Prayers for Sunday 31 January 2021
Heavenly Father, we thank you this morning for the story of Ruth, who left her home, land and family to care for Naomi her mother-in-law. We thank you that she found refuge under your wings, that you provided for her and protected her, through the kindness and generosity of Boaz.
Gracious and compassionate God, we pray this morning for people across the world who have had to leave their homes because of war, conflict, famine or persecution and seek refuge in other lands. We think particularly of the many thousands of people who have fled from Syria and are living as refugees in Jordan. We pray for the provision of basic supplies, for opportunities for work, and support for families. We thank you for the support provided by Tearfund and their partner organisations and pray for your blessing on this work.
We also pray for our link missionaries, Daniel and Sarah and their two girls working for CMS in Brazil, and the Sibthorpe family working for Mission Aviation Fellowship in Northern Australia. Father, we pray for your continued protection over them and that you would bless others through them.
Merciful Father, Hear our prayer.
Gracious and compassionate God, in a week when we have been deeply saddened to hear the shocking number of people who have died from coronavirus in our country and across the world, we pray for those who have lost loved ones. Father, we lift to you any that are known to us, and thank you that they are all known to you. We pray that those who are grieving will find comfort in you.
Merciful Father, Hear our prayer.
Gracious and compassionate God, we pray for all who are sick and suffering at this time. We pray for doctors, nurses and others working in hospitals, under intolerable pressure, as they battle to save lives. Wonderful Counsellor, we ask you to come alongside those who are exhausted, fearful and traumatised and bring your healing and your peace. We cry out to you for anxious relatives who are unable to see their loved ones. We pray for the work of chaplains, counsellors, and psychologists and ask that you will give them strength and wisdom.
Merciful Father, Hear our prayer.
And as we continue under lockdown restrictions we pray for homes under pressure. Gracious and compassionate God, we lift before you all who are struggling to cope. We pray for those juggling child-care or home-schooling with work demands, those in financial difficulty, children and young people unable to see their friends, those caring for others, those who are lonely, and all who are struggling with their mental health.
Merciful Father, Hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, gracious and compassionate God, we bring you to you our deepest fears and concerns. We lift to you those we love and those for whom we are afraid. We thank you for your love and faithfulness and pray, in the words of the hymn*, for ‘strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.’
Merciful Father, Hear our prayer.
*Great is Thy Faithfulness, Thomas O Chisholm