During year-end, December 31 at night service to be precise, our Pastor would ask us to list down twelve desires to be had in the coming year, and at the same time look back at the previous year’s list how was it been going. My experience was that a majority of us had the majority of the list remained a desire, although there were few positive testimonies. Yes, harvesting few fruits is better than planting nothing and reap nothing, so it’s a good idea at all.
But Alas! I observed almost all are self-centered, myself included. More than the very few, the lists were focused to own self, hearing even those positive testimonies that were selfish, starring the three famous persons, I, Me, and Mine.
Realizing from the verse of the Bible; 1 John 4:19 “We love because he first loved us”, it’s God who propagates love so that we can spread His love to others. Selflessness is the essence of love that God bestowed to every one of us. Jesus our Lord himself is God did not consider his divine nature for his own sake rather took a human nature and sacrificed himself to death to save us.
What then my realization brings to me?
Today, instead of preparing my twelve items to wish list, I took a little different from what I usually do. I am putting down my twelve items prayer list for those I believe needed most, here I invite you to join me, we may not reach them physically but our prayers can make a difference.
- Prayer for the victims of natural calamities
Almighty God, As the year 2019 passed by with extremely difficult situations due to calamities that hit them, please continue to wrap them by your loving care, hold them by your comforting arms, and bestow on them your strength. Lord, give them faith that can hold them through their struggles and enshrine them hope for a better tomorrow. In Jesus mighty Name, I pray, Amen.
2. Prayer for underground churches worldwide
Dear Lord, As the year 2020 begins, I ask you to give strength, hope, and joy to your faithful believers and servants around the world who are massively challenged by their condition and situation, under severe pressure by the society surrounding them, having to exercise their faith under the adverse environment. I look to you to give them peace and courage amidst the situation and fervently pray that mitigating circumstances would befall upon them. In Jesus mighty Name, I pray, Amen.
3. Prayer for those who are incarcerated.
Almighty God, As the years go by and still counting under confinement, and year 2020 has already come, we look to you for the enlightenment to those who are incarcerated that they may find freedom in the truth about your grace and mercy. And they will embrace your grace of repentance and forgiveness. Send to them the pillars of light to illuminate their spirit and enliven their soul to enable them to enjoy their newfound life under your grace and mercy. In Jesus mighty Name, I pray, Amen.
4.Prayer for those who are in the sickbed.
Almighty God, As the new year comes, many are joyfully celebrating but there are those who are in the hospitals agonizing with pain, mentally distressed, and emotionally stressed. Holy Spirit, please reach out to them, touch them with your healing hands, and comfort them and their love-ones along with their families. Pacify their worries and supply their needs, especially medicines and other medical needs to hasten the healing process. In Jesus mighty Name, I pray, Amen.
5. Prayer for those who are in the Home Care Center.
Almighty God, In the forthcoming year 2020, I pray for those are in the Home Care Center, that they will be continually showered with joy and peace. I earnestly pray for the satisfaction and fulfillment of their longings for their loved ones, let their family and friends pay a visit to them. Lord, give them the avenue to spend their time joyfully and establish a life with a promise of eternity. In Jesus Name, I pray, Amen.
6. Prayer for the street children and orphaned.
Almighty God, As many years have gone by, and a new year is at the entrance ready for reckoning, I look to you for the sake of the street children and orphaned with street corners as their homes. Lord, please find favors for them that they endure as they continue to struggle. Look to them with your merciful heart, empower them to overcome, provide them their every need, consider their heart’s desire. Please make their life easier as you send nurturing arms to them and ad their life. In Jesus Name, I pray, Amen,
7. Prayer for the soldiers, policemen, and firemen.
Almighty God, During New year, the soldiers, policemen, and firemen are often not in their homes with families celebrating the occasion. I pray that you afford them a joyful time wherever they are. Protect them as they perform their responsibility to protect the nation and the citizenry. Keep them away from harm as their work brings always perils to their life. I also pray for the comfort of their family as the longing comes with the celebration. In Jesus Name, I pray, Amen.
8. Prayer for Filipino overseas workers.
Almighty God, During New year, among the lonely celebrators are the overseas workers having away from their families. Some of the Filipino Overseas Workers as cramming during year-end to spend Christmas and New year with families. Lord, please let them home or provide them an avenue to pacify their homesickness. Comfort every Filipino Overseas Workers living far away from families, reward them worth of their sacrifices, In Jesus Name, I pray, Amen.
9. Prayer for the government leaders.
Almighty God, thank you for our government leaders. You raised them in the position for the duration of time. And the year 2020 is dawning for the furtherance of our nation with the able stewardship of our leaders. The executive, legislative, and judicial branches, especially to our President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Lord, protect him from harm. We pray for all our leaders, please keep them healthy, strong and wise. I pray particularly for reverence to God to personify upon all our government leaders. In Jesus mighty Name, I pray, Amen.
10. Prayer for our Nation Philippines.
Almighty God, thank you for this rich country Philippines. The year 2019 has brought us many experiences to be optimistic in 2020. Lord. let that optimism brings out a cooperative effort from every citizen to make this nation, the Philippines as a better place to live, orderly and peaceful, economically viable, and most especially with a God-fearing society. Lord, I beseech you, to give our leaders wisdom and a clear path towards giving Filipinos a comfortable and peaceful life. Strike down all the obstacles, hindrance and enemies along the way. Let all resources and the richness of our nation flourish in the global scheme. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
11. Prayer for the church leaders.
Almighty God, thank you for our church leaders, we look at them as the guiding pillars of faith. Lord, I pray for enlightenment and Spiritual infilling to all church leaders, that they will set aside each bias, and foster unity instead. Lord, give them the right focus to each ministry and make them a good steward of the flocks lay before them. I pray that your faithful believers would also behave, in speech and action, with reverence towards God the Father. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
12. Prayer for my family.
Almighty God, thank you for my family. I am very proud of them. Lord, I lift up my family before you, Oh God. Please give each one peace on their busy lives as well as protection against all forms of evils, keep them away from harm wherever they may be. Make our lives a blessing to others in any way and anyhow to the best we may be. I declare that the year ahead will be prosperous, and all confusions, envy, hatred, pride against one another will be dispelled in Jesus mighty Name, I pray, Amen.
Mapping journeys, building bridges. 