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
How to pray for missionaries
"Pray for us." (Hebrews 13:18)
Making your "concerts of prayer" effective: praying for world evangelism's front-line workers.
Want to know how to pray for those working to fulfill Jesus's Great Commission among those yet unreached?
Use your fingers as memory aids when you pray for missions. Here's how fingers can be prayer reminders:
Thumb: Since your thumb is nearest to you, begin by praying for those missionaries closest to you. They are the easiest ones to remember. C.S. Lewis said that praying for those we love is a "sweet duty."
Index or pointing finder: Let your "pointing finger" remind you to pray for missionaries who teach, instruct, and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and evangelists. They need support and wisdom for pointing others in the right direction.
Middle finger: Our tallest finger reminds us of our church leaders. We can never pray too much for them. Pray for those who supervise and direct missionary outreach.
Ring finger: As any piano teacher will testify, the ring finger is our weakest finger. This weaker finger reminds us to pray for those missionaries who are discouraged, in trouble, or in pain.
Little finger: Our little finger is the smallest of the digits on our hands, which is where we should place our individual wants and desires in relation to world evangelism needs. The Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Let your pinkie remind you to pray for the people of the world who have the greatest need to find Jesus. Pray that they will open their eyes and see him.
(Southern Nazarene University)
Received: October 11, 2018
Julia
Novena for the Persecuted Church & Religious Freedom
Daily prayer:
O great cloud of witnesses! O host of Angels and Saints worshiping God for all eternity! O holy ones in Heaven above, pray for us!
You who were once part of the church on Earth, you who were faithful servants of the Church Militant, you who suffered for the love of God, pray for us!
In all ages, the church is persecuted and hated. We pray, oh Lord, through your holy saints, that we may be blessed with the freedom to worship and adore you at all times! We pray that you may bless your church throughout the world and me, personally, with your grace to persevere with love in the face of persecution just as you did on the cross.
(Mention your personal intentions here)
Day 1
St. Joan of Arc – pray for us!
St. Valentine – pray for us!
St. Carmen Moreno and St. Ampara Caronell – pray for us!
St. Sebastian – pray for us!
St. Peter – pray for us!
St. Stephen – pray for us!
St. Denis – pray for us!
Amen.
Day 2
St. Maria Goretti – pray for us!
St. Ignatius of Antioch – pray for us!
St. Lawrence – pray for us!
St. Lorenzo Ruiz – pray for us!
St. Agnes – pray for us!
St. Anastasia – pray for us!
St. Oliver Plunkett – pray for us!
St. Dorothy – pray for us!
Amen.
Day 3
St. Edith Stein – pray for us!
St. Maximilian Kolbe – pray for us!
St. Thomas More – pray for us!
St. Margaret Clitherow – pray for us!
St. Julia – pray for us!
St. Polycarp – pray for us!
St. Peter of Verona – pray for us!
St. Gonsalo Garcia – pray for us!
St. Thomas Becket – pray for us!
St. John Fisher – pray for us!
Amen.
Day 4
St. Philomena – pray for us!
St. John the Baptist – pray for us!
The Jesuit Martyrs of China – pray for us!
St. Cecilia – pray for us!
St. Jude – pray for us!
The Vietnamese Martyrs – pray for us!
St. Boniface – pray for us!
St. Vitalis of Gaza – pray for us!
St. Menas – pray for us!
St. Expeditus – pray for us!
Amen.
Day 5
St. Christopher – pray for us!
St. Charles Lwanga – pray for us!
St. Kizito and the Ugandan Martyrs – pray for us!
St. Paul Chong Hasang, St. Andrew Kim, and the Korean Martyrs – pray for us!
St. Genesius – pray for us!
St. Cyprian – pray for us!
St. Luke – pray for us!
Blessed José Luis Sánchez del Río – pray for us!
St. Andrew – pray for us!
Holy Innocents – pray for us!
St. Catherine of Alexandria – pray for us!
Amen.
Day 6
Blessed Miguel Pro – pray for us!
St. George – pray for us!
St. Perpetua – pray for us!
St. Felicity – pray for us!
St. Dymphna – pray for us!
Blessed Jose Maria Sanchez – pray for us!
St. Eulalia – pray for us!
Blessed Teresa of Augustine and the Martyrs of Compiègne – pray for us!
St. Pedro Poveda Castroverde – pray for us!
St. Thecla – pray for us!
St. Pedro Calungsod – pray for us!
St. Elias and St. Jeremy – pray for us!
Amen.
Day 7
St. Anthony – pray for us!
St. Paul – pray for us!
St. Agatha – pray for us!
St. Simeon – pray for us!
St. Isaac Jogues and the North American Martyrs – pray for us!
St. Simon – pray for us!
Servant of God Archbishop Oscar Romero – pray for us!
St. Faustinus and St. Jovita – pray for us!
St. Meinrad – Pray for us! St. Tarcisius – pray for us!
St. Daniel – pray for us!
Amen.
Day 8
St. Lucy – pray for us!
St. Paul Miki and Japanese Martyrs – pray for us!
St. Gabriel Lalemant and Canadian Martyrs – pray for us!
St. Roque Gonzalez de Santa Cruz – pray for us!
St. Toribio – Pray for us! St. Jean de Brébeuf – pray for us!
St. Barbara – pray for us!
St. Alban – pray for us!
St. Tanco – pray for us!
St. Winefride – pray for us!
Amen.
Day 9
St. Edmond Campion – pray for us!
St. Ursula – pray for us!
Blessed Peter To Rot – pray for us!
St. Dominic Henares – pray for us!
St. Erasmus – pray for us!
Blessed Father Jerzy Popieluszko – pray for us!
Saints Nunilo and Alodia – pray for us!
St. Andrew Bobola – pray for us!
St. Miguel de la Mora – pray for us!
St. Tatiana – pray for us!
Pope Saint Sixtus II – pray for us!
Amen.
Received: October 2, 2018
Julia
A Prayer Against Terrorism In Our Country
Our Father, we thank you for being our protector. Thank you for extending your mercy and grace towards this country which is experiencing terrorism. Thank you for helping military personnel, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies as they root out the people who are involved in these horrendous terrorist attacks.
Thank you for hearing the prayers of the righteous in our country and sending your angels to fight supernaturally. Thank you for protecting our nation. We give thanks to you, Lord, for you are good and your mercy endures forever. By your Word, the heavens were created. You merely spoke, and the heavens were created. You breathed the Word, and all the stars were born. You assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. Let the whole world fear you and let everyone stand in awe of you. When you spoke, the world began and appeared at your command!
Almighty Father, by the authority given to us in Jesus’s name, we command peace be still! We rebuke the spirit of terror and cancel the schemes and assignments of every evil spirit, including the spirits of deception, rebellion, and confusion that are in alignment with the spirit of terror. We command every person in this country who is plotting against the good of humanity be exposed and captured. We decree that the love of Christ will saturate this national crisis. We declare healing to every person who has been injured by Antifa and other terrorist organizations. Lord of Heaven’s armies, we are expecting to witness your mighty power against this evil and see a mighty outpouring of your love through the Body of Christ.
Great and marvelous are your actions, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the saints. Who will not fear you and glorify your Name? You alone are Holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed. In Jesus’s name,
Amen.
(United Methodist Church, adapted)
Received: October 1, 2018
Julia
That Christ Would Guide The Priesthood
Loving Lord we thank you that you have seen fit to place men in this little corner of your vast world to be priests unto you and to those whom you have chosen to place in their paths. May they be faithful servants as they share the good news of the glorious gospel of Christ and witness to the amazing grace whereby they have all been saved.
Thank you for the seeds of the gospel of grace that has been quietly growing down through the centuries of time that have brought priests into that great family of God and into a part of the growing body of Christ – separated into the gospel, by faith in him.
Thank you for the good work of grace that you have begun in their lives and all those with whom they are called to minister. May all priests be kept humble before you and prevent them from an attitude of self-inflated importance but rather let them keep their eyes fixed on Jesus – the author and finisher of their faith and ministry.
Lord, we pray that the Lord Jesus may be exulted in all priests do and may they submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit in all they undertake. I ask that you would open ministry doors, as you see fit, so that priests may shed abroad more of your saving and sanctifying grace to those in need. May they continue to grow in grace and wisdom and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and may all they say and do point others to Jesus – so that his name is glorified in all they say and do.
We ask this in the name of Jesus,
Amen.
Received: September 24, 2018
Julia
Prayer To St Irenaeus Against Heretics
O God, You granted that Blessed Irenaeus, your martyr and bishop, should overcome heresy by the truth of his doctrine, and establish peace in your church: give to your people, we entreat you, constancy in their holy religion, and grant us peace in our time. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Received: September 19, 2018
Julia
A Blessing For Terrorists
I bless those who are tempted to commit terrorist acts, whether out of despair, hatred, fear, lust for power, or any other tormented human motive.
I bless them in their integrity, that they may discover that the wholeness in themselves cannot be reached at the cost of the wholeness of others.
I bless them in their realization that love is the ultimate law governing the universe and mankind, and that their deepest honest longings can only be reached through the law of love.
I bless them in their awareness that, deep down, they are children of the light, and that terrorist schemes are but an inversion of the light with no true cause, substance, or law behind them.
I bless them in their understanding that the darkness they see or imagine can only be dispelled by light, not by more darkness.
I bless them in their unlimited goodness, kindness, compassion, and caring, which is waiting within to be kindled and brought to full fruition.
I bless them in their grasp of the law of right returns, that they may understand that the good or evil they do to another, they ultimately do unto themselves.
I bless them in their hunger and thirst for righteousness, that it may be fulfilled.
I bless them that any sense of lack they feel may be healed by a clearer consciousness of infinite abundance now; that any restlessness may give way to your peace; that any feeling of insecurity with its attendant aggressiveness or fear may be healed by the sense of your comforting presence; that any sense of separation, clannishness, and loneliness may be assuaged by the understanding that we are all one.
And I bless myself in my awareness that divine Love sees no terrorists, only its perfect reflection, and that this same consciousness can be mine as I understand that behind the veil of appearances, all men and women have one mind, the divine mind.
Amen.
(Pierre Pradervand)
Received: September 18, 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: September 14, 2018
Julia
Prayer for Protection in a Time of Storm or Danger
Lord and Holy Protector, like the disciples who were caught in their tiny boat in the midst of a mighty storm, we come together to seek your help. We are fearful as we are surrounded by danger. We feel helpless and small before the great power of this perilous time, a power which is beyond our control.
While everything seems dark and dangerous, we place our trust in you, our Lord and God. Sheltered here in our home, we are also shielded by your love against all that might harm us. We know that You hear all prayers so we now, filled with confidence, lift up our petitions to you, our God.
Lord, we fear for our home, for our lives and for all we hold dear. Your sacred blessing is upon this home and upon each of us as well. We are secure in the power of that blessing. May the saving power of the Cross of your Son, Jesus, encircle us and our home. May all evil, all harm and injury, be repelled by that sacred sign.
May the light of a candle be for us a holy sign of your Divine Presence that fills our home in the midst of this danger.
Lord and Creator of Storms and of Rainbows, be with us in this time of danger.
Amen.
(Edward Hays)
Received: September 12, 2018
Julia
Remember 9/11 Prayer
Almighty God, the past year will be indelibly inscribed in our memories. We looked with horror on the terrorist attacks of last September 11th. But we looked with honor on acts of courage by ordinary people who sacrificed themselves to prevent further death and destruction.
We shed our tears in a common bond of grief for those we loved and lost. We journeyed through a dark valley, but your light has led us to a place of hope. You have turned our grief into determination. We are resolved to do what is good, and right, and just.
Help us to remember what it means to be Americans — a people endowed with abundant blessings. Help us to cherish the freedoms we enjoy and inspire us to stand with courage, united as one Nation in the midst of any adversity.
Lord, hear this prayer for our Nation.
Amen.
(The White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance)
Received: September 11, 2018
Julia
Prayer to Defund Planned Parenthood
Lord of Life and Truth, your Providence guides the course of history. You have conquered death and have made us the People of Life. You call us to fight the evil of abortion and the forces that promote it. We therefore ask you to grant wisdom and mercy to our nation. Give our government leaders the courage to put an end to the funding of the largest abortion business in the world. Give all of us the courage to insist that public funding only be used for the protection and promotion of life rather than for its destruction. Give us hopeful hearts and joyful spirits as we continue to proclaim, celebrate, and serve the Gospel of Life.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Priests For Life)