Intercessory prayer is the purifying bath into which the individual
and the community must enter every day.
(Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
and the community must enter every day.
(Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
Before You Ask
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:7-8)
Many people think their prayers won’t work if they don’t utter them clearly enough, or fail to explain to God exactly what they mean, or don’t speak loudly enough to him with sufficient earnestness. But when this happens, prayer becomes so exaggerated that our Savior even forbids it.
Obviously Jesus does not want to discourage us from praying. His point is that when we pray we must have a sense of proportion. Once we have prayed, we must be quiet. We need to be like the farmer who has sown his seed. Help will come only when you are quiet in faith. Also in your sickness or with other needs, learn to be still and look to the Kingdom of God.
We can share our needs with the Father in a few words, without making a fuss, and rest assured that God already knows what we need and what he will do to help us. We don’t have to explain our requests in great detail to God, or try and make quite sure that he knows our needs. God knows about even the smallest matters and takes them straight into his heart. We can turn to him by glancing Heavenward, with no words at all. We can do this even when we pray about something concrete and tangible, or about something that specifically troubles us. We may realize that what we thought we needed is actually not necessary and that we can find a way right in the midst of how things are now.
This doesn’t mean that we just let things happen – as if everything will come of its own accord without our longing for it. Nor should we just cast a brief and hurried request at God’s feet. When this happens, we too easily lose sight of God, assume that everything comes to us without his help, and we forget to thank him. Then we cease to have a believing heart and are consequently not true children of God.
Jesus said, “Before you ask him.” Therefore we do need to make our requests known to him, otherwise many things will not be given that could have been given. It never displeases God when we come to him with our heartfelt requests. A real child asks for everything, knowing God has an ear for him. We should bring all our burdens and needs to him, for at the very least this helps to make us ever more aware that in all things God is the giver.
God always has our interest in mind. He carries our various needs with fatherly concern, eagerly waiting for us to come to him. He has not forgotten us. And when we feel tempted to think so, then all the more we should remember that he knows it all and cares for us. In fact, he knows much more about us and our needs than we do. Simple, childlike prayer is enough to move his heart, give you something out of the fullness of his compassion, and save you from all sorts of fear and trouble.
(Johann Christoph Blumhardt)
(The God Who Heals, Words of Hope for a Time of Sickness)
Request a prayer and pray for others
To request a prayer, click on the blue button below that reads, Share Your Prayer Request.
To pray for others, look below the form to see what prayers have been requested.
You may add your prayer request to this prayer wall using the form below. Once your prayer request is received, I will share it according to your instructions. Feel free to submit as many prayer requests as you like!
Julia
The abortion industry purposefully targets and exploits vulnerable women when they’re feeling hopeless and scared, deceiving them into believing abortion is their only option. Pray for all those who work to reach hurting, abortion-determined women searching for an abortion so their babies will be rescued. (Human Coalition)
Received: May 8, 2018
Julia
Rwanda
Pray for Catrin Tuyizere who returns to part-time work this month after the birth of her baby. She continues to work for the diocesan education department in Kigali, concentrating especially on one of two primary schools. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide her in this work and to bless the children. Remember Chris and Karen Roberts, short-term mission partners working in the dioceses in the education and youth departments.
(Church Mission Society)
Received: May 8, 2018
Julia
Syria
A report concludes that the return of Syrian refugees to their homes would require safety from militant groups and response to years of religious persecution.
Pray with refugees as they wait for these critical factors.
(Open Doors)
Received: May 8, 2018
Julia
Church burnt in Lahore, Pakistan
A church in Lahore’s Shahdara Town, was torched by vandals. The incident unfolded on April 15,Sunday when the under construction building of the church was set on fire. The church is situated in Paracha Colony, in Shahdara Town area Lahore, Pakistan. Kindly keep Christians of Pakistan in your prayers. (Imran Saleen)
Received: May 8, 2018
Julia
A Prayer for the Feast Day of Julian of Norwich
Lord God, who in thy compassion didst grant to the Lady Julian many revelations of thy nurturing and sustaining love: Move our hearts, like hers, to seek thee above all things, for in giving us thyself thou givest us all; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Received: May 8, 2018
Julia
Lord, we lift up the AFM family and ask for your blessing of health and protection over each one. This month we particularly lift up our trainer DT, our member care coordinators, Andy and Janet, and our communications director, Stephanie. Pray that God would bless the work of their hands and grant them and our Richmond staff efficiency and efficacy in their work. Amen.
(Anglican Frontier Missions)
Received: May 7, 2018
Julia
Pope Francis on May 6, 2018, called for prayers for the people of the Central African Republic, where attacks have killed and wounded numerous people in the past few days.
“I invite you to pray for the population of the Central African Republic, a country I had the joy of visiting and that I carry in my heart, and wherein past days grave violence took place with numerous dead and wounded, among them a priest. Through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, may the Lord help all to say no to violence and revenge, to build peace together. Amen.
Received: May 7, 2018
Julia
Imprisoned American Pastor Andrew Brunson's trial resumes today in Turkey.
The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention - the independent panel that investigates arbitrary arrests and detention - has agreed to take his case.
We pray for Pastor Andrew's release.
Amen.
(American Center for Law and Justice)
Received: May 7, 2018
Julia
God of all creation,
We lift up before you the nation of Papua New Guinea
and especially the people of the Highlands Province
as they recover from earthquakes and landslides.
We mourn with them for those who have died,
we pray for the healing of those who are injured,
for strength and courage for all those
who work to provide safe shelter, to bring aid and recovery.
We pray for Bishop Nathan, Archbishop Allan
and all who provide leadership to these communities in this time of need.
May your strength, wisdom and hope rest upon them and all they serve.
We pray for the whole Anglican Church of PNG,
for the people of Mendi and the communities throughout the Highlands,
that they may know the presence of your compassionate
and life-giving Spirit, that they may work together
for the good of all people.
Through Christ our Lord we pray,
Amen.
(Bishop Andrew Hedge, Waiapu Anglicans)
Received: May 7, 2018
Julia
Born Anew To A Living Hope by K. B. Ritter
Almighty and everlasting God, through the death and resurrection of your Son you have proclaimed to us the gospel of peace. Grant that by the power of his resurrection we may be born anew to a living hope, and so overcome the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.