Over the past several months, we often met as a church community on a Wednesday to pray together. As meetups have started, and many of us are now meeting regularly to study Ephesians together, we are no longer meeting together as a church to pray. This doesn’t mean that we’re going to stop praying! So over here on the blog we’re starting a new series on Wednesdays, giving you a few ideas of what you could be praying for today and for the rest of this week.
Today we’re praying for…..
The Church in the UK
At Redeemer we have been blessed in many ways over the past several months, especially in the way we have been able to continue gathering on a Sunday, at first online, and then over the past month in person. Though it has looked different to what we expected, 2020 has still been a year where church on Sunday has been a regular part of our lives.
But this is not the case for all churches in the UK. Whether it be lack of available technology, local lockdowns or unusable venues, many churches have struggled to continue meeting during 2020. So today we are encouraging you to pray for the church in the UK, see below for some suggestions on specific topics to pray for.
1. Pray for financial provision
2020 has been a year in which many people and businesses in the UK have struggled financially, and the church is not immune to this. As many churches depend almost entirely on the faithful giving of congregations whose personal finances had been hit by the pandemic, there have had to be difficult and painful financial decisions made across the country over the past several months. Please pray for miraculous provision for those churches who are struggling financially at this time, we know that God promises to build his church, so pray that churches will be able to trust that he will continue to do this even through tough times.
2. Pray for spiritual strength
Times are tough right now, in some areas times seem to be getting tougher rather than easier. In situations like this we are reminded how crucial it is that we don’t rely on our own strength to make it through, but that we seek God. As Psalm 46 says, he is our refuge and our strength! Pray for the church in the UK, that at this time we would know the truth of that verse more than ever, and that across this nation the church would be a place of strength, strength that comes from God.
3. Pray for renewed church community
During the past 6 months our worlds have got smaller. Less social interaction, the cancellation of large events, and significantly reduced ability to meet in each others homes have all contributed to a distinct lack of community. For many people, especially those in more isolated parts of the UK, the church is a key part of their community which they haven’t been able to enjoy the benefits of recently. As you pray for the church today pray for the community it brings, for opportunities to renew that sense of community again, whether it be in person or by taking advantage of technology. Pray for those in London and further afield who feel distant from what was once close knit church community, pray for boldness for them to step back into church community, and for a clear vision for the church community as we seek out those on the fringes and welcome them back into church family.
We believe in the power of prayer, and that God not only hears each and every one of us as we pray, but that he loves to be at work in our lives as a result of what we pray! So let’s pray together this week, and be expectant that things will change as a result!
