Children in Thailand

Key Scripture: Amos 5:24 (NIV)

²⁴But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.

General Prayer Focus: Children in Thailand

Specific Prayer Focus: Protection from exploitation

Tidbit of Information: “Pray for the protection of innocent children in Thailand who are at risk of being sold into prostitution and the drug industry. Pray for the church in Thailand to be a strong force of justice on behalf of all the children who are affected by poverty and exploitation.” (Compassion International Prayer of the Day Email for May 1, 2010)

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You are leading Your church to be an expression of Your justice in the earth!  Today I pray for Your church in Thailand as they seek to bring justice on behalf of the impoverished children and that You would equip them to protect these precious ones from being exploited and oppressed.  Father, I ask that You would cause Your justice to roll on like a river, that these innocent children would be kept safe from the evil one who would seek to steal their innocence.  I pray that You would set Your angels around these ones and hold them safe in Your hands, that they would not fall into the hands of the wicked, but that they would be rescued by Your church and brought into Your Kingdom of love.  I pray that You would empower Your church to bring aid to these children and their families, that they would not have to live in fear, and that they could rise out of the pit of poverty.  I pray that You would provide for their every need so that these children would not fall victim to the prostitution and drug industry.  I pray that You would lead parents to the Compassion projects and programs so that their children can receive an education, food, and the love of God, in Jesus’ Name.  Amen!

Links: Compassion Canada

Justice for the Orphan

Key Scripture: Psalm 10:14, 17-18 (NIV)

 ¹⁴ But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;
       you consider it to take it in hand.
       The victim commits himself to you;
       you are the helper of the fatherless…
 ¹⁷ You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
       you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
 ¹⁸ defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
       in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.

General Prayer Focus: Under-30 Generation

Specific Prayer Focus: Justice for the Orphan

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You are the helper of the fatherless and that You hear the desire of the afflicted.  The very God of the universe, the Maker of the heavens, the LORD Almighty, the great God, King and Judge of the earth – You care about the plight of the orphan and are moved with compassion on their behalf.  You are not so high that You will not stoop down to the lowest and the weakest and the least of these little children to encourage them and pour Your love upon them.  Lord, You listen to their cry and You defend the cause of the fatherless, so I ask that You would hear their desire for love and that You would set the lonely in families.  Father, would You reveal Yourself to them as their heavenly Father, but if possible, also give them the gift of an earthly father and mother who will love and embrace and care for them.  I pray that You would bring justice on their behalf and protect and defend them from the wicked who would seek to exploit, oppress, afflict, and take advantage of them.  Jesus, would You rescue these dear children and avenge them, that the wicked of the earth may terrify no more!  Do not leave them as orphans, but adopt them into Your family and give to them the Spirit of adoption, that they could call You, “Abba, Father”.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Human Trafficking in Malaysia

Key Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)

¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
       because the LORD has anointed me
       to preach good news to the poor.
       He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
       to proclaim freedom for the captives
       and release from darkness for the prisoners,  
² to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
       and the day of vengeance of our God,
       to comfort all who mourn,
³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
       to bestow on them a crown of beauty
       instead of ashes,
       the oil of gladness
       instead of mourning,
       and a garment of praise
       instead of a spirit of despair.
       They will be called oaks of righteousness,
       a planting of the LORD
       for the display of his splendor.

General Prayer Focus: Malaysia

Specific Prayer Focus: Ending of human trafficking

Tidbit of Information: “While a few of the human trafficking victims in Malaysia (mostly of Chinese ethnicity) are exported to other countries, most victims are of Malaysian descent or imported into Malaysia from Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar (Burma), Mongolia and China…Often these immigrants are victimized by their employers, employment agents, or traffickers that supply migrant laborers and victims of sex trafficking.” (Source)

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You anointed Your Son Jesus with Your Spirit to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners!  Today I pray for those caught in human trafficking in the nation of Malaysia and that You would bring an end to this modern form of slavery.  I pray that You would bring justice on behalf of the oppressed men, women and children who have been forced or tricked into slavery and that You would rescue and deliver them from their oppressors.  God, would You proclaim freedom for these captives and comfort all who mourn.  I pray that You would encounter the government and traffickers with the fear of the Lord, that they would be convicted of their sin and be compelled to take action to end this terrible crime.  Lord, would You demonstrate Your power and Your mercy by rescuing these prisoners from darkness and replacing all of their pain and sorrow with Your beauty and healing.  I pray for Christ-based organizations in Malaysia to grow in number and in strength and that You would equip them with everything they need to be a haven for victims that can bring restoration and the love of Jesus.  Amen!

Sources/Links: Exodus Cry

Canadian Liberal Pro-Abortion Motion

Key Scripture: Amos 5:24 (NIV)

²⁴ But let justice roll on like a river,
       righteousness like a never-failing stream! 

General Prayer Focus: LIFE

Specific Prayer Focus: Canadian Liberal Pro-Abortion Motion

Tidbit of Information: Faytene Kryskow, with 4myCanada.ca and Bound4Life.ca, is calling a 3 day period of fasting and prayer from March 21-23, 2010 in response to the Canadian Liberal party’s expected motion to include the topic of abortion in Canada’s agenda at the G8 summit.  This motion is expected to be brought forward for a vote on Tuesday, March 23rd, at 5:30pm.  While Prime Minister Stephan Harper’s plan has been to bring up the issue of global infant and maternal mortality at the G8, the Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has been pushing to include providing access to abortion in this platform, claiming botched abortions as an issue that threatens women.  For more information about this motion and how you can both pray and take action, read the recent email newsletter here.

Prayer: Father, today we intercede and stand in the gap on behalf of unborn babies across the world and we pray that Your justice would roll on like a river, Your righteousness like a never-failing stream.  Father, we repent for the great bloodshed that has already occurred in Canada with our complete lack of regulations or laws against abortion.  Jesus, we bleed Your blood over our sins and the sins of our nation and we ask for both Your mercy and Your justice.  Would You spare our nation from Your judgment by sending Your Spirit for a great revival that would cause justice to flow abundantly on behalf of the unborn babies.  Father, we pray that You would cause the political leaders in our country to take a stand for righteousness and truth and justice and that You would cause a great uprising of men and women who are willing to be a strong and relentless voice for life!  Let Canada be known as a nation that seeks to promote life not only in our land, but in the nations of the earth.  We ask that You would fulfill the prophetic promises You have spoken over Canada, that she would be like the tree whose leaves bring healing to the nations.  We ask that Canada would not promote abortion as a solution to the problems of women and children across the earth, but that Canada would promote justice and life-giving aid.  Would You turn the hearts of the leaders of our land toward You and Your ways.  God end abortion and send revival to Canada, in Jesus’ Name. Amen!

Sources/Links: 4MyCanada.ca
Bound4Life.ca

Protection for Women in Haiti

Key Scripture: Psalm 23:4-5 (NIV)

⁴ Even though I walk
       through the valley of the shadow of death, 
       I will fear no evil,
       for you are with me;
       your rod and your staff,
       they comfort me. 
⁵ You prepare a table before me
       in the presence of my enemies.
       You anoint my head with oil;
       my cup overflows.

General Prayer Focus: Haiti

Specific Prayer Focus: Protection for Women

Tidbit of Information: A CNN.com report shares how violence against women is a cultural problem in Haiti, but there is an increase of fear among women who have lost their homes to the recent earthquake.  “Women can be easily preyed upon when their four walls consist only of bed sheets or thin tents…Steps are being taken to safeguard women in the camps now. Solar flashlights are being handed out, proximity to bathrooms and lighting are being worked on, and security patrols increased.” (Source)

Prayer: Father, I lift up the women in Haiti who are afraid and feeling vulnerable right now.  For every woman in a temporary or makeshift home that offers little protection from predators, I ask that they would be surrounded by Your presence.  I pray that they would turn to You in their time of need and find their refuge in You.  May they experience the safety and security found in You even in the midst of their enemies.  Though they may feel like they are in a deep, dark valley, I pray that they would know that You are always near and that You are there to comfort and protect them.  For those in the government and the agencies who are there to help, I ask that You would provide them with the wisdom and resources necessary to protect the women who are vulnerable and to keep them safe in this time of uncertainty.  Father, bring redemption and restoration to the culture in Haiti by the power of Your Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ Name.  Amen!

Sources/Links: Women fear violence in Haitian camps (CNN.com)

Persecuted Christians in Nigeria

Key Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NIV)

³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. ⁵For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

General Prayer Focus: Persecuted Christians

Specific Prayer Focus: Comfort for persecuted Christians in Nigeria

Tidbit of Information: “Muslims launched deadly attacks on Christians in the three farming villages of Dogo Nahawa, Zot and Rastat in Plateau state near the city of Jos, Nigeria on March 7. The Muslim attackers, members of the Fulani ethnic group, killed hundreds of Christians, many of whom were women and children…They also set fire to houses, burning approximately 75 to the ground. Sources estimate that around 500 people were killed in the violence.” (Source)

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You are the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.  I thank You that You care about us in our pain and that You are with us in the time of trouble to comfort us.  I pray for the Christians in Nigeria, that You would manifest Yourself to them in this way as they face persecution for loving You.  Father, I pray that they would experience Your nearness and presence in ways that they have not previously known and that even in the valley of the shadow of death, that they would know You are with them and they do not need to be afraid (Psalm 23).  I pray that they would receive revelation of the great honor and privilege that it is to share in the sufferings of Christ and that their eternal glory will far outweigh these present afflictions (2 Corinthians 4:17; Romans 8:18).  Father, pour out Your great love for these ones in Nigeria, that they would know that there is absolutely nothing that can separate them from Your love (Romans 8:35-39) and may the very comfort of Jesus Christ overflow to their hearts.  As they receive Your comfort and compassion, may they extend this same compassion and mercy and love to each other and even towards their persecutors.  Would You empower them with strength to love and bless and their enemies and in so doing, advance Your gospel of peace, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Sources/Links: The Voice of the Martyrs

You can also add your own prayers to the VOTM Prayer Wall.

New Houses of Prayer

Key Scripture: Isaiah 56:6-7 (NIV)

 ⁶ “And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD
       to serve him,
       to love the name of the LORD,
       and to worship him,
       all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
       and who hold fast to my covenant-  
⁷ these I will bring to my holy mountain
       and give them joy in my house of prayer.
       Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
       will be accepted on my altar;
       for my house will be called
       a house of prayer for all nations.”  

General Prayer Focus: The Prayer Movement

Specific Prayer Focus: New Houses of Prayer being started

Tidbit of Information: The leaders of a house of prayer in Jerusalem, Succat Hallel, are currently helping start up new houses of prayer in Brussels, Belgium, eastern Turkey, and Dubai.  They will be ministering at prayer summits and teaching seminars on birthing a house of prayer.  They are also helping with houses of prayer in Israel, Afghanistan, and Egypt.  In their recent email newsletter, they asked for prayer for great grace, laborers, joy, provision and protection in areas where there is persecution against Christians.  (March 10, 2010 email)

Prayer: Father, I praise You for the work You are doing in the nations of the earth and how You are building Your house of prayer!  I thank You for the leadership at Succat Hallel and for their ministry to the nations and their passion for furthering the prayer movement.  Today I ask that You would truly give them joy in Your house of prayer and that You would pour out every drop of grace and provision that they need!  I pray that You would bring them laborers to join in this effort – leaders, musicians, singers, intercessors, administrators – and that these people would be ones who have bound themselves to You in servanthood, love and worship.  I pray for protection upon them as they travel and minister and that You would keep them safe from the schemes of the enemy.  I ask that Your Holy Spirit would come on them in great power and anointing for the raising up of many houses of prayer throughout the earth, in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Links: Succat Hallel

Children in Haiti

Key Scripture: Psalm 27:5 (NIV)

5 For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. 

General Prayer Focus: Children in Haiti

Specific Prayer Focus: Protection from exploitation

Tidbit of Information: “We thank the Lord for his promise of protection and help and ask for this protection for children in Haiti who are at a greater risk for exposure to violence and exploitation due to the recent earthquake in their country.” (Compassion International Prayer of the Day Email for March 10, 2010)

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You love the children in Haiti and that You care deeply for this nation in its time of great need.  For the children who are truly experiencing a day of trouble, I ask that You would keep them safe and hide them in Your shelter.  I pray that they would find refuge in You and that they would turn to You to be their safe place, their rock of strength that they can depend on.  I ask that You would keep them from the evil one and protect them from those who would seek to exploit them and take advantage of them in their weakness.  Lord, would You provide for their every need in the aftermath of this earthquake and draw them into Your loving arms, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Links: Compassion Canada

Prayer Resources for the Ending of Abortion

Many people and ministries take the opportunity to pray for the ending of abortion on January 22nd, which is the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade in 1973 when abortion became legal in the United States.  Here are a few of the various activities and prayer events that are taking place which you can partner with or use as a resource for your own prayers regarding the ending of abortion.

March for Life
The March for Life has been taking place in Washington, DC ever since January 22, 1974, the first anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, to remember this day and to take a stand for the lives of the unborn.  Since that first march where approximately 20,000 people attended, it has grown to about 200,000 in recent years.   

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
All the dioceses are called to observe January 22nd as a day of “penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life.”  Listed on this page are several Catholic pro-life liturgies that can be used for intercession.  In Washington, they also hold the National Prayer Vigil for Life, which starts tonight and goes through the night, leading up to the March for Life that also takes place in Washington.

“A great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world. Through special initiatives and in daily prayer, may an impassioned plea rise to God, the Creator and lover of life, from every Christian community, from every group and association, from every family and from the heart of every believer.”
-Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, no. 100

Priests for Life
The Priests for Life organization called for a Novena of Reparation, which is basically nine days of prayer, beginning on January 14th and leading up to January 22nd, inviting people to pray each day for the ending of abortion.  On their site are also several prayer resources such as the Daily Prayer to End Abortion, a list of Pro-Life Prayers, and a 30-Day Prayer Devotional for Life.

22 Prayers for Life
I also took some time & picked out 22 Prayers for Life from a couple of the Catholic sites and put them in one document as a resource for you!  I must say, I was totally blessed to read about the Catholic’s strong stance for life and their strong focus and push for prayer for this issue.  To see the way they unite in prayer and how they gather together for this cause was greatly encouraging to my heart.  May a passion and a heart and prayers for the issue of life continue to grow in the hearts of Christians across North America!

22 Prayers for Life.doc
22 Prayers for Life.pdf

**Note about these prayers: Most of the prayers have been copied word for word from either the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website (http://www.usccb.org/) or the Priests for Life website (http://www.priestsforlife.org/). I tried to note that a prayer was “Adapted” if I made any changes. Most changes were only to make the prayers applicable to both the United States and Canada or to make the prayers more non-denominational in nature and adaptable to all Christians – Catholic or not. For the most part, the prayers remained unchanged, but you can also view the original sources by clicking on the provided links.

If you know of any other events or great prayer resources for the ending of abortion, please leave a comment with the links.