Prayer Update 582
OUR QUEEN
Please pray for the Queen and Royal Family. It was very encouraging to listen to the Queen’s Christmas Day message, especially the following parts of her message:
“Finding hope in adversity is one of the themes of Christmas. Jesus was born into a world full of fear. The angels came to frightened shepherds with hope in their voices: ‘Fear not’ they urged, ‘we bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.’ Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves – from our recklessness or our greed. God sent into the world a unique person – neither a philosopher nor a general, important though they are, but a Saviour, with the power to forgive. Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian faith. It can heal broken families, it can restore friendships and it can reconcile divided communities. It is in forgiveness that we feel the power of God’s love. In the last verse of this beautiful carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem, there’s a prayer: ‘O Holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us we pray. Cast out our sin, and enter in. Be born in us today.’ It is my prayer that on this Christmas day we might all find room in our lives for the message of the angels and for the love of God through Christ our Lord. I wish you all a very happy Christmas.”
In her Christmas message (which is always written by the Queen herself; not a speech-writer) she also referred to “the marriages of two of our grandchildren, each in their own way a celebration of the God-given love that binds a family together.” Please pray for Prince William and Kate; and Zara (daughter of Princess Anne) and Mike Tindall. Pray too for Prince Charles (heir to the British Throne) and Camilla.
The Queen also referred to Christmas as “our celebration of this great Christian festival.”
For the immediate Royal Family, especially, pray for the salvation of each one and that each one will unashamedly stand up for the Christian Faith, as the Queen has.
HOLIDAY FATALITIES
18 people lost their lives on our roads over the Christmas/New Year period, in spite of a very low road toll overall last year, and a strong emphasis on safe driving. On top of that, about 11 people have lost their lives through drowning since Christmas Eve, and 11 people died as a result of a tragic hot air balloon accident last Saturday. While many families and friends grieve the sudden loss of their loved ones over the holiday period, please pray that every disaster will turn people towards the Lord, calling on His name for help and comfort, as well as mercy and salvation. The Bible reminds us that our lives are like a vapour – appearing briefly and then passing away into eternity (James 4:13-15). Sometimes it is like steam from boiling water, lasting only a very short time. Other times it is like a mist or cloud which lasts for quite a while, but which still passes away. Pray that through these and other tragedies such as New Zealand has experienced over the past 15 months, more and more people will awaken to spiritual realities – like, our life on earth is short and uncertain and one day, maybe soon, we will have to face our Maker and give Him an account of our lives, and how we have responded to Jesus’ call to come, follow Him.
OUTREACHES
Please continue to pray for all Christian outreaches over the summer period – both those which have already occurred and those yet to come. Pray for Parachute in Hamilton (27-30 January) – see www.ParachuteMusic.com and for good results to come in the lives of many who have been reached and spoken to through these outreaches.
Pray that this year will be very fruitful in the various areas of evangelism – sharing the Good News of salvation through the love, grace and mercy of God, expressed through His Son Jesus Christ. Pray that many people will be born again into God’s Kingdom and grow to be true, life-long disciples of Jesus.
May this also be a year of effective prayer, intercession and spiritual warfare as we pray at all times in the Spirit and see wonderful, even miraculous, answers to our prayers. May God reach out to our nation and call people to Himself – people who will hear and respond to God’s call.
God bless you all through this new year, and may you also see the goodness of God in every area of your life!