“Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees.” –Corrie ten Boom
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Continue to pray for areas of the country hit by Hurricane Sandy. Pray that physical provision continues to flow where needed. Also, pray that such times of hardship will be a means of spiritual renewal for our nation as we once again are reminded of the transitory nature of everything in this world:
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand. – Rhea Miller
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Pray for our elected officials throughout the nation and in our local municipalities. Pray for the men and women who serve our communities through law enforcement and fire protection – pray that they all go home safely at the end of each shift. If possible, seek for your church to get to know the folks in your local precinct. These folks would be glad to know you are offering up prayers on their behalf.
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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. Although this USATODAY article still gives much reason for lamentation, we can give thanks that there seems to have been a 5 percent drop in abortion nationwide.
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Pray for the Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) collegiate campus ministry taking place at Christopher Newport University (Newport News, Virginia), led by Dave Latham. With 5,000 students in this public, liberal arts university just south of Washington D.C., pray that this RUF chapter can impact student’s lives with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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This week, pray for persecuted Christians in Laos:
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 Laos:
The state is Communist-atheist and authorities exercise tight control on all parts of society. This is also true for all religious activities. Only three Christian denominations are registered (Catholic Church, Laos Evangelical Church and Seventh-day Adventist). Other small independent Protestant congregations are under pressure and have been refused recognition. The activities of unrecognized churches are considered illegal by authorities, who detain and arrest their members and leaders under various pretexts.
The preferred religion of the Lao government is Theravada Buddhism. The Christian minority is therefore perceived antagonistically as being “foreign agents.” But the real problem seems to lie within the conduct of the local authorities, who regard Christians as enemies. Believers must take extreme caution when talking about their faith. Christians always have to stay within tacitly understood guidelines. Local authorities often make use of the prevalent hostile attitude of society towards Christians as a means and justification to monitor them. Frequently, Buddhist leaders and village shamans closely watch Christians. Despite such pressure from all sides, the Church is growing, especially among tribal groups. Source: Page 18 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 Virginia, a state considered “very religious” according to census takers. Pray that the Christian churches of Virginia would “hold fast to the faith once delivered to the saints” and would take the Gospel to their neighbors.
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Prayers for the PCUSA: Pray for the presbyteries of the Boriquen Synod (Puerto Rico): San Juan, Noroeste, and Suroeste.
Prayers for Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC): the Southeast Presbytery (Jerry Clothier, stated clerk).
Prayers for the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA): the churches of the Platte Valley 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.