I hope that these emails and prayers are useful, and that you are able to spend a few minutes at noon each day, as we pray together as a church family. Please do keep sending your prayer suggestions to me, so that we can make sure we are praying around the needs, burdens and encouragements of our whole church family.
If you are joining in our prayers for countries around the world, this week’s Operation World suggestion is to pray daily for India this week.
Additional links to help inform prayers for India are at the bottom of the email.
Monday
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13)
Please help us to remember you in hard times, Lord Jesus. Please help us to be joyful because of you, even if we are suffering. Help us to hold tight to the future we have in heaven, and how you won it for us and walk with us every day. Amen
Tuesday
Father, we pray today for our church family across the UK. As buildings begin to open, and we look towards meeting together as local church families again, please would you help each leadership group make the decisions which will best serve each church and community. Please pray for our PCC members today, as they begin to work out how to do this to bring glory to you in Northaw and Cuffley. Amen
Wednesday
We pray today for Christians worldwide who are suffering because they follow you. We pray especially for Christians in India, some of whom are being prevented from accessing lockdown food rations because of their faith. Please would you be with the charity workers who are working to provide food donations instead. Amen
Thursday
God of compassion,
be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation.
In their loneliness, be their consolation;
in their anxiety, be their hope;
in their darkness, be their light;
through him who suffered alone on the cross,
but reigns with you in glory,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Friday
Father God, please would you help the scientists who are monitoring virus rates as lockdown gradually eases. Please help with the accuracy of their models, and the conclusions they come to as they process the data. Please would they make helpful recommendations to the government, and be listened to, as we try to ease out of lockdown carefully, without triggering further spread of the virus. Amen
Saturday
Ever present God,
be with us in our isolation,
be close to us in our distancing,
be healing in our sickness,
be joy in our sadness,
be light in our darkness,
be wisdom in our confusion,
be all that is familiar when all is unfamiliar,
that when the doors reopen
we may with the zeal of Pentecost
inhabit our communities
and speak of your goodness
to an emerging world.
For Jesus’ sake.
Amen
(Source)
Additional links to help as we pray for India: