Prayer and Prayer Requests

Prayer for Hope

Submitted by Ian Reid on 2 January, 2023

Prayer for Hope After a Difficult Year

Dear God,

hank you for helping us to make it through this difficult year.

Thank you that you’ve carried us through the uncertainty of deep waters, through the flames of trials, and through the pain of hard losses.

We are constantly aware of how much we need you, your grace, your strength, your power working through even the toughest days.

Fill us with your joy and the peace of your Spirit. Direct our hearts and minds towards you.

Thank you for your reminder that both in seasons of celebration and in seasons of brokenness, you’re still with us.

For you never leave us.

Thank you for your daily powerful Presence in our lives, that we can be assured your heart is towards us, your eyes are over us, and your ears are open to our prayers.

Thank you for surrounding us with favor and a shield, and we are safe in your care.

We choose to press in close to you today and keep you first in our hearts and lives.

Without You, we would surely fail, but with you, there is great hope.

Thank you for your healing power, thank you for bringing us into this new season up ahead.

We look forward to all that You still have in store.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

New Year Prayer

Submitted by Ian Reid on 2 January, 2023

New Year's Prayer - Prayer for a Renewed Heart

O Lord, you have mercy on all.

Take away my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of your Holy Spirit.

Take away my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore you, a heart to delight in you, to follow and to enjoy you, for Christ’s sake.

Amen.

Source: Ambrose, d. 397

Advent Prayer - Poem

Submitted by Ian Reid on 23 November, 2022

Advent Prayer Poem Advent Credo by Allan Boesak

It is not true that creation and the human family are doomed to destruction and loss—

This is true: For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life;

It is not true that we must accept inhumanity and discrimination, hunger and poverty, death and destruction—

This is true: I have come that they may have life, and that abundantly.

It is not true that violence and hatred should have the last word, and that war and destruction rule forever—

This is true: Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, his name shall be called wonderful councilor, mighty God, the Everlasting, the Prince of peace.

It is not true that we are simply victims of the powers of evil who seek to rule the world—

This is true: To me is given authority in heaven and on earth, and lo I am with you, even until the end of the world.

It is not true that we have to wait for those who are specially gifted, who are the prophets of the Church before we can be peacemakers—

This is true: I will pour out my spirit on all flesh and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions and your old men shall have dreams.

It is not true that our hopes for liberation of humankind, of justice, of human dignity of peace are not meant for this earth and for this history—

This is true: The hour comes, and it is now, that the true worshipers shall worship God in spirit and in truth.

So let us enter Advent in hope, even hope against hope.

Let us see visions of love and peace and justice.

Let us affirm with humility, with joy, with faith, with courage:

Jesus Christ—the life of the world.

Prayer For Sri lanka

Submitted by Ian Reid on 23 May, 2022

We have been asked to pray by the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation for the terrible situation unfolding in Sri Lanka

Pray for the protection of all protesters; Cover their areas under the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

Pray for the Police and Security Forces. Pray that they will not abuse their powers but act with caution and restraint.

Pray for those who incite violence. Violence disturbs the peace of the nation and its people.

May God enable them to control their anger and bring inner peace through the power of the Risen Lord Jesus.

Due to the long curfew many are without food and other essentials.

Pray that their needs will be provided and for us to help whoever comes our way.

Pray for our leaders who stubbornly refuse to step down.

Let's seek the face of God as we pray for them, for a change of heart, for the benefit of the nation.

Pray for the peace loving, patriotic leaders to be guided by divine wisdom as they decide on a new Prime Minister and discuss various other important matters to save our nation from a great fall.

Pray for the candidates sitting the ongoing exams in the midst of power outages and crisis.

Prayer for our Nation's Leaders

Submitted by Ian on 23 May, 2022

Prayer for our Nation's Leaders

Father God, good leaders, come from you.

Lord, this nation needs leaders with discerning hearts and wise minds.

We come to you today asking you to give us wise leaders that will lead this nation in the right direction.

Remove wrong people that are corrupt and living against your word from influential positions.

Let our leaders be people who honour your holy name for it is only from you that they will get true wisdom.

It is in the mighty name of Jesus that we believe and pray, Amen.

Healing Prayer

Father God, we come to you because the people of this nation and everything in it belong to you.

We are not here by accident. You are the one who set us in this nation at this particular time for the glory of your name.

But Father, people in this country are turning against each other. We no longer live like brothers and sisters. Brother has turned against brother and child against parent. But your word says that if we humble ourselves and turn from our wicked ways you will heal our land.

Lord, heal our hearts, heal our land. Remove bitterness and resentment from our hearts and help us to live as brothers and sisters.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Serenity prayer

Submitted by Ian Reid on 19 April, 2022

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can;

And wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

Trusting that He will make all things right If I surrender to His Will;

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life

And supremely happy with Him Forever and ever in the next.

Amen.

Anzac day prayer

Submitted by Ian Reid on 19 April, 2022

Gracious and loving God, the cross of Christ is the sign of your desire for justice and peace for all.

Open our minds to your vision as we remember all who suffered through Australia and New Zealand’s involvement in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

Grant all servicepersons who sacrificed health and life for the good of all, the gift of your deep peace.

May we who inherit the freedom for which they fought become instruments of your peace in our homes, workplaces and world.

We ask this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen

Continued Prayer For peace

Submitted by Ian Reid on 28 February, 2022

Prayer for peace in Ukraine

Holy and Gracious God

We pray for the people of Ukraine and the people of Russia; for their countries and their leaders.

We pray for all those who are afraid; that your everlasting arms hold them in this time of great fear.

We pray for all those who have the power over life and death; that they will choose for all people life, and life in all its fullness.

We pray for those who choose war; that they will remember that you direct your people to turn our swords into ploughshares and seek for peace.

We pray for leaders on the world stage; that they are inspired by the wisdom and courage of Christ. Above all, Lord, today we pray for peace for Ukraine.

And we ask this in the name of your blessed Son.

Lord have mercy. Amen

Prayer For peace

Submitted by Ian Reid on 25 February, 2022

A Prayer for World Peace

Lord Jesus, You came that the world might know the peace that You have experienced with the Father eternally. Yet,

You taught us that in this life there will be wars and rumors of wars. Nations will rise against nations as violence works itself out in the world.

However, through You, the world may be saved.

O Lord, send Your spirit into the hearts of all men, that the world might know true peace through Your abundant mercy.

Amen.