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
ASIA/PAKISTAN - Archbishop Shaw: "We will join Asia Bibi in prayers and fasting.”
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - "Our hope and our hearts are with her: on 27 April we will be united in a special Day of Prayer and Fasting with Asia Bibi, praying to God for her freedom and peace ": Fides was told this by the Archbishop of Lahore Sebastian Shaw, welcoming the appeal launched by Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi, sentenced to death on false charges of blasphemy and detained in the prison of Multan. The appeal was launched through her family.
Fides informed Joseph Nadeem, head of the Renaissance Education Foundation in Lahore and guardian of Asia’s family, that Asia calls on all Christians and all men and women of good will all over the world to live with her a special day of prayer and fasting Friday 27 April.
Asia told her family that she was deeply touched to hear that the Chief Justice of Pakistan Supreme Court Saqib Nisar recently declared that he will assume personal responsibility for the case and as soon as possible will establish the date of the next hearing before the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Bishop Khadim Bhutto, chairman of the Pakistan Bishops Council, told Fides: "I appreciate the decision taken by the Supreme Court Judge, it was a necessary step. The poor woman has suffered for so long". He added:" The Judge should also consider similar cases of innocent persons in prison calling for justice ".
The Pakistan Bishops Council comprises some 40 Bishops of various Protestant denominations including Pentecostals, Evangelicals, Adventists, Methodists and others, and works with the local Catholic Church to promote unity among all Pakistan’s Christians. Bishop Khadim Bhutto said that Judge Sadiq "is working hard to render justice to the people of Pakistan".
Last week in a meeting with Asia Bibi’s lawyer Saiful Malook, Pakistan’s Supreme Court Judge said as soon as possible he will call a hearing for Asia Bibi. He also gave orders to reconfirm previously revoked security measures and protection for Saiful Malook who is following four other cases of reported blasphemy.
Asia Bibi has been detained since 2009 on false charges of Blasphemy reported by Muslim women and an Imam, following an argument. In November 2010 she was given the death sentence by the lower court in Nanka district and four years later the verdict was confirmed by Lahore High Court . The case now rests before the Supreme Court. There have been many postponements also due to the delicacy of the case and threats and pressure from radical Islamic groups. Sabir Michael, Catholic activist and human rights activist commented to Fides: "Delayed justice is no justice. Rule of Law must prevail over fundamentalist groups ". (Agenzia Fides 25/4/2018)
Received: April 25, 2018
Julia
Church Mission Society: INDIA
Debbie and Hugh Skeil work for Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore. They ask for continued prayer for CMC to retain its right to choose students. They write, “As you may know, traditionally CMC has had the right to select students according to its own criteria, which include academic and non-academic factors. CMC has also been able to select Christian students of different denominations from all over India. In the last few years these rights have been removed as there has been pressure to use only academic performance in selecting students. This matter has been with the Supreme Court since before the supposed admission dates in July last year. Every few weeks a date is set and the senior admin staff fly up to Delhi, only to be told they will consider it later! Apparently this is partly good news as it means they do not dismiss it immediately. But it means that we have no medical students admitted this year.”
Pray for efficiency and sound judgment for the decision makers in this case.
Received: April 25, 2018
Julia
The Leprosy Mission Prayer
Almighty Father, the giver of life and health, look mercifully on those who suffer from leprosy. Stretch out your hand to touch and heal them as Jesus did during his earthly life. Grant wisdom and insight to those who are seeking the prevention and cure of the disease; give skill and sympathy to those who minister to the patients; reunite the separated with their families and friends; and inspire your people with the task set before The Leprosy Mission, that it may never lack either the staff or the means to carry on its healing work, in accordance with your will, and to the glory of your holy name.
We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord.
Received: April 25, 2018
Julia
A Prayer for the Feast Day of Saint Mark
Almighty God, who by the hand of Mark the evangelist hast given to thy Church the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God: We thank thee for this witness, and pray that we may be firmly grounded in its truth; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Received: April 25, 2018
Julia
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who declarest thy glory and showest forth thy handiwork in the heavens and in the earth; Deliver us, we beseech thee, in our several callings, from the service of mammon, that we may do the work which thou givest us to do, in truth, in beauty, and in righteousness, with singleness of heart as thy servants, and to the benefit of our fellow men; for the sake of him who came among us as one that serveth, thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (1928 Book of Common Prayer)
Received: April 25, 2018
Julia
Critical Prayers for the International Justice Mission
Prayer for Love
Ask God to give IJM staff a great love for one another, for the victims that they serve, and for those they comfort.
Prayer for Perseverance
Ask God to bless IJM staff with perseverance to seek justice and community transformation in the face of oppression, indifference, and corruption.
Prayer for Protection
Ask God to protect IJM staff, their families, and the victims of injustice from physical harm and spiritual attack.
Received: April 24, 2018
Julia
Boko Haram Kills Six Christians, Sets Churches And Huts Ablaze In Nigeria:
Heavenly Father, please comfort the family members who lost loved ones in these recent attacks; stabilize the region, and increase their protection of Christians in the area by the government.
Embolden believers in Nigeria to hold fast to their faith in the midst of persecution. Please give Christians a heart of forgiveness toward their persecutors. Amen. (Open Doors)
Received: April 24, 2018
Julia
Our Father, O Lord of glory, you are our shelter against the burning heat of the day and the storms of life. Help us when we stumble, catch us when we fall, and guide our steps firmly in faith toward the promise of eternal life, who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Aleteia)
Received: April 24, 2018
Julia
Asia Bibi was convicted of blasphemy in 2010 for offering a Muslim coworker a glass of water, and has since languished on death row, separated from her heartbroken family, and waiting for news of her appeal.
According to news reports, the Chief Justice of Pakistan’s Supreme Court, Mian Saqib Nisar, has now promised that the Court will take up Bibi’s appeal. The Chief Justice assured Bibi’s attorney that he will be presiding over the appeal in her case personally.
Here is her own prayer:
Resurrected Lord, allow your daughter Asia to rise again with you. Break my chains, make my heart free and go beyond these bars, and accompany my soul so that it is close to those who are dear to me, and that it remains always near you. Do not abandon me in the day of trouble, do not deprive me of your presence. You who have suffered torture and the cross, alleviate my suffering. Hold me near you, Lord Jesus. On the day of your resurrection, Jesus, I want to pray for my enemies, for those who hurt me. I pray for them and I beg you to forgive them for the harm they have done me. I ask you, Lord, to remove all obstacles so that I may obtain the blessing of freedom. I ask you to protect me and protect my family. (Asia Bibi)
Received: April 24, 2018
Julia
We give thanks to God for the life of Alfie Evans, who has remained alive without life support for over nine hours. May his example instruct us in the value of life. Amen.