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
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Julia
A Prayer for Brett Kavanaugh's Nomination
You, Oh God, are our help and confidence. We pray your blessings on the nomination of Judge Kavanaugh. May the schemes of the enemy be derailed. May truth and justice reign.
We thank you for your involvement and care for us. Who are we that you are mindful of us?
Help us to be engaged and to support truth and justice through prayer and action as we help to get Justice Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. We do so, believing he is a man who fears you and will try to be an impartial guardian of justice. May he do so with humility and honor, always remembering that it is truth that sets us free.
Amen.
(Concerned Women for America)
Received: September 4, 2018
Julia
Praying for Unity
I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word; that they all may be one, as you, Father, are in me, and I in you; that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And the glory which you gave me I have given them, that they may be one just as we are one: I in them, and you in me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23)
Holy Father, we lift before you today the scattered followers of Jesus Christ. In the same way that Jesus prayed, not just for the disciples who stood in front of him as he prayed, but for all who would believe in him through their message, so we too, do not limit our prayers just to the Christians around us. Lord, there are millions of us now, divided by language, creed, and customs. Our divisions have brought us shame and have hindered the advance of the gospel.
Father, make us one. In the same way that you and your Son are one, would you make us one? We don’t understand your unity, how two can be one, and how the Holy Spirit added to that makes the three still one. But in some ways that is reassuring, because we also don’t understand how you can make all of us one. It’s obvious though, Lord, that our unity is somehow rooted in your very unity as God. That gives us hope.
Father, in a way that is beyond our comprehension, you dwell in Jesus and Jesus dwells in you. That astonishing unity is what you desire for us by inviting us as believers in Jesus to come to dwell in you. We confess our desire for that as well. We want to live in you. We want to continually experience your presence, your oneness.
We are beginning to see that dwelling in you in unity is so amazing that it literally declares to a watching world that you truly did send Jesus into the world. We need a supernatural work of your Holy Spirit to break down our divisions and to bring us together into your presence. We long to see the day when the world wakes up to the realization of your awesome love that prompted you to send Jesus into the world. Father, make us one that this day might come soon.
Father, as you and your Son are one, your presence in him and his presence in you, we pray the presence of your Spirit in us will make us one with you and your Son. And if we are one with you and your Son, then we certainly become one with each other. You are not divided, Lord. Forgive us for our actions and attitudes that have appeared to divide the Body of Christ.
Would you give us the passion for unity that you and your Son have? Help us to see how important this issue is to the proclamation of the gospel. You have loved us as you love your Son. Please teach us to love each other in that way – people who are different from us in so many ways yet who are still a part of your body. Bring us to complete unity that the world may know of your astounding love.
We ask in Jesus’s name,
Amen.
(Harvest Prayer)
Received: August 30, 2018
Julia
Prayer For Healing After Abortion
Eternal Father, source of all mercy and love, out of love for us you sent your son, and willed that blood and water flow from his side to cleanse us of sin and restore lost innocence.
Hear the cry of each woman who mourns the loss of her child to abortion. Forgive her sin, restore her to your grace, and still the terror of her heart with a peace beyond all understanding.
Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of all tenderness and our mother, strengthen her faith in you.
Give her the consolation to believe that her child is now living in the Lord.
We ask this through Christ our Lord, who conquered sin and death, and who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever,
Amen.
Received: August 29, 2018
Julia
Prayer for troubled young men and women
Dear Lord I lift up my child to you. You know what we have been through, how we have suffered and what a toll this has taken on us. First, Lord, I offer my child back to you. You gave him/her to us as a gift and now I lay them at your feet. I cannot love this child the way that I need to – but I ask that you would love him/her through me.
In Jesus’s name I command the fears, worries, cares, and burdens of this situation to leave my mind. Lord, I ask that you fill me with a supernatural peace that passes all understanding. In Jesus’s name I break this spirit of rebellion off of my child. I claim him/her for the Kingdom of God. God has a plan and a purpose for my child’s life. I am determined that they will fulfill their divine assignment on this Earth. Satan I now command you to leave my child. You have no power over them. I cover them under the blood of the Lamb.
Father, open my child’s eyes and heart to see what darkness he/she is living in. Let him/her see the difference between right and wrong. Show him/her clearly the sin he/she is living in. Help him/her to make wise choices. Lord I pray that you would send Godly people into my child’s life. Surround him/her with protective angels. Allow no hurt or harm to come his/her way. Let him/her know how much you them and that you have a plan for your life. Continue to give me unconditional love and patience.
In Jesus’s name I refuse to be intimidated by my child. I will not allow fear to control me. The Bible says that when we fear people it’s like a snare – we are entrapped by the person. I now choose faith, not fear. When I am around my child I will feel myself to be ten feet tall and will not allow him/her to control me.
In Jesus’s name I pray,
Amen.
(Jackie Osinski)
Received: August 27, 2018
Julia
Prayer for priests
Mary, Mother of Jesus, throw your mantle of purity over our priests. Protect them, guide them, and keep them in your heart. Be a Mother to them, especially in times of discouragement and loneliness.
Love them and keep them belonging completely to Jesus. Like Jesus, they, too, are your sons, so keep their hearts pure and virginal. Keep their minds filled with Jesus, and put Jesus always on their lips, so that he is the one they offer to sinner and to all they meet. Mary, Mother of Jesus, be their Mother, loving them and bringing them joy. Take special care of sick and dying priests, and the ones most tempted. Remember how they spent their youth and old age, their entire lives serving and giving all to Jesus. Mary, bless them and keep a special place for them in your heart. Give them a piece of your heart, so beautiful and pure and immaculate, so full of love and humility, so that they, too, can grow in the likeness of Christ. Dear Mary, make them humble like you, and holy like Jesus.
Amen.
(St. Teresa of Kolkata)
Received: August 22, 2018
Julia
Prayer for Nigeria
Heavenly Father, please bring an end to the violence in Nigeria, and make it a free and peaceful future for all Nigerians. Look with mercy upon Nigeria, its leaders, and people.
We pray that the church be persistent in prayer, and that you deliver the nation from every source of violence. Strengthen and encourage the military, which is struggling to protect rural communities from both armed groups. Equip the military and security personnel be adequately to fight terrorism.
We pray that President Buhari formulate strategies for victory over every source of violence. We pray also that the enablers and funders of violence be exposed and prosecuted.
Heavenly Father, protect vulnerable communities in remote areas and along the country’s porous borders.
Bring peace, healing, and provision for those displaced internally or externally by violence, and make it that those who have fled be able to return home soon and live in safety.
We pray for healing, acceptance, and assistance for female former hostages who suffered unimaginable violence and have returned to their communities pregnant.
And w pray for a change of heart for Boko Haram members, their sponsors and supporters.
Amen.
(CSW)
Received: August 21, 2018
Julia
Prayer for the disabled
Most gracious and loving God, we come into your Holy presence with shouts of glad praise. In this hour of worship help us embrace the many voices through which you speak. Help us hear the joy you hear in the shouts of your child with autism, your son with a hearing impairment, your daughter with a developmental disability, your child with a visual impairment, your son with a physical challenge. We praise you O God and thank you for the many voices you have given us. Amen.
(Church of the Brethren)
Received: August 20, 2018
Julia
A Prayer For Contentment
O merciful God, thy wisdom is infinite to choose, and thy love forward to dispense good things to us: O let me always fully and entirely resign myself to thy disposal, have no desires of my own, but a perfect satisfaction in thy choice for me; that so, in whatsoever state I am, I may be therein content.
Lord, grant that I may never look with murmuring on my own condition, nor with envy on other men’s. And, to that end, I beseech thee, purge my heart of all covetous affections.
Amen.
(The Whole Duty of Man)
Received: August 20, 2018
Edmund Krzeminski
[We read] In the King James Bible, Ezekiel 22:30: "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none."
O God, please help us and teach us to build a wall [of prayer] around the USA, Canada, Poland and Great Britain. Are you ready to stand in the gap, where God is the Helper and Teacher?
Please pray that Great Britain, Poland, the USA/Canada would overcome for: (The Acts 26.18).
* Poland, pray for freedom from dead religion to saving faith of Jesus Christ as the Saviour and the Lord by faith only,
* the Church in the USA & Canada & Great Britain – Pray for repentance and cleansing of the church - Matt. 3.12 "Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
* my family:
1. Stir up the hearts of my family for ministry for me, my wife Dorothy, our daughter Ann, and our sons Peter and Daniel - "..but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" Joshua 24.15
2. Pray for God's will, wisdom, discernment, revelation and recognition for me and my family; I ask God for Edmund’s work situation, God's direction for Edmund , Dorothy, Peter, Daniel and Ann (also God's protection over the company where she works),
3. God's order in my work. I ask God for great wisdom at my work. Blessings and the knowledge of Jesus Christ for my bosses. Thank God for the continuation of my work.
Edmund & Dorothy Krzeminski
Received: August 18, 2018
Julia
Prayer for the victims and survivors of sexual abuse
Heavenly Father, who loves and cares for all of your children, especially the smallest and most vulnerable, we entrust to you the lives of the many children and vulnerable adults, who have been sexually abused, and whose trust and innocence have been destroyed. Help us to hear their cries of pain and to take responsibility for so many broken lives.
We pray that within their communities and families they may find understanding and support so that with the help of your grace their wounds may be healed, and they may again know peace.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who shared our weakness in all things but sin, and lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever.
Amen.
(Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors)