COMMUNITY PRAYER EVENT

Welcome and Purpose of a Call to Prayer

1) …Because of who God is!

Omniscient

Omnipotent

Omnipresent

He is Love

He is the Great Physician

He is Perfect in every way

2)…Because we are everything God is not!

Finite

Broken

Imperfect and Sinful

Powerless

Desperate

3)…Because God invites us to!

2 Chronicles 7:13–14 ESV

When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Philippians 4:4–7 ESV

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Pray for COVID:

Psalm 91:1–16 (ESV)

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Ask for the Containment of the Virus

Ask God to slow and halt the spread of the Covid 19 Coronavirus. Take a moment to pray for God’s particular intervention in the nations most affected.

Pray for the ill and the isolated

Ask God to make His presence felt in solitude and to protect, strengthen and heal them.

Pray for the Protection of the vulnerable

Ask God to protect them from infection.

Pray for local and national leaders

Ask God to give wisdom to national and local political leaders as they make decisions to protect people.

Ask God to bring excellent advisers, who will speak truth and facts (not political theories), to guide them.

Ask God to give them the ability to communicate clearly and directly to the public.

Pray for health professionals

Ask God to protect the health professionals (doctors, nurses, ambulance crews and more) caring for those affected by the virus.

Ask God to give them peace, wisdom, perseverance, and strength. Ask the Holy Spirit to anoint them for their jobs and to protect them from infection.

Ask God to protect and sustain their families as well.

PRAY FOR THOSE AFFECTED IN OTHER WAYS BY THE PANDEMIC

Ask God to comfort those grieving the loss of loved ones, to provide for those in financial difficulty because they are unable to work, and for business leaders as they continue to face unprecedented challenges.

Pray the blessing of Numbers 6:24-26 over each group.

Numbers 6:24–26 ESV

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Pray for Afghanistan:

Psalm 46 ESV

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

PRAY AGAINST THE DARKNESS

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Pray against the schemes of Satan in Afghanistan and around the world.

PRAY FOR THOSE WHO REMAIN

Pray for God’s provision for the physical needs for food, shelter, and water for the Afghan people.

Pray for supernatural protection from those in Afghanistan facing oppression and difficulty.

Pray for the safety and provision of U.S. and Afghan military forces who remain in country.

Pray for missionaries and NGO agents who have remain in country seeking to work amidst the humanitarian crisis.

PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LEFT

Pray for provision for the refugees who have been able to make it out of the country or those who are trying to flee from persecution.

Pray for Afghan people living in different parts of the world who are watching what is unfolding in their homeland where their family and friends still reside.

PRAY FOR THE WOMEN OF AFGHANISTAN

Under Taliban rule, women are highly restricted, often in danger, devalued, and objectified.

Pray that they would know they are created in the image of God and highly valued.

Pray for those in the country who would, even in the midst of persecution, would rise to affirm and advocate for the dignity of women.

Pray for the basic freedoms for women, such as education.

Pray for the protection of the vulnerable from those who would prey on, exploit, and abuse them.

PRAY FOR THE AFGHAN CHURCH

Pray for the church to be “strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that they may have great endurance and patience.” (Col. 1:11)

Pray the Lord would direct their hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.

Pray for the Gospel witness of the Afghan Church. Pray that Muslims, and others, would “call upon the name of the Lord” in this time of duress and in light of the witness of Jesus’ people.

PRAY FOR HOPE

Pray for Christians in Afghanistan and beyond to remain hopeful in the Lord and his purposes.

Pray that those facing difficulty would experience peace despite circumstances.

Pray that the sufferings will lead to hope anchored in God’s eternal love and the Afghan Church will remember that the present sufferings of this life cannot compare to the glory that awaits when we are with Jesus face to face.

Pray that God will grant believers joy in the midst of trouble and would enable unbelievers to receive the message of the Gospel.

PRAY FOR THE TALIBAN

Pray that members of the Taliban will call upon the name of the Lord, repent, and be saved.

Pray that they will experience “the fragrance of Christ” from the Christian church and be led to life.

Pray that their plans would be thwarted and that they would be unable to hurt others.

Pray that those who make up the Taliban will encounter Jesus and be forever changed, much like Saul of Tarshish.