Continuing to pray for world-change

http://www.operationworld.org/

This journey of praying to change the world (see http://thebookoflifeblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/praying-to-change-world.html) has been a worthwhile one. Since December 17, 2014, I have created a daily prayer post for a need around the world that will impact those well beyond my immediate circle of influence. I have been surprised by the response. 

Friends and family members from around the country have noted how they have appreciated the posts--people I hardly ever hear from, as well as people I see weekly. 

A relative in Minnesota wrote, “It helps me to focus outside of my own little world,” which is exactly the point (or one of them, anyway)! Thank You, Jesus, and amen! 

At this point, I will no longer be posting daily prayers. Instead, I refer people to a similar email list provided here: http://www.operationworld.org/join-prayer-movement. I will be subscribing to that email list myself. 

I will post prayers occasionally for needs that arise around our world (along with my other posts). 

My biggest encouragement is for you to pray to change the world every day however suits you best. Revisit the prayers I posted, use the prayer list I mentioned above, buy a copy of Operation World, or just do what I did: pay attention to what's happening around you. When you read the news, consider and pray concerning the implications surrounding what you're reading. Ask your friends to join you. 

Praying to change the world is a lifelong journey, and I don't plan to get out of the habit. 

Thanks for reading. And, much more important: thanks for praying. 

Prayer for the ministry of Compassion International

http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm

Lord, today we praise you for the work of Compassion International. We rejoice that 122,588 mothers and children responded to the Gospel over the past year! One million four hundred thousand children sponsored, 6,500 church partners around the world… there is so much to celebrate! Father, please continue to lavish your blessing on this ministry. We pray that people will rise up around the world to sponsor the 3,345 children who are awaiting help. We pray that current sponsors will send their children the letters they so anxiously await—letters filled with encouragement, Scripture and love. We pray for the various projects to be fruitful and safe places, where the leaders are able to not only effectively minister to the sponsored children, but also to their families. And may the local projects model the love of Christ to their broader communities. Thank you, Lord, for the ministry of Compassion International and others who serve children in this way. We thank you in Jesus’ name, amen. 

Prayer for Franklin Graham’s upcoming ministry trip

http://static.samaritanspurse.org.s3.amazonaws.com/email/2015/01.2015/7090/7090_email.html

Lord, soon your servant Franklin Graham is leaving for Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam. Father, we ask for safe travel, for protection everywhere he goes, and for your guidance each step of the way. Please bless the ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, which Graham leads. May this organization continue to share your Good News with people in these countries (and elsewhere around the world) as they meet physical needs and do relief work. Lord, we pray specifically for Graham to bring deep encouragement to the church leaders in Myanmar, where there is so much persecution, as well as human rights abuses. Lord, we pray for the ministry of Samaritan’s Purse in Cambodia and Vietnam, including their work against human trafficking. May the ministry be blessed, unhindered, effective, protected. May victims of human trafficking become victors within your Kingdom. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

Prayer against ISIS using children as soldiers

photo credit: Bare Naked Islam.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/01/14/new-isis-video-appears-to-show-child-executioner-killing-alleged-russian-spies/

Lord, we do not know if the recently released video is real, but we do have reason to believe ISIS is using children to assist in their acts of terror. Lord, we fervently pray against this evil. Again we ask that you disrupt the wicked plans of ISIS. Please cause disunity within their ranks. Open individuals’ eyes to the truth of what they are doing. May they start to see the humanity of the men and women of all ages that they are harming. Today we specifically pray that the older ISIS members would recognize how terrible it is to raise children for these purposes. May they be alarmed by the changes they see in the character of these young ones. For the children, Lord, we ask for rescue. We ask for healing, restoration, and rehabilitation. And may the gatekeepers to these children no longer allow these precious young lives to be dedicated to evil. We plead in Jesus’ name, amen. 

Prayer for National Mentoring Month

Lord, as we celebrate National Mentoring Month (mentoring.org) we rejoice in how you have arranged your body, the Church. Thank you for setting us up to be in relationship. Thank you for exhorting the older to instruct the younger (Titus 2). Thank you for providing so many examples in Scripture that demonstrate how you use us—despite our weaknesses—in the lives of others. Thank you for empowering us to pass on what we have learned to others. Lord, we pray for mentors (formal and informal) around the world to be effective in their ministry. We pray that their love for those they invest in will have a lasting impact for your Kingdom on not only their mentees, but also on the people their mentees influence. We pray that their example will inspire people who have balked at taking time to invest in others one-on-one. Show us whom to mentor. Show us whom we should ask to mentor us. May we love each other as you want us to, that the world may see you in us (John 13:34,35). In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. 

Prayer for Hollywood

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/slices/shia-labeouf-becoming-christian-its-real-thing-really-saved-me

Lord, as entertainment awards season is upon us, we turn our prayers toward Hollywood. Lord, each and every day, thousands of people are at work producing entertainment for the masses in that one community alone. Much is beautiful; much is destructive. Lord, please make your presence known in Hollywood. We pray for those who know you to serve you with excellence (1 Peter 4:10-11). Give them wisdom each day to make choices that honor you. Give them courage and effectiveness as they share you with those around them and through their work. We pray for new Christians like Shia LaBeouf to find others to guide and encourage them, and for the roots of their faith to go deep and remain strong. We pray for high-quality films that will point people to you in powerful ways. We pray for those who do not know you to meet you. May we not be quick to criticize what we see and hear about this place, but may we be quick to pray--because even the most camera-hungry starlet is made in your image and fiercely loved by you. In Jesus’ gracious name we pray, amen.

Praise for unity in France

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/01/11/are-charlie-thousands-to-march-to-honor-victims-paris-attack/

Lord, we rejoice in seeing the unity demonstrated today in France. Thank you that people joined together, that they did not bow to terror. Thank you that men and women of different nations expressed solidarity around the globe. Lord, we rejoice when we see people rise up with good and strength in response to tragedy. We pray that the memory of this solidarity will not fade as life goes on. We pray that the French will continue to live with courage and unity, despite what obstacles may arise. We pray against the work of terrorists, and ask that they recognize that terror never wins. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.