²⁶ “And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Mark 12:30 (NKJV)

³⁰ “‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.‘  This is the first commandment.”

General Prayer Focus: Husbands

Specific Prayer Focus: Love For God

Prayer: Father, I thank You for my husband and ask that You would pour out Your blessing on him today. I ask that You would put the love that You have for Your own Son Jesus into his heart, causing him to overflow with love for Jesus. I pray that the same affection, passion, and delight that You have in Jesus would grow within my husband’s heart and that He would feel the emotions of Your heart for Your Son, being impacted and transformed by it. I pray that His love for Jesus would far surpass his love for me as his wife and that he would have a longing and desire for more intimacy with You. I pray that You would give him the ability to love You with all of his heart, all of his soul, all of his mind, and all of his strength – holding nothing back! I pray that You would empower him by Your Holy Spirit to love You wholeheartedly, not allowing any compromise or sin to keep him from giving himself completely to You.

²⁴But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.

General Prayer Focus: Children in Thailand

Specific Prayer Focus: Protection from exploitation

Tidbit of Information: “Pray for the protection of innocent children in Thailand who are at risk of being sold into prostitution and the drug industry. Pray for the church in Thailand to be a strong force of justice on behalf of all the children who are affected by poverty and exploitation.” (Compassion International Prayer of the Day Email for May 1, 2010)

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You are leading Your church to be an expression of Your justice in the earth!  Today I pray for Your church in Thailand as they seek to bring justice on behalf of the impoverished children and that You would equip them to protect these precious ones from being exploited and oppressed.  Father, I ask that You would cause Your justice to roll on like a river, that these innocent children would be kept safe from the evil one who would seek to steal their innocence.  I pray that You would set Your angels around these ones and hold them safe in Your hands, that they would not fall into the hands of the wicked, but that they would be rescued by Your church and brought into Your Kingdom of love.  I pray that You would empower Your church to bring aid to these children and their families, that they would not have to live in fear, and that they could rise out of the pit of poverty.  I pray that You would provide for their every need so that these children would not fall victim to the prostitution and drug industry.  I pray that You would lead parents to the Compassion projects and programs so that their children can receive an education, food, and the love of God, in Jesus’ Name.  Amen!

Links: Compassion Canada

⁴ I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
       he delivered me from all my fears.
⁵ Those who look to him are radiant;
       their faces are never covered with shame.

General Prayer Focus: Family

Specific Prayer Focus: Parents Suffering from Guilt

Prayer: Father, today I pray for parents who struggle with feelings of guilt and shame when they feel like they have failed or made mistakes.  So often we mess up as parents and do things we later regret or simply don’t have the wisdom we need to make the right decisions.  It’s easy for the enemy to assault us with guilt and shame and condemnation, so I pray for these parents, that You would draw them to Yourself with Your tender mercy and lovingkindness.  I pray that You would cause them to come to You with their fears and insecurities and inadequacies and that You would deliver them from the lies of the enemy that would seek to separate them from You.  I pray that they would look into Your face and see the depths of Your love and grace for them in their time of desperate need and that You would remove all shame from their hearts.  I pray that they would be filled with great joy and that You fill them to overflowing with Your love, that that same love would flow to their children.  I pray that they would not be locked down by shame and guilt, but that they would be motivated by Your Holy Spirit to seek to be godly parents and learn from their mistakes and move on.  I pray that You would give them the strength and comfort and encouragement they need, as well as the wisdom in how to change and move forward in the right direction.  Where they feel lost or overwhelmed or discouraged, I pray that You would shine the light of Your face upon them and deliver them from their fears, in Jesus’ Name.  Amen!

¹⁰ His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
       nor his delight in the legs of a man;
¹¹ the LORD delights in those who fear him,
       who put their hope in his unfailing love. 

General Prayer Focus: Marketplace

Specific Prayer Focus: Not Trusting in our Own Strength

Prayer: Father, today I lift up the men and women in the marketplace whom You have gifted with incredible skills and abilities.  I thank You for these ones who have chosen to use the gifts they’ve been given for Your glory and Your purposes.  Yet, at the same time, I thank You that Your plan is not dependent upon our strength and that You actually take no delight in what we can accomplish with our own power.  Father, I pray that each man and woman who is working in the marketplace would depend fully upon You for everything, having the fear of Lord and putting their hope completely in Your love.  I pray that they would not trust in their own might or wisdom or ability, but that they would seek You daily to help them in their jobs, with their decisions, tasks, goals and dreams.  I pray that You would protect them from pride and keep them leaning upon You and listening to You for guidance and direction.  I pray that they would have the fear of the Lord so that they would make righteous choices that would please You and that they would be filled with Your love daily, in Jesus’ Name.  Amen!

⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 

General Prayer Focus: Personal

Specific Prayer Focus: Hunger for more of God

Prayer: Father, sometimes I feel so spiritually dull and apathetic, realizing that I too easily turn to the temporary pleasures of this life to try and satisfy me.  I know that there is nothing that can truly fulfill the longings and desires of my heart, and yet I still seem to run to everything else other than You before I finally turn to You to fill me.  I pray that today You would increase my hunger for more of You and that You would show me again that nothing else can satisfy.  I pray that You would put a longing deep inside that would propel me into seeking after You.  I ask that You would stir up a desperation within that would cause me to yearn for Your presence more than anything else.  I pray that I would be like the psalmist who wrote, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”  May my soul thirst for You and may You quench that thirst by filling me with Your word, Your life, Your joy, and the presence of Your Spirit, in Jesus’ Name. Amen!

 ¹³ For you created my inmost being;
       you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
 ¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
       your works are wonderful,
       I know that full well.
 ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
       when I was made in the secret place.
       When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
 ¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body.
       All the days ordained for me
       were written in your book
       before one of them came to be.

General Prayer Focus: LIFE/Abortion

Specific Prayer Focus: Crisis Pregnancy Centers

Tidbit of Information: Crisis Pregnancy Centers exist to provide pro life counseling to pregnant women, as well as provide emotional, physical, spiritual and financial assistance to mothers.  They teach clients about fetal development, give them information on abortion (procedures and risks), adoption, nutrition, pre and post natal care and parenting skills.  They offer infant loss and post abortion counseling, a 24-hour crisis phone line, school and youth presentations on healthy sexuality, community programs, maternity and baby clothing and supplies and more!  These services are offered free of charge and are funded solely by donations.

Prayer:  Father, what a wonder and mystery how You form us in our mothers’ wombs and knit us together by Your own hands! I thank You for the beauty of creation and that You are intimately involved in the forming of every single new human life. Today, I pray for Crisis Pregnancy Centers as they seek to communicate to pregnant women how precious their unborn baby’s life is as well as their own great worth and value to You. I pray that You would strengthen and empower the staff and volunteers at these centers and equip them with everything they need to show unconditional love to every women who enters their doors and to provide them with the emotional, physical and spiritual care they need. I pray that You would use these amazing organizations to minister to pregnant women, as well as women who have lost a baby to miscarriage or abortion. Father, would You reveal to each woman who goes to these centers Your amazing love for them and that You formed them in their mother’s womb and are now forming a beautiful life in their own womb. I ask that You would show these women that You are there for them in the midst of their struggle and pain, as they face uncertain futures with many questions and fears. I pray that You would provide the necessary resources to these centers so that they can give these women everything they need to choose life for their babies, in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Sources/Links: Crisis Pregnancy Centre of Winnipeg handout

 ¹⁴ But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;
       you consider it to take it in hand.
       The victim commits himself to you;
       you are the helper of the fatherless…
 ¹⁷ You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
       you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
 ¹⁸ defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
       in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.

General Prayer Focus: Under-30 Generation

Specific Prayer Focus: Justice for the Orphan

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You are the helper of the fatherless and that You hear the desire of the afflicted.  The very God of the universe, the Maker of the heavens, the LORD Almighty, the great God, King and Judge of the earth – You care about the plight of the orphan and are moved with compassion on their behalf.  You are not so high that You will not stoop down to the lowest and the weakest and the least of these little children to encourage them and pour Your love upon them.  Lord, You listen to their cry and You defend the cause of the fatherless, so I ask that You would hear their desire for love and that You would set the lonely in families.  Father, would You reveal Yourself to them as their heavenly Father, but if possible, also give them the gift of an earthly father and mother who will love and embrace and care for them.  I pray that You would bring justice on their behalf and protect and defend them from the wicked who would seek to exploit, oppress, afflict, and take advantage of them.  Jesus, would You rescue these dear children and avenge them, that the wicked of the earth may terrify no more!  Do not leave them as orphans, but adopt them into Your family and give to them the Spirit of adoption, that they could call You, “Abba, Father”.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 

General Prayer Focus: Family

Specific Prayer Focus: Sacred Parenting

Tidbit of Information: “…having kids isn’t about us – it’s about him.  We are called to bear and raise children for the glory of God.” (Sacred Parenting, Gary Thomas, pg. 16)

Prayer: Father, today I pray for parents, that as they seek to love You with all their heart, soul and strength, that You would give them the grace and strength to teach their children to do the same.  I pray that You would write Your Word upon the hearts of parents today and show them how they can impress Your Word upon the hearts of their children.  God, would You show us that parenting is not about us, but it’s about You and about raising our kids for Your glory.  I ask that You would give us wisdom in how to parent, as well as creativity and discernment in how to teach and instruct our children in Your ways.  Father, I pray that You would help parents to be a godly example their children, that our lives and actions would match what we are saying with our words.  Would You empower us to realize the sacred and holy calling that parenthood truly is and give us the grace to be made holy and more like You, Father, in our journey of parenting.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sources/Links: Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas
Impress Your Kids

 ² I will be careful to lead a blameless life—
       when will you come to me?
       I will walk in my house
       with blameless heart. 
 ³ I will set before my eyes
       no vile thing.
       The deeds of faithless men I hate;
       they will not cling to me. 
 ⁴ Men of perverse heart shall be far from me;
       I will have nothing to do with evil. 

General Prayer Focus: Media

Specific Prayer Focus: Pure Eyes

Prayer: Father, today I pray that You would raise up men like David who would vow to set before their eyes no vile thing.  Lord, You know how easy it is to access impure media today in television, movies, adult stores, and online and how men are constantly bombarded with temptation to indulge their eyes with lust and violence.  So I pray that You would pour out Your Spirit in a great measure upon men to empower them to resist and flee from the enemy!  I pray that the Holy Spirit would tenderly and strongly convict the hearts of men and cause them to turn from anything that is impure and to instead fix their eyes upon You and Your beauty and majesty.  I pray that You would come with power to break off shame and fear and that You would set men free from their addictions and bondage.  Would You give them the resolve and courage to seek to live a blameless life and walk in their homes with a blameless heart.  As they partake in media, would they choose to not allow evil to cling to them nor to allow anything perverse to come near them.  I pray that You would equip men with the tools they need to keep their eyes pure – like accountability, ministries, counseling, Your Word, godly media, and an increase of Your presence in their lives.  In Jesus’ Name. Amen!

Sources/Links: XXXchurch.com

⁹“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love…¹¹I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

General Prayer Focus: Personal

Specific Prayer Focus: Joy!

Prayer: Father, I cannot begin to comprehend how incredible it is that You would love me, even as You love Your Son Jesus!  And Jesus loves me with that same love that He receives from You!  I want to experience Your love more and to discover how to remain and abide in Your love, that I may also experience the joy of Jesus.  Father, I pray that You would fill my heart to overflowing with Your love and that You would simultaneously pour the joy of Jesus’ heart into mine!  I ask that I would experience what it means to have complete and full joy in my life – a joy that is found not in the pleasures of this world, or by looking to my circumstances, but a joy that is divine, supernatural and eternal.  I want to know the joy that Jesus has as He communes with You and the Holy Spirit in perfect union and love.  I want to know the joy that surpasses whether I’m having a good or bad day and that it would be so deeply rooted in my heart, that nothing could steal it!  Father, help me to be a joyful person – at home, at my job, with my family, with my friends, at church, in the grocery store – wherever, whenever!  Teach me how to enter into the joy of Jesus and remain there, even as I remain in His love.  Amen!