank You that nothing is beyond Your ability. We come to You with thanksgiving that You are for us (Romans 8:31). We are grateful that nothing can separate us from Your love (Romans 8:38). We are grateful for the ultimate strength of Your love for us.

We thank You that You came to set the captives free (Isaiah 61:1).

Supplication:
O Father, many are held captive by pornography—at so many levels. Some are held captive to seek it, find it, and indulge in it. Some are captive to produce and distribute it. Some are caught and held against their will, forced to participate for the financial gain, and heinous indulgence of others. We appeal to You to help them.

You have commanded us in Psalm 119:37 to turn away our eyes from this sin. And you have shown us in Psalm 101:3 that we are not to set any wicked thing before our eyes. So we know that this is dangerous, that it is sin, and that it is possible to avoid it. We need Your help to be diligent and pleasing before You.

Send witnesses that will speak meaningfully to these individuals. Sharpen the mind and bring the words of life to these who are caught in this trap. Strengthen their minds to hear and protect the hearts of those who would listen.

Surely, O God, send Your Holy Spirit. May He comfort those who are ripped apart by addiction. May Your hope infiltrate their very being and not let go. May it give them resolve to flee from temptation through the strength that Christ bought on the cross to secure their freedom.

May those involved with this industry come to the realization that Your care is personal and it is for them. May they come to the humbling knowledge that Christ’s care includes dying for them—because of Your great love for them. May they realize that as their Creator, You made them with specific purpose and value…and may they cling to You to help.

Raise up an army of people who have been caught in the pornography trap. Save them! You are a merciful God! Save them from this destruction! Set them on a path to turn on their captors and lead the way to freedom. You, O God, can bring repentance to those who would hear. Yes, repentance and salvation and freedom for the captives.

So who are those who would hear and follow the path to freedom? You know. Raise up an army of prayer warriors to seek You diligently on behalf of those who suffer. May we be unrelenting before You day and night and not rest while this path of death torments its victims.

Encourage those who pray against pornography. Drive us to seek You and praise You for the release, the victory for each captive that is set free. Grant us vision on the support system needed that those who are free may remain so. Bring to life the ministers of Your Word to find and receive those who can hear.

Grant us prayers. Grant us undying hope. Establish in Your Word that we may be found faithful at the Day of His coming.

In Jesus’ Name.

Prayer for the lonely and homeless

At this time of year, when many in the U.S. gather with friends and family and take time to give thanks for their blessings. As those of us in the U.S. compare our standard of living with those around the world, we cannot but realize that we are blessed. And yet, when we take a careful inventory, we see many, even in our neighborhood who are hurting, hungry, and longing for community.

Please pray with me:

Lord God in Heaven,

You are the God who created the earth, the everlasting Father. You are comprehensive and complete. You are not bound by time; you have always been and You live equally in the past, present, and future.

You lack nothing; You have no needs. You revealed Yourself as Jehovah-Jireh, Yahweh-Yireh, the God who provides when Abraham needed a sacrifice, a substitute for his son, Isaac. And so many years later, You provided Your very own Son, Jesus Christ, as our substitute. We are humbled by our provision. We cannot grasp the cost of our sin. We cannot grasp the depth of Your love for us. We cannot fathom that Jesus, Your love for us brought You to die willingly and it was Your joy to take our sin upon Yourself. We love You and we come humbly before Your throne of grace.

We acknowledge that all good things come from You. We recognize that all our abilities have also come from You and You have even given us life itself. You give us freewill and the choice to use the very essence of who You made us to be for Your service. You call us to do so.

Forgive us when we have ignored those in need and passed them by without even uttering a prayer under our breath. Forgive us when we see and hear the news, when the needs of so many are directly in front of us, and we have not done what we could to help.

Truly You have given this nation so much, and we have not been diligent. We have not been scrupulous with the bounty that You have poured into our lives, individually and as a nation. Forgive us for not seeking You more diligently and using each circumstance of need as an opportunity to proclaim Christ by our love and or actions. Show us how to repent. Show us how to stop and take time to listen to Your Spirit.

Jesus, You came to set the captives free (Is. 61:1). We who have so much are held captive by the consumerism around us. We are held captive by the busy-ness that invades our calendars. We isolate ourselves in the midst of plenty, and ignore those in need.

Father, the lonely, the homeless…they are everywhere. Their pain is overwhelming, paralyzing. We don’t know what to say. We don’t know how to comfort them. We look past them to cover our own ineptness. We haven’t asked You what to do or invited the leading of the Holy Spirit into our lives on these issues. Lead us to change.

We often don’t know how to help so we come today asking, “How can we help? What can we do? What can we say? How can we comfort?” Show us how to commit ourselves to Your purposes in these areas.

Father we pray for the millions of lonely people, especially over the holidays, when aloneness is accentuated. Many people have no family. Many have family but are not welcome amongst them. You have given us a heavenly home, where we will always belong and where we are always welcome. Teach and lead us to invite the lonely to join us as citizens of the Kingdom of Christ.

Teach us to recognize loneliness and avail ourselves to comfort those in need. Oh Father, some of them live in our very homes, feeling lonely and excluded, alienated and unloved. Open our eyes to see these opportunities and pour out Your compassion through us that we might extend Your love to them.

During this season of holidays, family and friend events, the gatherings—may we bring warmth to those who are there and suffer from loneliness. There in our very presence, open our eyes and stir our hearts to bring relief and warmth to those in need.

Father, the homeless are everywhere. They are in our towns, our nations, and the world at large. Many are cold, shivering in the night. Many do not have the skills needed to survive. Bring unexpected blessings to the homeless. Stir those in the vicinity to help.

Strip away the cloud on our eyes that cause blindness in us so that we may be an unleashed army on behalf of these people. Help us to submit to the leading of Your Holy Spirit to bring Your blessing to those in need.

Build up an army of warriors against the challenges that prevent help from being loosed. Those that have financial resources, may they liberally give of their resources. Show them the organizations that diligently use the funding for its intended purpose. May gifting abound to them and may they be excellent stewards. Sustain the energy of these stewards to complete every detail in their charge.

Motivate those individuals who have time to give. Direct their steps to the place that can receive their gift of time. Bring a spirit of collegiality between the givers and receivers and may their time together be joyful. May the receivers be joyful, and the givers be humbled. May the blessing from You—given to those in need— be Your delight.

Father, there is such need of the homeless. The list seems endless and overwhelming: shelter, finances, a job, clothing, food…the entire foundation to be self-sustaining has been wiped out. Yet there are organizations that know how to make sense of the situation and lead people through to a place of dignity and self-sustenance.

We pray for these organizations and ask for the needed funding and know-how. May there be volunteers with the needed skills to help restore these individuals. May their dignity be restored. May You send an unceasing reservoir of hope. Invigorate these people with a drive to secure a life of independence. May they help others and may the successes build into an avalanche of success. Father, You have entrusted us to be Your hands, Your feet, Your voice, and Your presence. Show us how to be diligent stewards that in the Day of Your Coming, we are found faithful.

In Jesus’ Name.

Prayer for the U.S. Elections

There never seems to be enough time to be diligent in our choices when it’s time to vote. How can we carefully evaluate our options, the character of the people who are running for office and what they believe? The media overwhelms us with social, psychological, visual, and aural hype and litter. The election is coming up quickly. May we be diligent in our prayers.

Please pray with me:

Thank you that we still live in a nation where we can vote and express our voice by voting. We acknowledge Your Word that  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but Your words shall not pass away. (Matthew 24:35).

You tell us in Romans 13:1:

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Yet, O merciful Father, when we see what is going on in the world, in places like North Korea, China, Russia and the Middle East, we cannot understand the heinous actions. We look at the incredible blessing that You have poured out here and we are humbled. Yet, we have taken our freedom and blessing for granted. Forgive us.

We are grateful when we read Romans 8:28:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Yet we know that this comes with a price. We acknowledge that our nation has deteriorated to greater and greater depths of sin.

In Your Word, 1 Timothy 2:1-2 You exhort us:

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Father, You have placed us here at this time. There are no details that You have not attended to, nothing that has escaped Your attention. We rest in the fact that You are the True and Living God. Truly, there is none like You. We come before You, a holy God, knowing that Your love is sure and we know that You are for us. We thank you.

Father in heaven we seem to be at a cross-roads in this nation. We are here because we have been at crossroads many times before and perhaps we were asleep. I know I was asleep. I have not been diligent. Please forgive me.

I acknowledge that I have not attended to those things I know are not from You; abortion, drugs, homelessness, indiscretion with regard to sexual practices and laws that protect these and other activities...and l have not prayed for our leaders. I have criticized them and not sought Your help in praying diligently for them. Forgive me and pour out prayers through me for them from this day forward. Give me a heart to pray for our leaders and this nation and prayers of substance that I may be found diligent and without embarrassment in the Day of Your coming.

For those who are believers who have courageously entered the political arena:
Holy Spirit, grant these people courage. In each day may the testimony of Christ be spoken without hesitancy. May their lives be an example to those with whom they meet, talk, and influence. Give them the words to speak, the emotional intelligence to handle their demeanor in a reasonable manner and tone so that others can hear. May Your Truth rise up above the din.

You gave the Apostle Paul discourse and argument that was so solid that many could understand. Grant your political servants the words, the logic, and the character so that others will see them as true leaders and follow them. Open the eyes of those who see and hear these testimonies and may they see the direction as viable, credible, and possible.

For those who are running for office:
Father, Your Word: Daniel 2:21

21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

Hold them strong who are Your chosen politicians. Grant them wisdom and may the hedge of protection be wide and deep. As the slandering commentary and verbal trash of untruth is unleashed through the media, separate Your chosen leaders in the minds of voters. Give voters discernment and direction to make sense of the deluge of information. May Truth rise to the top. We believe Your Word is Truth. We believe that Jesus Christ is Truth.

Grant these men and women who are Your children, a stalwart single-minded focus. May their honor and integrity be unquestionable in the minds and inner being of those who hear them.

For the families of candidates:
Father, we pray for the families of Your chosen politicians, that their health be secured. That they be shielded from the dirt and filth of the world that would speak lies and deliberately and intentionally issue hurtful words against these candidates and their families. Protect them and pour out Your Word upon them. Hold them strong and grant them a resolve to stand for what is right—as You define it. Protect them physically from disease and accident. Protect them emotionally, psychologically and spiritually and may they cling to Your Word for strength, comfort, and inner peace.

For voters:
Father, please cause the messages of Your choosing to find their way to voters. Give them an ability to hear through the riffraff to understand the true message. We ask for a hunger for substantive matters. Help us to differentiate messages that are unimportant and receive the needed information to make decisions that will stand before Christ.

We so need the leading of Your Holy Spirit! Grant us patience, and diligence in seeking Your direction and leading. Grant us ears to hear. We want to hear the Word from our Shepherd and follow it. Grant us our desire to be true followers of Christ in every way, and especially in our choices as we face these elections.

Father there are decisions that need to be made where it seems there is no win. How do we manage the choices where there is no worthy candidate? How do we make a decision? Help us to clearly hear Your leading. May we leave the election booth with peace that we have voted according to Your will.

There are many believers who can vote and do not. Father, awaken them. Cause them to be dissatisfied with this choice. May they be ashamed that they are not exercising a freedom that has been so hard won. May we be humbled by the opportunity to cast a ballot as we see those in Hong Kong who are fighting for this right. May we see this as a privilege as we observe how many people in the world do not share in this freedom. And may we not take it lightly. Humble us.

Raise us up as a voice to be reckoned with. May Your Church in the U.S. rise up from sleep. May we gather together to pray for our leaders. Establish us as a viable voice that must be recognized. We acknowledge Matthew 18:20:

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Give us opportunity to claim this promise, especially where the elections and our leaders are concerned.

Behind these candidates and this election is the very culture and security of this nation and its future. Show us how to take a stand and be established as the “Nation Under God” that You birthed. May we become people of action, beginning with this election. May we rise up en masse to stand strong for the values and direction that our founding fathers established as the root of our being. May our manner is exercising speech and action please You and be usable by Your Spirit so that others may realize that You are Truth and Justice.

For a new day in the U.S.:
Grant us a righteous anger in our prayers and may we verse them to You continually. Help us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves in the expression of this anger—that the testimony of Christ not be tarnished. May the Love of Christ be evident in our lives and provide the True Light that others may see and follow.

Help us to become spiritual leaders. May we diligently study Your Word that the “new creature” in us be a beacon for those who are seeking You. Show us how to be “salt that has not lost its flavor” to a world that watches.

May we no long be content to stand on the sidelines as mere observers as the culture of the U.S. disintegrates before us. Pour out prayers through us. Fill us with the hope and enliven out spirit with Your Holy Spirit. May others know we are Christians by our love.

In Jesus’ Name and for His sake.

(Please add your prayers and support in the comments section.)

Prayer for the Ebola epidemic

We learn that time is of the essence with regard to the Ebola epidemic and that thousands are dying as it spreads. Learn more.

Please pray with me:

Lord God of Heaven,

You are the Creator and all the earth submits to Your will. Only You can bring good from all situations. I claim Romans 8:28.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

You have allowed this virus and it has taken the lives of so many and is devastating the lives of so many more. It is not something I can understand. I do see that here in the U.S. we are more concerned about our own safety rather than seeking how we can help. Forgive us. We are driven by fear— when You have offered Your perfect love to cast it out. Forgive us.

Truly, there is nothing happening that does not submit to Your purpose, so the virus is under Your rule.

Father, for those who minister to the victims and serve in the cleanup:  May those who work tirelessly, be strengthened for each day. Protect their bodies from the virus and may the bleach wash kill every cell of ebola that threatens them. Give them discernment as they approach people that their bodies may be protected. Father, the suits that they wear—may there be enough of them; may they have the needed supplies to keep themselves safe. 

Shield them from the emotional devastation as they see young children die, and other children lose their entire family. Cover these servants secure their bodies as well as their minds. Father, I can not imagine the emotional cost, the turmoil, the heartbreak that these workers face every day. Permeate their thinking to protect their heart.

For the leaders and officials: surely, they need wisdom as well as words. Bring the right information to them that they can make good decisions. Grant them a spirit of collaboration and unity of mind and purpose as they make these decisions. I include the doctors, their staff, the civil and national leadership— grant them focus, direction, and a plan that bring hope to those they serve. Change them Father that their lives be committed to true service. Grant them a heart of compassion. Strengthen them emotionally, especially where difficult decisions must be made.

For the families of victims, and those that have contracted the disease: Father, denial runs rampage and fear drives people to poor decisions. Raise up the voices of those who have recovered to be an encouragement for those who who are sick. May those who are ill and their family and friends, not be in denial but act swiftly that this disease be contained and they may live. May the ramifications of their decision to hide their symptoms be unacceptable and may they do the right thing.

So many people have lost their friends and their family. Yet You are there crying with them. Cause us to repent. Cause us to value this situation as an opportunity to seek You and draw close to You. I know You are ready to draw close to them—Oh Father, may their voices reach out in their desperation and their loss. May survivors and family reach out to those that grieve.

For the dying: Father, those that have contracted the disease and wonder if they will live. May Your Word of Life be spoken to them. May they realize their peril and seek You for their salvation. As they plead for their lives, may the salvation of Jesus be spoken to them. May they receive Your Gift of salvation and may the Name of Jesus rise victorious for them as well as their families and friends. May this entire situation be a revival for the glory that You for those who would call on Your Name. Jesus! Jesus Christ— may the Message and the Truth go out.

For new believers: May many turn to You. May they live to speak the Truth about Jesus and salvation. May there be an incredible revival and may the joy of Your Salvation fill the land with hope. Father, cause many people to speak Your Word and may the new believers grow quickly and minister to You and those who are dire for the Good News.

For those in the U.S.: Father, we have become a nation that is selfish and self-serving. Forgive us for being more concerned about our own safety than helping those in need. You have given us so much—like the ability to contain this virus, yet we are reticent to help those are fighting it afar. Raise up Your church to pray for our nation and free us from the love we seem to have for our stuff.

Cause our gaze to reach further to identify opportunity to share, to give, to use the prosperity that You have brought forth for Your purposes. Raise up prayer warriors and encouragers. Raise up an army that petitions You on how to walk by faith and not by sight. Squelch the fear that we choose instead of the love that would cast it out. Forgive us for our poor choices.

May we align with Your will. May preachers, and pastors be burdened to lead their congregations to take action. May the prayers from this nation and abroad capture Your attention and minister to You. Use this deadly virus to cause us to make change in our lives. May this catastrophe be part of the harvest for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

For the doctors, medical teams, researchers, and facilities: Father, please give these people ideas and insights on this virus. Guide their thinking on how to protect those who are well, and new considerations on the treatment of the sick. May those who are treating the victims be protected by Your grace. Grant a collaboration amongst the teams to come up with new and effective treatments. For the University of Nebraska Medical Centers and other facilities – raise up leaders to prepare for the near future and bring truth about the disease so that we know what is needed to protect this disease from spreading in the U.S. May there be no false statements that "all is well." Protect us with the truth and grant us emotional savvy to respond in ways that are helpful.

Grant us hope. Fill us with hope. Fill use with an encouraging word. Speak out Words of Life for all of us that would get involved that we may have an outpouring of joy in what You, the God of Creation will do. Open our eyes to see what You will will do and give us words of testimony that others may see too! Raise us up to care about the matters of Your heart and not our own.

Hear our prayers, in Jesus’ Name.

(Please add your prayers and support in the comments section.)

Prayer for the United States, our culture, the church, and a call to repent...

As we witness that the culture of the United States is deteriorating, please pray with me:

God of Creation,

You, who made the universe and all therein, You are worthy to be praised. You are holy, O God, and it is impossible for You to look on sin. We sin. Show us the path to repentance. In Your great love for us, You have placed the path to righteousness that we might have relationship with You. Thank You.

You have shown us Your mercy and Your grace through Your Son, Jesus Christ the Lord. Thank You. Your compassion for us is undeserved. You sought us out, and provided a pathway to relationship with You as a free gift. If we only believe. Your graciousness is beyond what we can think or understand.

The U.S. is under siege and we, Your church have enjoyed freedoms without protecting them. Forgive us. We have not diligently prayed for our leaders or our nation. We have not watched diligently. You have given us so much but we have squandered the incredible measure of your lavish provision—when many in the world have nothing. We have not sought You, individually or as a nation and we have been driven by greed and fear. We have looked to ourselves for our sustenance and forgotten that You are our Provider. Forgive us. Call us to repent. To my shame, I have done these things. Forgive me.

O God, awaken the Body of Christ here in the U.S. Cause us to weep at that tragedy that lies all around us. We have allowed our culture to deteriorate without taking a stand. We have not acknowledged that the bountifulness of this nation comes from You. Instead, we have taken credit and You have been pushed out of the picture.

Did we pray fervently when prayer was taken out of the schools? Did we turn our backs when abortion clinics were setup? Did we question potential leaders during each election season? I didn’t. Forgive me. Forgive us. Cause us to arise. Cause us to awaken and turn from our lethargy.

Pour out prayers through Your church. Open our eyes to hear Your heart on these matters. May we beseech You day and night on behalf of this nation and its leaders. May we turn from our ways.

Father, Your church seems silent and it seems this is of our own choosing. Change us. Bring us a sense of urgency. Bring us unrest that we may rise up. May we do so in Your love and compassion. May we reach out to our neighbors and community each day with the love of Christ. Give us discernment and squelch the criticism and judgement that we are so quick to embrace.

Bring Your church together. May the Spirit raise us up in “the joy and unity of the Lord” and may it cause those who see to wonder. May Your love be expressed appropriately, with discernment and not mar the testimony of Christ. May truth reign in our hearts and minds. May they know us by our love.

Surely the harvest is ripe. People are empty and without purpose. You are hard to find in our culture because we have pushed You out and we have hidden our faith! O Father, fashion us into an army for Christ that others can say, “That’s what I’ve been looking for. Tell me what it is, so that I may have what you have.” Raise us up, daily. Bring a resurgence of revival for our nation.

Grant us the gift of shame once again. Open our eyes and hearts to see our error. Help us to raise up the Salvation of Christ and commit ourselves to Him as Lord of our lives, our thoughts and our actions. Invigorate us for the cause of Christ and send us forth as a trained and effective army that invites the lost—a message of hope and a message they can willingly embrace.

Have mercy, O gracious God, for we ask it in Jesus’ Name.


(Please add your prayers, support, and "Amen" in the comments section.) 

Prayer for Boko Haram and their captives

Yesterday in the news, it was reported that Boko Haram laid explosives on one young kidnapped girl and sent her into a school where they detonated the explosives. It was reported that as a child learned of this situation, she said, “God is our refuge and strength. May we enjoy Him while we still have life.”

Please pray with me:

Oh God of Creation, Lord Jesus,

Hear these feeble prayers for these young girls, kidnapped by Boko Haram and for members of Boko Hiram.

The courage of these saints in Christ puts me to shame as I live in such luxury. Forgive me for not taking greater care in prayer for the persecuted, and those imprisoned for the testimony of Christ.

They are tortured, they are sent to their death. May Your presence be so tangible and their joy so complete that their captives are stymied. May they be protected from the false teachings and may You seal them from doubt. Father, may the angelic host protect their mind and may Your Holy Spirit fill their consciousness with Scripture. Truly, may they pray for their persecutors.

These members of Boko Haram—Oh God have mercy. Capture their minds and hearts. May they be filled with doubt. May they find a breach in this evil to question the brain-washing that permeates their soul. Shake them at their core and cause them to cry out to You Oh Lord. May Truth reign!

Jesus, You are Truth. Use these mere children to proclaim the new creature, created by the Holy Spirit. May their testimony of true purity cause their captors to be afraid. Fill the hearts of these men with fear. May they shake and shiver in the knowledge that You are the Most High God.

Father, may these children, staunch warriors of Christ be filled with song. May Thy Spirit uplift them so strongly that their physical pain and emotional angst is out-of-mind.

Sharpen their discernment and sense of Your presence. May it be their comfort and silence the loneliness.  Fill these young hearts with prayers for their captors. May they minister to their captors, to each other, and to You gracious Lord. May their testimony be incomprehensible to those who see and hear them.

Raise up Your Church here in the U.S. and pour out prayers through us for the persecuted church around the world. Wake us up and cause us to urgently be vigilant on their behalf. May we not be found sloppy in our Christian walk. May we not hide from the situation of the church in the busy-ness of our day.

Lord, for these children, grant us prayers by Your Holy Spirit.

In the of Jesus, who was and is and is to come...

(Please add your prayers, support, and "Amen" in the comments section.)