Pray Continually (November)

Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Could you use this monthly outline of suggested prayers as part of the impact you are making for Jesus through the church?

Thursday Fasts: If you haven’t already got habits of fasting (a physical hunger awakening a spiritual hunger) then why not start by a simple fast of one meal each Thursday?

November

1: Pray for the churches across Stafford in their mission for Jesus.  (And perhaps join the town-wide prayer meeting every first Saturday 7.30-8.30am?)  ‘As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ (John 20:21)

2: Pray that as churches gather together they will 'devote themselves to the apostle's teaching and to fellowship and to the breaking of bread and to prayer.'  (Acts 2:42)

3: Pray for Christians living out Jesus on their 'frontline' of home, work and leisure that we may be 'Christ's ambassadors, as though God was making his appeal through us.'  (2 Corinthians 5:20)

4:  List ten things you are thankful for - big and small.  Thank God for them.  'I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving' (Psalm 69:13)

5:  Pray for Smile Orphanage which we support in Nepal.  ‘Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…’  (James 1:27)

6: THURSDAY FAST (if you are able).  Pray for our corporate mission as a church as we seek to 'present everyone fully mature in Christ'.  (Colossians 1:28)  Our core value of being 'courageous in mission.'

7: Pray for the leaders of the church that we might 'strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in us.' (Colossians 1:29)

8: Think of three people who you know who don't yet know Jesus - pray that ‘God, who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness would make his light shine in their hearts to give them the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.’  (2 Corinthians 4:6)

9: Pray for a growing effectiveness to reach the men of Stafford so that ‘men everywhere would pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.’  (1Timothy 2:8)

10: Pray that the women of Stafford would be effectively reached, living as ‘women who profess to worship God.’  (1Timothy 2:10)

11: Pray for John Wheeldon and the other primary and secondary schools, and University and college. That we might ‘declare your power to the next generation’ (Psalm 71:18)

12: Pray for the Youth Brigades and Band who meet each week.  ‘encourage the younger men (and women!)’ (Titus 2:6)

13: THURSDAY FAST (if you are able):  Pray we would be a community able to welcome and embrace everyone.  Our core value of loving people.  ‘May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else…’ (1 Thessalonians 3:12)

14: Pray for the good stewardship and fruitful use of our buildings, and especially the re-development of Sandon Road.  Pray as we re-open the buildings in just a few week’s time for the potential new ‘Afternoon Service’ for families we hope to start.

15:  Pray for family life and marriages.  That ‘marriage should be honoured by all’ (Hebrews 13:4).

16: Pray for some global realities and countries of unrest and lack of stability.  Pray for wisdom and peace, unity and harmony.

17:  Pray for yourself - to live and speak of Jesus in small ways to those around you. Pray you would be ‘mindful of God’s unfailing love and live in reliance on his faithfulness.’ (Psalm 26:3)

18:  List ten things you are thankful for - thank God for them.  ‘Cry out, ‘Save us, God our Saviour…that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.’  (1 Chronicles 16:35)

19:  Pray for Messy Church After-School Club at John Wheeldon, and the holiday club version at Sandon Road.  Pray they are wonderful environments to share something of the love of God. 

20:  THURSDAY FAST:  Pray for the centrality of the Bible in preaching, living and speaking Jesus.  Our core value of being Bible saturated.   That the church might be the ‘pillar and buttress of truth’ and therefore be a ‘living church’ (1Timothy 3:15)

21: Pray for our lifegroups to be effective and helpful in living out Jesus. ‘Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.’ (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

22: Pray for playgroup – for the various staff and trainees, for the children, and for the parents and families.

23:  Think of three people you know in the church - pray they ‘may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding.’  (Colossians 2:2)

24: Pray for the Beacon Friendship Group as it weeks weekly to serve and reach retired and older friends.

25:  Pray for the Alpha course we are running, exploring who Jesus is. ‘Pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people’ (Ephesians 1:18)

26:  Pray for Anusuran, who we support in India.

27: THURSDAY FAST:  Pray for our growing reliance on God's Spirit in making us wise, and developing our characters and gifts.  Our core value of Spirit dependent. 

28: Pray for our national or local political and civil leaders.  ‘I urge then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and those I authority…’ (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

29:  List ten things you are thankful for - thank God for them.  ‘But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’  (1 Corinthians 15:57 – it’s about the resurrection, so don’t forget to thank God for Jesus!)

30:  Pray for the Beacon Bistro and Conferencing, for all that happens mid-week, and for Mid-Week Connect.