“If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.” –Robert Murray McCheyne, 19th century minister in the Church of Scotland
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Hurricane Sandy recovery! Pray for all the areas of the country picking up the pieces of broken lives and homes from the destruction of Hurricane Sandy. Pray that local bodies of Christian believers can minister to their neighbors – with resources supplied to them by Christians throughout North America.
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Now that we are in post-election days here in the United States, let us be diligent in our prayers for our government. No matter what political party controls Congress or sits in the White House, Christians are called to pray for those in authority over us.
Executive, legislative and judicial: All branches of our government (at local, state and federal levels) all should receive our prayer.
And, Veterans Day spurs us to thank God for those who have served our nation and defended our freedoms, and for us to thank veterans among us. We are grateful!
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Pray for the influence of the Christian pro-life message to go forth in victorious battle for the hearts and minds of the younger generation. Roe v. Wade turns 40 this January.
Pray that the lies of “religious pro-choice” groups would never take root in the mind of people seeking for truth. Fast and pray for God to expose the lies of PCUSA pro-choice groups like PARO (Presbyterians Affirming Reproductive Options) who serve under the banner of mission statements like this: “PARO welcomes those who support the full range of reproductive options that ensure that every child is loved and wanted.”
Of course, a child once-aborted never has the opportunity to be loved or wanted.
Romans 3:13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” Pray that, although their tongue may never cease from lying, that the ears which hear the lies will have God-given discernment.
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Pray for the Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) collegiate campus ministry taking place at Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design. Students in the New England states need to hear the Gospel and be disciple in Jesus Christ. Eddie Park is the RUF campus minister at Brown.
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This week, pray for persecuted Christians in Maldives:
Using the “watchlist” produced by opendoorsusa.org, we will pray for persecuted Christians in a specific nation each week. Teachers/parents, consider this a great way to introduce geography into the weekly lessons. Show students where the nation is, then pray for Christians in that place.
An excerpt from the report on Maldives:
Conversion is only allowed for non-Malay citizens. For three quarters of society, who are Malay, conversion is therefore illegal. In five states, it is a criminal offense which can be punished by a fine or even a jail term. Source: Page 60 of (PDF)
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We will also pray for Christians across America by lifting them up by state. Additionally, we will pray each week for our fellow Presbyterians. So, in 2012, we will pray together by name for Christians in 50 nations, Christians in all 50 states and all the presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and the emerging new Reformed body, The Fellowship of Presbyterians (these will be added as they are formed). You are encouraged to add specific pastors, lay leaders, congregations, missionaries, new church developments and other ministries to the list by posting a comment to the blog. (Please do not publicly post the names of missionaries serving in contexts where exposing their identity would cause them harm or bring harm to those they serve in Christ’s name.) Let us kneel before the Father and ask His will be done.
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Prayer for the nation – focusing on the state of Vermont.
According to pollsters, Vermont is tied for last as being the “least religious” state in the nation and much of the religion that is practice is of the liberal mainline variety.
So, pray for Vermont!
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Prayers for the PCUSA: Pray for the presbyteries of the Synod of Alaska-Northwest: Alaska, Central Washington, Inland Northwest, North Puget Sound, Olympia, Seattle and Yukon.
Prayers for Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC): the Midwest Presbytery (John Manon, stated clerk).
Prayers for the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA): the churches of the Pittsburgh Presbytery.
Prayers for The Fellowship of Presbyterians.
Week-by-week, continue to pray for times of transition … for churches, pastors, denominations. Pray for God’s wisdom to direct Christians into God’s will, and for the Christian courage and tenacity to follow God’s will, leaving the result to Him! Pray for peace built on a foundation of truth.
James 5:16 (ESV): Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.