PrayerTrack FEBRUARY FEBRUARY APRIL 2017

Transcription

1 PrayerTrack FEBRUARY APRIL 2017 WELCOME TO PRAYER TRACK, our guide to help focus intercession on the local, regional and international ministry of CWR. Please pray for people and places with great spiritual need and for opportunities to reveal the love of Jesus Christ to others. FEBRUARY Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY Praise God for the opportunities opening up to CWR in Singapore and Cambodia. Thank Him that Christian counselling courses can be taught in that part of the world. Pray for God s guidance for CWR s senior management as they seek to work with people abroad, and pray for CWR s working relationship with partners in Asia. THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY Please pray for CWR s Sales and Marketing team, who are often travelling to events and exhibitions around the UK. Pray for protection and safety on the roads and that they will carry God s presence with them, blessing and encouraging those they encounter whilst travelling. FRIDAY 3 FEBRUARY Give thanks to God for the servant-hearted praying partners who will be meeting today at Waverley Abbey House to pray for CWR and the wider world. Ask God to bless CWR with more partners who will dedicate their time in covering the charity with prayer. WEEKEND 4 5 FEBRUARY Pray for the ongoing work of those researching ways to cure cancer; that God will give them wisdom, motivation, perseverance and ultimately life-changing breakthroughs! MONDAY 6 FEBRUARY Around 150 church leaders, mission leaders and refugee workers across Europe are gathering today for the Refugees Highway Partnership Round Table event in Budapest, Hungary. Pray for everyone involved as the event is expected to be significant in helping Christians think about the crisis faced throughout Europe. TUESDAY 7 FEBRUARY Thank God for the police in the United Kingdom. Pray that we won t take the emergency services and those who work behind the scenes to protect our country for granted. WEDNESDAY 8 FEBRUARY Lift up the charity Care for the Family and all the great work they do in the areas of marriage, parenting and bereavement. Pray that churches will come alongside broken and struggling families in their communities, and be places of support rather than condemnation. THURSDAY 9 FEBRUARY The Structuring Pastoral Care course is being led by Andy Peck today at Waverley Abbey House. Pray for those who are making the effort to learn more about caring for others. Pray that they will be blessed and encouraged. FRIDAY 10 FEBRUARY Pray that our God of justice and mercy will have mercy on those in prison, bring hope to the broken, and be present through the hours, days, months and years of long or short sentences. Pray also that God comforts those affected by the crimes of those in prison, and the families of both the prisoners and the victims.

2 WEEKEND FEBRUARY Pray today for the book Insight into Burnout as it is released for this month. Ask God that He will speak to those who read it, and thank Him for the knowledge and insight of the authors Chris Ledger and Claire Musters. The theme for prayer this week is future generations MONDAY 13 FEBRUARY Thank God for the response CWR received from the Building for Years to Come appeal in summer Ask for God s wisdom and guidance as CWR use the money that has been entrusted to them to plan for the future of CWR and specifically for the next generations of Bible readers. TUESDAY 14 FEBRUARY Pray for children s and youth workers in churches. Thank God for the people who serve their churches tirelessly volunteering their time to teach, guide and support children. Pray for all the children and youth who read CWR s Bible reading notes Topz, YP s and Mettle, that they will develop life-long habits of engaging with God s Word daily. WEDNESDAY 15 FEBRUARY Give praise to God for the amazing work that is being done through people developing Biblerelated apps and programmes for mobile phones, tablets and computers. Ask God to continue to inspire the creative and technical minds behind the development of these tools. THURSDAY 16 FEBRUARY The International Institute of Knowledge Management is holding a Conference on climate change today and tomorrow in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Climate Change: Facing the Challenge Beyond COP21 will bring together academics, researchers, scholars and professionals across the world, and hopes to equip the industry with tools to tackle climate change. Pray for the future of our world, that we will take responsibility and care for the beautiful creation that God has entrusted to us. FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day. Ask God to give you the opportunity and courage to reach out to someone who you would not normally speak to or help out today. Do something kind for them, offer help, buy a gift or ask if you can pray for them. Ask God to give you ways to share that gift today. WEEKEND FEBRUARY Pray for Christians who work in the media in positions of creative influence, such as script writers, journalists, producers, editors and radio producers. Ask God to inspire them and to give them a confidence in their faith and a boldness to influence their spheres of work for God s glory. MONDAY 20 FEBRUARY Please pray for CWR s senior management team and board of trustees as they seek God in their decision-makings, whether they are small decisions that affect the day-to-day running of the charity or the big decisions that can shape the future of CWR s work. Ask God to speak clearly to them as they seek His wisdom and listen to His voice. TUESDAY 21 FEBRUARY Two brand-new book releases by CWR are Topz Tips for Prayer for children aged 7 11 years, and Pens Special: Prayer for 3 6 year olds. These brilliant books encourage children in their relationship with their loving Father God by exploring what prayer is all about. Lift up all the children who will read these books and ask God to speak to them as they explore more about how to talk to Him. WEDNESDAY 22 FEBRUARY Pray for the work of aid agencies and charities such as Christian Aid. People continue to need support long after floods, drought and conflict have faded from the headlines of newspapers and from our television screens. Pray that workers and volunteers will be sustained and feel supported as they work hard to help those in need. THURSDAY 23 FEBRUARY Andy Peck is leading the Sharing Jesus course today at Waverley Abbey House. Please pray for every person attending that they will learn new things about God and be inspired to return to their workplaces, homes, and social circles and share Jesus with people who do not yet know Him. FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY Yesterday, the Disciplemakers conference, Search and Rescue started in Auckland, New Zealand. It aims to equip believers and reach those outside of Church. Pray that many people will catch the vision of what God is doing and that God will speak clearly and powerfully through the speakers. WEEKEND FEBRUARY Pray for the readers of all of CWR s different Bible reading notes today that as they spend time with God, reading His Word and seeking Him, they will learn something new, feel refreshed and encouraged to share God with others. MONDAY 27 FEBRUARY Pray for Christians in the country of Turkey. The presence of Islamic fundamentalists in Turkey has already proved to be a huge threat for church leaders. Pray for safety and protection and that the number of people becoming disciples will grow and surprise everyone as more people get to hear the truth about Jesus. TUESDAY 28 FEBRUARY Ask God to continue inspiring CWR s authors. Pray that they would listen to God and seek Him as they write. Thank God that He continues to provide passionate and gifted authors who want to glorify Him and point people towards Him through their writing. MARCH And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 WEDNESDAY 1 MARCH Today is Ash Wednesday and marks the first day of Lent. Pray for Christians taking part in events for Lent over the next 40 days. May God use their changes in behaviour and attitude as strong witnesses to people around them who are not yet Christians. Give them opportunities to share their faith with those around them in the lead-up to Easter. THURSDAY 2 MARCH The Operation Mobilisation ship Logos Hope is currently visiting Willemstad in Curacao, a Caribbean island. Pray that Christians who come into contact with the ship s staff are built up and equipped through the teams working on board and the books that they provide. Pray that many of the 150,000 population on the island might be reached with the gospel. FRIDAY 3 MARCH A Bible Discovery Weekend is being held this weekend at Waverley Abbey House. Pray for everyone attending to have a great time learning more about God and drawing closer to Him as they study His Word. Pray for the catering, hosting and teaching teams who will be working this weekend, that they will be blessed as they serve and help the delegates. WEEKEND 4 5 MARCH Pray for new converts to Christianity in countries and places where Christians are persecuted and living out a faith is difficult. Ask God to give new Christians supportive friends to help them grow spiritually, and pray that they would be protected and provided for if their families and friends turn against them; that they will have the courage to be strong in their new faith to share it with others.

3 MONDAY 6 MARCH Please pray today for protection over CWR s two venues: Waverley Abbey House and Pilgrim Hall. They are both old houses that are reguarly faced with maintenance challenges. Pray that any visitors, students or staff who use the houses will be kept safe and comfortable. Thank God for the gift of hospitality and pray that visitors to the houses will feel blessed by CWR s staff. TUESDAY 7 MARCH Pray for the book Living the Dream, which will be released later this month. Thank God for the exciting and inspiring message about Joseph s life and the lessons we can learn about pursuing our God-given dreams. Lift up those who will read the book and ask that God will unlock potential dreams in them to further His kingdom. WEDNESDAY 8 MARCH Today is International Women s Day. Lift up all the women in your life to God today, thank Him for them and everything they bring to your life. Pray for women who face hard times today: those who live in poverty, who have lost loved ones, who are persecuted and oppressed, and pray that every woman will feel loved by God and comforted by His Holy Spirit. THURSDAY 9 MARCH The course Meeting Pastoral Care Challenges, is taking place today at Waverley Abbey House. Please pray that every delegate will learn new things about God and that they will draw closer to Him as they do so. Ask that God will speak through Andy and that everyone will leave with practical ideas and plans to put into action. FRIDAY 10 MARCH Give thanks for CWR s Partners, whose prayer and financial support is invaluable to the ministry. Pray for more Partners to join with CWR. WEEKEND MARCH A prayer from Release International who work with persecuted Christians around the world: Almighty God, who has taught us through Your Son Jesus Christ that those who follow Him may be persecuted; strengthen, comfort and encourage all those who suffer harassment, violence, imprisonment and even death for being followers of Jesus. We pray for those who persecute Your people; may their hearts be turned towards You through the faithful witness of those they persecute. This week, we focus our prayers on the topic of education MONDAY 13 MARCH Please pray today for all the counselling students studying at Waverley Abbey College. Ask God to bless them in their studies, help them with their assignments and exams, and give them comfort knowing that He has a plan for them after they graduate and are qualified. TUESDAY 14 MARCH Pray for Christian teachers today, that God would give them the courage to speak out about their faith to colleagues. Ask that God would grant them patience when the syllabus they have to follow holds them back from sharing their faith. Pray that Jesus would shine through them as they teach the children in their classes and that students will be drawn to wanting to know more about Christianity. WEDNESDAY 15 MARCH Today, remember countries where children do not get access to education. Pray for the many young people whose education has been interrupted by the refugee crisis as they now have to somehow create an environment where they can study in the crowded and noisy environment of a refugee camp. Ask God to make a way for them to fulfil their potential despite these difficulties. THURSDAY 16 MARCH Thank God for young Christians in schools who have a relationship with Him. Pray that He will give courage to children and young people in schools to stay true to what they believe, to boldly and joyfully share the truth they know about the gospel, and for their peers to notice something different that they want to know more about. FRIDAY 17 MARCH Pray for the readers of CWR s two Teachers Devotional books. Ask that God will bless the readers as they daily carve out time to spend seeking His heart and reading His Word. Pray that those daily devotional times will become life-giving and precious times that fill them up and encourage them. WEEKEND MARCH Pray for the organisation Prayer Spaces in Schools, who link churches with their local schools. Prayer spaces enable children and young people of all faiths or none to explore life questions about faith in a safe and creative space by setting up prayer rooms in schools. Pray that schools will be open to having prayer spaces and that so many people will encounter Jesus in those spaces. MONDAY 20 MARCH Starting today, Blaine Cook, Steve and Sally Wilson, and Kim Maas lead a week long Global Awakening trip to Brazil. Pray for the times of teaching that will take place in the days, and then the evening gatherings where God s Word is preached and people get a chance to pray together. Ask God to bless this team again as they pursue His heart in Brazil. TUESDAY 21 MARCH Pray for those attending the Inspiring Women Spring Day happening today at Waverley Abbey House. Ask God that every woman will leave today not just feeling refreshed after having had a good time, ready to head back to their family, work and social lives filled with the Holy Spirit and a renewed determination to share more of their faith with others. WEDNESDAY 22 MARCH Today is World Water Day. Pray for the many organisations who are raising awareness around the world about poor sanitation and lack of drinking water, and ask that God would bless their work. Ask God to surprise them with generous gifts from donors and sponsors. THURSDAY 23 MARCH Pray for CWR s new book, All Together: The Family Devotional. This book fulfils a need and want that many parents have: to spend more time together as a family with God. Thank God for families that want to place Him at their centre and want to learn and grow together as they spend time collectively with Him. Pray that this book will be a useful tool for many families. FRIDAY 24 MARCH Tomorrow, Mick Brooks is teaching the course Mental Health in the Church at Waverley Abbey House. Pray for him as he prepares and plans the day. Ask that God would speak clearly through him as he teaches on this important topic, which is not often talked in churches. Pray that those attending the course will be encouraged. WEEKEND MARCH This Sunday is Mothering Sunday. Lift up all mothers to God and thank Him for their hard work, and for the love, support and time they give to their families. Pray for people who do not have good relationships with their mothers or for mothers who cannot see their children today, that the Holy Spirit will comfort them and they will know that God is the ultimate parent whose love is sufficient for all. MONDAY 27 MARCH Today the self-declared independent state of Somaliland, in Somalia, will elect a head of state, a predisent and a legislature. Somalia is widely regarded as one of the toughest places to be a Christian anywhere in the world, with just 4,000 known believers out of a population of five million. Conversion from Islam to Christianity is punishable by death. Pray that the newly elected president will come to know Jesus and lead with Christ at the center.

4 TUESDAY 28 MARCH CWR recently released Transformed Living, a new 50-day devotional by Dave Smith, which takes readers through Ephesians 4 6. Pray that churches and individuals reading this book will take on board the teaching and practically live it out, and that people around them will be transformed as they live their lives for Jesus. WEDNESDAY 29 MARCH Today, delegates will gather at Waverley Abbey House to hear Philip Greenslade teach on Philippians 2 3 on a course entitled The Master Story. Pray that as people hear from Paul s letter to the Early Church they will grasp the truth of the gospel afresh. Pray for a great time as people get a chance to reflect on the self-giving love of Jesus, and a fresh awe and wonder of the redemption story. THURSDAY 30 MARCH Pray for the tireless work of 24-7 Prayer, who are helping and encouraging people to pray all over the world. Pray that prayer rooms will become the centre of communities and that many more prayer rooms will appear and be used in unlikely places, making a huge impact for God s glory. FRIDAY 31 MARCH Praise God for all the churches who are taking part in CWR church programmes and initiatives: whether it s redefining pastoral care with Paraclesis, discovering more about Jesus through 40 Days with Jesus, or studying the book of Ephesians with Transformed Life. Pray that everyone who is using the resources will be encouraged as their faith strengthens and they draw nearer to God. APRIL But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 WEEKEND 1 2 APRIL This Sunday is World Autism Day. Praise God for all the wonderful people He has created, and that He loves every one of us equally. Lift up those who face the challenges of living with Autism daily, pray that God will place them in churches and communities who understand, support and love them. Pray for education about autism so that prejudice decreases and support and awareness increases. MONDAY 3 APRIL Pray for the work of those translating CWR resources into different languages, and pray that the process runs smoothly. Thank God for the opportunities for CWR s literature to reach more countries and ask Him for even more opportunities to share His Word with new people and places. TUESDAY 4 APRIL Lift up the CWR Sales and Marketing team, who are at Spring Harvest for the next week. Pray for strength, good health and enthusiasm as they work on the stand at the Christian festival. Ask God for new people to find out about what CWR do and take interest in the training, church programmes, small group studies, Bible reading notes and so many more resources that are available. WEDNESDAY 5 APRIL Today we pray that the persecution and murder of Christians in Nigeria would stop. Pray for Christian Solidarity Worldwide, and the work they do to support persecuted Christians. THURSDAY 6 APRIL Pray for the small groups in your church. Ask God to strengthen the groups as they learn and grow together. Pray that small groups can be beacons of light for God in neighbourhoods and step out and make a difference in communities. FRIDAY 7 APRIL Paraclesis: Journeying Together is a church initiative from CWR that aims to equip the church congregation to care for one another. Pray for the churches that have begun to take part in this six-week series and that more churches would sign up to develop the culture of care in the church. WEEKEND 8 9 APRIL North Korea remains at the head of the persecution watch tables as the toughest place to be a Christian. However, this Sunday North Korea s capital city will host the Pyongyang Marathon, to which international runners are welcomed. Pray that there may be greater freedoms for its people and that the awful regime might eventually crumble. MONDAY 10 APRIL Please pray for CWR s international distributors who get products into difficult-to-reach places. Thank God for His provision, that we can supply people with resources that teach, encourage and guide people all over the world. TUESDAY 11 APRIL The holiday and Christian festival Word Alive is taking place in Prestatyn, Wales this week. Pray for all the teaching, training and worship taking place, that it will equip and energise people to return to workplaces, schools and friendships with renewed enthusiasm to share God with others. WEDNESDAY 12 APRIL Pray for fresh courage for Christians and churches who took part in the National Prayer Weekend last September that they would continue to pray for their communities and neighbours. Pray for churches to be at the centre of their communities, reaching out to those in need and providing hope and support for those who need it. THURSDAY 13 APRIL Presence, the IFES European student evangelism conference, takes place in Aschaffenburg, Germany over Easter, with 2,000 students from all over Europe. As the conference begins today, pray for students to be refreshed and equipped for the key roles that they can play on campus as they aim to make the most of their time at university for Christ. FRIDAY 14 APRIL Pray for Christians all across the UK who will be taking part in open-air Good Friday services and walks of witness today. Pray that people will hear the powerful Easter message and be intrigued by activities going on. Ask God to give people opportunities to share their faith with those who do not yet know Jesus this Easter. WEEKEND APRIL Give thanks in your prayers today that Jesus is alive! Thank God for the incredible sacrifice He made. Pray that the resurrection story will be preached all over the world today and that joy will overspill out of the churches, spreading into the communities and lives of others. MONDAY 17 APRIL Please pray for small groups that are reading through the 40 Days with Jesus programme, which follows the 40 days after Jesus resurrection. Pray that people will be excited as they read through the amazing scriptures that tell us about Jesus s post-resurrection encounters. TUESDAY 18 APRIL CWR have recently released two new books in the Cover to Cover Study Guide series: one about Jacob and the other focusing on Haggai. Pray that those who use these studies, will encounter God in new ways by His Word, and be inspired to live for Him. WEDNESDAY 19 APRIL According to the charity A21 who are working to abolish injustice in twenty-first century Human trafficking is the fastest growing crime in the world. Pray for A21 as they seek to protect survivors of human trafficking, and provide safe environments and restoration programmes.

5 THURSDAY 20 APRIL Thank God for His faithfulness and provision, particularly in the financial support He provides for CWR through Partners, and others who support the ministry. Pray that all the financial decisions taking place in CWR will be brought before God to follow His plan and work for His glory. FRIDAY 21 APRIL Pray for the prison ministry at CWR, supplying prisons chaplains around the world with copies of Every Day with Jesus and Inspiring Women Every Day. Thank God for the hope and purpose that His Word speaks into people s lives, and pray for more funds to be able to continue sending free Bible reading notes into prisons. WEEKEND APRIL This Saturday, Chris Ledger is leading the Insight into Self-Acceptance day at Waverley Abbey House. Pray for her as she prepares and teaches the delegates to embrace the person that God created them to be. Pray that God will speak to each person individually as they seek Him. This week, our prayers will focus on the topic of health MONDAY 24 APRIL Mental health is a subject that is talked about less often than physical health, and yet so many individuals and their friends and families are affected by it. Lift up people struggling with depression, stress, anxiety and fear to God today, and ask Jesus to intercede. Pray for peace in the lives of those who are troubled daily by mental health problems. TUESDAY 25 APRIL Lift up the brave men and women who work in trauma hospitals around the world. Thank God for the gifts, talents and compassion that He has given them. Pray that they will be strengthened and protected as they continue to work in extreme circumstances, caring for those fleeing dangerous, life-threatening situations. WEDNESDAY 26 APRIL Let us pray today for the NHS. Pray that the government will be wise with funding and give the healthcare system the support that it needs. Praise God for the provision of healthcare in the UK and ask Him to protect it. THURSDAY 27 APRIL Pray for Christians working in the healthcare sector. Pray that as they are faced with pressures, expectations and stresses they will find strength in God, and that He will comfort them and use them to spread His life-giving joy and hope in often difficult situations. FRIDAY 28 APRIL At the end of 2016 the world watched hurricane Matthew rip through Haiti and up the east coast of America. Pray for the effected areas. Pray for protection from diseases, and for clean water and effective aid to reach the hospitals and medical centres that were destroyed or damaged by the extreme winds and floods. WEEKEND APRIL Pray for the advancement of healthcare around the world, and for the essential research to develop technology, processes, vaccinations and new drugs. Pray that people will receive a good education on how to keep themselves and others safe, and that those working tirelessly to care for others will receive the support that they need. If you would like to give to the work of CWR please send your gift to the address below or go to donate button online CWR, WAVERLEY ABBEY HOUSE, WAVERLEY LANE, FARNHAM, SURREY GU9 8EP Tel: +44 (0) mail@cwr.org.uk Registered Charity No Registered Limited Company No All facts and statistics included in this Prayer Track were acquired July 2016 and correct at time of writing. Unless otherwise stated, all Bible references are from the Holy Bible: New International Version Anglicised, NIV. Copyright 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Other version marked: ESV: Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.