Sue Sinclair and Community Watchmen Ministries have issued some guidance on how to pray for the UK riots and unrest.
Several national Prayer Ministries have connected to call the nations to prayer. We have developed this simple guide to help individuals and groups to pray effectively in our current climate.
PLEASE PRAY AT HOME, IN YOUR CHURCH OR IN GROUPS – If you can start with worship so your eyes are on the one who has the solutions. Keep an eye on the news and respond in prayer however, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you pray.
Isaiah 60:18 “No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.”
The current security threat level is now SUBSTANTIAL. This means that our government and security forces think an attack is likely.
Therefore, it is essential that we as the Church respond to this wake-up call and position ourselves to pray strategically and effectively across our nation. As you prepare to pray ask the Holy Spirit to inspire and lead you. Think about your community and the times and places where people gather in large numbers…make a list of those places and pray protection over them.
The suggestion is that you can pray every day, covering the issues that are locally, nationally and internationally relevant. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as to what to pray for and how to pray. Keep an eye on the news and respond in prayer.
Pray prayers of repentance for the sins of our communities and nations as Nehemiah did over the city of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 1:6 “Please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open that you may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel, Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against you.”
Then you can declare blessings based on God’s Word.
Isaiah 65:16 “Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the God of truth; he who takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth. For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.”
Psalm 149 talks of having “the high praises of God in our mouth and a two-edged sword in our hand.” From that position – acknowledging and praising God and carrying the sword of the word and spirit – we can go on the offensive. “To bind their Kings and chains and their nobles in fetters.”
Don’t forget James 5:16 says, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
Lord have mercy! We need a powerful spirit of repentance to be poured out and Holy Spirit to draw every man, woman and child to salvation. Pray for the fear of God to fall upon our communities that they will turn away from their sin and cry out to God for His mercy.
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE UK DURING THIS TIME OF VULNERABILITY
What?
We are looking to mobilise effective informed united prayer across our nations by praying for God’s wisdom, revelation, insight and protection for:
- Our Government, COBRA and other World Leaders.
- The Police and Emergency Services including the Chief Constable in your area as they deal with the protesters and the public. May they have success in their detection, gathering accurate evidence and convictions of anyone guilty of perpetrating violence.
- Armed forces
- Intelligence Services
- Media and communications for clarity and truth in reporting.
- Local authorities, NHS and community groups as they respond to what is happening.
- Any organisations or individuals in possession of and willing to use weapons of terrorism, guns or knives.
- Those behind the scenes inciting hatred and division via social media etc.
- The roots to violence within individuals and gangs will be exposed and they will encounter and be transformed by God’s love and grace.
- Domestic violence and family abuse
- Angelic protection for our gates, airports, ferries and ports, tunnels including the Euro tunnel, rail networks and stations, shopping centres, schools, colleges, football stadiums and other vulnerable places where many people gather.
- Closing of spiritual gates to violence and premature death.
- God’s love will draw all people out of the darkness and into the light.
- An unprecedented move of God across our communities and nations.
Why?
- To provide mercy and protection to reduce the danger to life and limb from all types of attacks upon our communities and nations. This includes knife and gun crime, and any terror attacks planned.
- To release a clear trumpet call to those in the valley of decision.
- To reduce fear and hopelessness – The aim of all the enemy is doing is to bring fear, confusion, hatred – we stand against that in the name of Jesus because his perfect love casts out all fear.
- To bring any plots into the light before they are actioned.
- To see the Church arise and stand united around Jesus’ love.
Who should pray?
- Churches, Groups and individuals – anyone, anywhere general prayer.
How?
- This is bigger than one network, so we need to stand united to release a clear sound across all the networks and denominations.
- Use social media to encourage people to pray.
- Train and equip people to pray effectively.
- Provide prayer resources with regular updates as circumstances demand.
- Pray watchfully over the coastlands and gateways
- Encourage faith and not fear by declaring Jesus’ victory.
Where?
- Shopping Centres
- Football and rugby stadiums
- Theatres and cinemas
- Cinemas
- Places of Worship
- Synagogues
- Mosques
- Places providing accommodation and support for refugees.
Other places
Places of government
Train stations, airports, Tube, Tunnels
All Schools and colleges
Vulnerable areas of industry
Ferries
Universities
We ask you to share and mobilise so that we can respond prayerfully and effectively. Remember as you pray, always pray FOR people and never AGAINST them. When you are walking or driving around your community release God’s love and grace over that area.
Here are some scriptures you can use:
“He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” 1 John 4:4
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, and that the time of the Lord’s favour has come.” Luke 4:18
“Oh Lord. Revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.” Habakkuk 3:2
“Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:7
“I urge, then, first of all that requests, prayer, intersession and thanksgiving be made FOR everyone FOR kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who WANTS ALL MEN TO BE SAVED and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 2:1-4
“Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.” Psalm 24:7
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.” Psalm 18:2-3
“He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us PEACE was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
“Open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.” Acts 26:18
2 Chronicles 14:7 “Let us build up these towns, and put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God; we sought him, and he has given us rest on every side.” So, they built and prospered.”
Proverbs 11:11 “Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.”
Malachi 4:6 “He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
Jeremiah 33:6 “Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.”
May you be blessed as you pray.
Download the original PDF document.
Source: Sue Sinclair, CWM Prayer
