Pray Continually (February 2015)

Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

February 2015

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

February

1: 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): 2:  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 at Sandon Road?)

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: Remind yourself of some places in our world in need for prayer for peace, stability, provision or resources.  Pray for them.  ‘For I am a great King’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and my name is to be feared among the nations.’’ (Malachi 1:14)

6: Pray for growing courage and readiness to risk for Jesus as reflected in our value of being ‘courageous in mission’.  ‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’  (Mathew 28:19)  What would be a courageous step for you?

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 at Sandon Road.  Pray for our pre-school and toddler group at Sandon Road.  Pray that all these was of serving the local community shown Jesus accurately and well.

13: Pray for a growing readiness to love everyone and help all people find God as their Father, Jesus as their Lord, and the church as their family.  Our value of ‘loving people’.  ‘I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.’ (Ephesians 1:17)  Think of groups so often excluded or forgotten in our society and pray for them.

14: Pray for the good stewardship and fruitful use of our buildings.

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

16: Pray for the new housing development of Marston Grange.

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 national and local leaders.  Remembering ‘In the Lord’s hands the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels towards all who please him.’ (Proverbs 21:1)

20:  Pray for the centrality of the Bible in preaching, living and speaking Jesus.  Our core value of being Bible saturated.   Pray for those responsible to teach or preach it in all sorts of contexts.  Pray that we might be ‘a pillar and buttress of truth’ and therefore a ‘living church’. (1 Timothy 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 how we operate our mid-week Bistro and conferencing facilities used by thousands of people each month as we seek to serve the Technology Park.  We seek to be an ‘above expected experience’ giving people a taste of what Jesus is like over their lunch time.  ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good…’ (Psalm 34:8)  Pray for the Beacon Strategy Group of leaders who are responsible for helping us be good stewards of our Beacon building.  Pray they may ‘do it diligently.’  (Romans 12:8)  Thank God that through these ‘businesses’ we engage with over 2000 people per month, are able to create an employment for those who otherwise might struggle to begin a career, and for the significant financial contribution they make to the life of the church.

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 those 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 Smile orphanage in Nepal and the Anusuran Centre in India, both of whom we support.  ‘Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…’ (James 1:27)

27: Pray for a growing reliance and dependence on God’s Spirit as an individual and in our life as a church.  Our value of ‘Spirit dependent’.  ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.’ (Galatians 5:22-23)

28: 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!)

And could you help compile next months - what do you think should be a priority for praying together as a church?  Let Alex know: pastoralexharris@gmail.com