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Overview
Pray A-Z: A Practical Guide to Praying for Your Community will help you topically organize your prayer requests and lay the burdens of your community at the feet of our Heavenly Father. Whether you are praying for a friend's adoption journey, a neighbor's bankruptcy, or a family member's cancer, this book will give you Bible verses, prayer prompts, and prayer starts to guide you through praying for even the most difficult issues that affect the people you know and love. Perfect for either individual or group prayer, Pray A-Z will help you experience the peace that comes from communicating with God.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781617957451 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Worthy |
| Publication date: | 11/15/2016 |
| Pages: | 176 |
| Product dimensions: | 4.90(w) x 7.20(h) x 0.80(d) |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Pray A to Z
A Practical Guide to Pray for Your Community
By Amelia Rhodes
Worthy Publishing Group
Copyright © 2016 Amelia RhodesAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-61795-745-1
CHAPTER 1
A
Adoption
Adoption But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31
* * *
Pray for waiting adoptive families, waiting children, host families, orphanages, and adoption agencies. Remember to include families who have adopted in years past and pray for any struggles just now surfacing with their children.
* * *
Father, I pray for every child to be part of a loving family. Be with these families and provide for their financial, emotional, and physical needs as they adopt. Give wisdom to the adoption agencies and host families. Comfort birth parents as they make the hard choice to release their child. Watch over children as they wait for their forever family. I pray all will feel Your loving arms around them as they transition to a new reality. Continue to knit together these families who have completed their adoptions. May a supportive and loving community surround them through all the struggles of parenthood. When challenges come, when hurtful words are said, when fear and uncertainty creep in, I pray You will remain in the middle. Amen.
Abuse
My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
Psalm 119:50
* * *
Pray for those suffering from physical, verbal, emotional, and sexual abuse, for their safety and the ability to seek and receive help. Pray that those with abusive behavior would be convicted and reached with Christ's love. Pray for organizations that provide safety and counsel for those suffering from abuse of any kind.
* * *
Father, I lift up all who live under the heavy weight of abuse. Many in my community suffer in silence every day. Provide courage to speak up and grant safety as they seek help. Give me eyes to see their hurt and wisdom to know how to offer love in helpful ways. Provide for the organizations in my community that offer counseling and safe places of respite. I pray those with abusive behavior will be convicted, humbled, and experience the transforming power of Your Spirit in their lives. May all involved come to know the truth of who You are and how You love them no matter what they have done or what has happened to them. You are the great Healer of wounded hearts and minds, and I ask for Your healing power. Amen.
Alcoholism
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18
* * *
Pray for individuals struggling with alcoholism, for their families and friends, and for the organizations in your community that offer support for recovery.
* * *
Father, I bring before You those struggling with alcoholism. Alcoholism is a thief that destroys joy, peace, families, and marriages. Provide strength and comfort to their families, and the courage to speak to their loved one about seeking help. Give peace about hard decisions they need to make for their family's safety. Protect young children in the home. Help the ones struggling with dependence on alcohol to realize the damage it is causing to their physical and mental health. Help them realize alcohol cannot fill whatever hole they feel in their lives. Instead, may they see the power that comes from being filled with Your Spirit. Provide peace, endurance, and hope for all involved. Provide for the organizations and churches in the community who offer counseling, support groups, and rehabilitation. Show me how to speak truth in love when needed and how to offer Your love. Amen.
Abundance
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
2 Peter 1:2–3
* * *
Take time to praise God for His abundance for your physical needs and for how He has met your spiritual needs through Jesus Christ. Thank God for abundantly meeting the needs of which you aren't yet aware.
* * *
Father, You are a God of abundance. The same abundant power and creativity that filled the vast heavens with stars and layered beauty in the Grand Canyon is also inside me. Thank You for the knowledge You have given me of Yourself. You lack nothing. I give praise for how You have shared Your abundance with me through Your divine power and have given me everything I need to live a godly life through Jesus Christ. Thank You for the abundance of grace and peace and other abundant gifts in my life. Whatever I face today — whatever heartache or struggle comes my way, or when I feel inadequate to meet the task — I offer praise, for You have already supplied all I need through Your great and abundant power. I place my trust in Your abundance today. Amen.
Almighty
Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty — he is the King of glory.
Psalm 24:10
* * *
Take time to praise God as the Almighty — for His might and power over sin, darkness, and every struggle you face. Offer praise that His strength is incomparable and is available to you.
* * *
Father, You are the God Almighty. You are the Lord of hosts, the King of glory, and the all-powerful Lord of the heavenly army. No one can match Your power and might. No power of darkness or evil can defeat You. No situation I face today or tomorrow is too great for You. Thank You for making Your strength available to me through Your Holy Spirit. I look forward to the day when You will show Your power to all, and every knee will bow and every tongue confess that You are Lord (Romans 14:11). Today, I bend my knee and submit my life to You, King of my life and my Lord Almighty. I believe You are who You say You are. May all who see my life see You and Your almighty power shining through me. Amen.
CHAPTER 2B
Bullying
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
* * *
Pray for children who live in the fear and torment caused by bullying behavior. Pray for teachers and parents to find solutions, and for the hearts of children with intimidating and mean behavior to be changed.
* * *
Father, devastating stories resulting from bullying behavior often fill the news and bring such heartbreak. I ask for Your courage and strength for teachers, counselors, parents, and students as they confront this behavior. Provide wisdom as they support and care for the targeted children. May those who live in the fear and shadow of bullying behavior know the presence of Your love, and know You are with them wherever they go. Help them experience Your protection and see how valuable their lives are. Equip them to speak up against the aggression by the power of Your Spirit. Enable them to reach out to trusted adults and give those adults wisdom to act on their behalf. I pray You would change the hearts of those with aggressive behavior. Give them compassion. Heal their hurts and redeem their stories. Heal our communities, and teach us how to love even the most difficult people with Your love. Amen.
Bulimia and Eating Disorders
Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.
Psalm 54:4
* * *
Pray for men and women of all ages who struggle with bulimia, anorexia, and other eating disorders. Pray for people to surround them with God's love and for the counselors who assist them.
* * *
Father, food is a beautiful gift from You — not just to feed and sustain our bodies, but also for our enjoyment. I bring _______________ to You and ask that they would understand how valuable they are to You and to the people who surround them. Help all accept themselves as You've created them. Heal their innermost beings. May they be engaged with a community that will speak truth and love into their lives. Enable them to turn to You for comfort and meaning, not to food or a number on a scale. Help them surrender control to You, and enable them to see Your care and gentleness toward them. Give wisdom, patience, and understanding to the parents, friends, coworkers, and counselors who walk this journey with them. May each person experience Your healing presence. Amen.
Bankruptcy
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Matthew 6:25–26
* * *
Pray for those who face bankruptcy, for their physical needs to be met, for worry and fear to be alleviated, and for wisdom to know how to move forward.
* * *
Father, I ask for Your peace and wisdom for those facing bankruptcy and serious financial trouble. Whatever the situation may be, whatever their fears, anxieties, and needs for tomorrow, may they experience a peace and calm that can come only from You. As they work through the legal paperwork, and all that entails, give them clarity and focus to complete the task. Provide sound counsel in the form of trustworthy lawyers and financial mentors. As they rebuild for the future, please remove any shame or guilt they may feel, and surround them with a supportive and generous community that will help them rebuild their finances. Amen.
Bread of Life
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."
John 6:35
* * *
Praise God for His provision through Jesus as the Bread of Life. Recognize how He is your spiritual sustenance and satisfies your hunger and thirst for meaning and belonging. Thank Him for supplying all of your needs.
* * *
God, You are the Bread of Life. I've often sought many things to fill my hunger and thirst for value and meaning. Possessions, wealth, food, drink, relationships, and power do not fill the ache in my soul. You alone satisfy my cravings for purpose. You quench my thirst for meaning and belonging. Today, rather than seeking meaningless things to fill my life, I seek a grateful heart for Your sustenance. In You I find all I need for my daily life. You've given me a place at Your banquet table, and I feast on the good fruit You have given — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I praise You for this grace and for Your sustaining work in my life every day. Thank You for supplying all of my needs. Amen.
Burden Bearer
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
Psalm 68:19
* * *
Praise God for how He bears your burdens each day. Take time to list what He has helped you carry, and give thanks for how you've seen His help. Praise Him for carrying your burdens in the past and recognize He is able to carry today's burdens and the unknown burdens of the future.
* * *
God, I echo the Psalmist's words: "Praise be to the Lord, to God [my] Savior, who daily bears [my] burdens." I give praise for how You've helped me with these heavy burdens. Your hand has been present in guiding, helping, and caring for me. Even when I could not see Your hand, You were still present, helping in ways I may not have noticed. I cast my cares upon You, and give praise for Your faithfulness to carry each one. When I attempt to handle them on my own and struggle under the weight, remind me that You are the faithful Bearer of my burdens. When I wake up overwhelmed by what the day holds, remind me that You are the Great I AM and will carry me through today. There is no one greater and more able than You. Thank You for bearing my burdens. Amen.
CHAPTER 3C
Cancer
The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?
Proverbs 18:14
* * *
Pray for those who suffer from cancer, and pray for their families, for the doctors and nurses caring for them, and for researchers to find effective treatments and cures. Pray for encouragement and healing, for God's honor and glory.
* * *
Father, I bring the families to You who are battling cancer. I ask for Your healing for the patient and for Your sustaining strength for their caregivers. Calm their minds, alleviate their fears, and enable them to rest well today. Bring a renewed sense of hope and peace. Protect them from depression, and bring a good word of encouragement when they need it most. May the oncology staff have an endless supply of compassion, courage, and patience. Give wisdom as they make challenging decisions, especially in crisis moments. Please be with siblings or children who are feeling isolation and disruption of their routine. Provide a community to physically, spiritually, and emotionally surround the family with Your love and practical help. Provide researchers with a greater understanding of the body and this disease so they may continue to develop effective treatments and cures. May all know that You are the God of comfort, a God who is with us. Amen.
Court Cases
The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
Psalm 33:5
* * *
Pray for those awaiting court dates, for families of all involved, for judges and jurors to see clearly and be unbiased, for protection of the innocent, and for God's mercy and justice. Also pray for organizations in your community that offer legal counsel to those in need.
* * *
Father, I lift up my local judges and the cases they will be seeing this week. Uncovering the truth can be difficult, and delivering justice may often feel impossible. Provide the right jurors and witnesses for each case. Give strength and clarity to the lawyers involved. Help them do their jobs with excellence. For those awaiting trial, may they receive justice and Your mercy. Reach hearts with Your love and bring glory to Your name through Your work in each case. For innocent families and children affected by the cases, bring comfort, and support and remove feelings of shame. Provide for their financial and physical needs during this disruptive time. Thank You for the organizations offering legal help for those in need. Provide wisdom and finances for their ministry and bless their efforts. In the midst of the uncertainty and waiting, may all involved know Your unfailing love. Amen.
Caregivers
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:28–29
* * *
Pray for caretakers of ill loved ones and for organizations that provide long-term care for those battling illness or in need of end-of-life care. Pray for those who care for loved ones with mental illness, who are raising children who have been abandoned or have special needs.
* * *
Father, thank You for the faithful individuals caring for loved ones. Day in and day out they pour out mercy and concern. When they are weary, please give them rest. Show them in small and big ways that as they serve their loved one, they are serving You. Give them moments with their loved one that are filled with joy in the midst of stress or grief. Bring someone to offer respite and pour Your love and compassion into them. Thank You for professionals who offer assistance for long-term and end-of-life care. Give them compassion, gentleness, and wisdom to offer the best comfort to the patient and caregivers. May all know You as the gentle Burden Bearer and see how You are with them. Amen.
Creator
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Psalm 19:1
* * *
Praise God for His wonderful, creative work. Take time to list what you have enjoyed and observed in nature and how He has created good things in your life.
* * *
Father, You are a magnificent Creator. The heavens show Your glory; the skies shout the work of Your hands. The morning sunrise is a beautiful masterpiece, and the sunset displays the brilliance of Your grandeur. I see Your hand in the flowers, in the fall colors, in a baby's head of hair. You are the most imaginative, creative Being who has ever existed. I am in awe of the beauty Your work displays around me every day. I see Your creative work in the cities, in the expanse of the fields, and in the details of my life. You create beauty out of bruises, bring calm out of chaos, and call light out of darkness. I am in continual awe of Your creative power in nature, my life, and the lives of those around me. Amen.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Pray A to Z by Amelia Rhodes. Copyright © 2016 Amelia Rhodes. Excerpted by permission of Worthy Publishing Group.
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