Prayer for the Election

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Churchill, election, Pray for the election

When the election date was announced, a friend found herself feeling sad that it was going to take place during Advent, which should be all about Jesus rather than politicians! But Jesus was born during a time of political unrest and, the Roman census, which is not entirely dissimilar to a poll, was going on.

So, as we turn our attention to the seething events of an election campaign driven by highly sophisticated advertising and deliberate deceptions. (I’m thinking of the Tories deliberately doctoring a video to show Sir Keir Starmer stalling at an interview question when, in fact, he didn’t). Perhaps we can seek to fold the nation in prayer, using the words of Philip Brook’s carol: ‘O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in, be born to us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us our Lord Emmanuel!’

It was whilst on pilgrimage to the Holy Land in the nineteenth century that this American vicar was inspired by the night view of Bethlehem from the hills of Palestine, to write the words of this much loved carol.

The words are poignant; they set a different tone to those of the vigorous prayer that I have penned for the forthcoming election, but they are a good reminder of who it is we are seeking to honour.

Winston Churchill once said that politicians are asked to stand for parliament because they want to sit in the House of Commons – but they are expected to lie in order to pedal the policies of their particular party. Ouch! And how much more true has that become in our post-truth society?

Lord, in the midst of so much spin, let what is true and of good intent shine out, and policies that are truly worth pursuing.

Let the spirit of discernment come upon the nation to divide between things that are of goodly intent and those which are but siren calls. Let Your ruach breath blow through our land and dispel the noxious fumes that have spread so contaminated the air. As we seek to ‘take to heart all the words that You speak to us,’ may we ‘take words with us and return to You. Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer You the fruit of our lips.’ (Ezek. 3:10; Hos. 14:2)

May we be open to hear words that will heal our inflamed senses and restore damaged trust and relationships.

Bold prayer for the forthcoming Election: Let Your purposes prosper in these post-truth days!

Politicians make their plans and devise many strategies and alliances, but we are asking You to thwart and overthrow that which does not come from You, and to prosper that which does. Determine outcomes so that You may be honoured and exalted in each one of the countries of the United Kingdom.

In Psalm 55, David tells of his grief at seeing ‘violence, strife and destructive forces at work in the city; and many forms of oppression and fraud . . . We too are in a time when we might cry out with him a portion of his prayer that we find in verse 9, offered here in several versions:

‘Destroy their tongues’ / ‘confound their words’ / ‘upset their plans’
or, as TPT puts it, ‘confuse them until they quarrel with themselves.’

Such a prayer is effectively another way of praying, ‘Lord have Your way,’ and ‘In all things overrule!’ When General Galtieri launched his invasion of the Falkland Islands the Lord directed me to pray: ‘Lord, confound Ahithophel’s advice.’ (2 Sam. 15:31) And He did! He made it clear that He was determined to bring down the Argentinian junta on account of all the blood it had shed in the infamous treatment of the many ‘disparados,’ who were tortured and disposed of under its brutal rule. Mercifully we are not at that stage, Lord, but it would certainly make sense to be praying that the Lord confounds the bad advice of certain unrighteous advisers today!

At this time of unparalleled voting volatility, (amongst MPs as well as well as the populace at large!) we recognise Lord that ‘Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, since no city or house divided against itself and splintered by feuding will stand.’ (Matt. 12:25) It is a sure sign of Your judgement, Lord, when You hand us over to strife and division.

There is an inevitable price to pray and division to endure as a result of taking a stand for You, (Matt. 10:32-39) but we are praying, Lord, that Your undivided purposes may prosper. It was You who divided the sea to let Your people escape from Egypt; we intercede now in Jesus’ name that You will part whatever waters need to be parted now so that truth may prosper.

Rise up, o God, we pray and ride forth in the cause of truth, humility and justice! (Ps. 45:4)

Brexit Matters

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Brexit

The bell is ‘tinging’ loudly with regard to the Brexit process

The Proto-Germanic word þingą (with þ being pronounced ‘th’) meant “appointed time.” The word ‘thing’ (tyn, ting or din in Old Norse) was used to indicate assemblies in Viking territories – the prototype of what we call ‘parliament’.

(The English word ‘thing’ itself originally meant a meeting or assembly, as well as an object – rather as the Latin word causa (‘a judicial law suit’) morphed into modern day French ‘chose’ – a ‘thing’).

We are indeed in need of a something special – a special ‘thing’ to occur in our Parliament at this time to decide once and for all how and whether we proceed with a deal, or no deal in terms of implementing Brexit.

Japanese Prayer

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Japan, Pray for Japan

Prayer for Japan
A few editions ago we provided an extensive series of pointers to help us pray for the land of Japan. Do follow up the excellent links for prayer that you will find on that page!

Following a powerful prophetic trip that Sheena Tranter and other intercessors made to Japan recently, and the abdication a few days ago of the long serving Emperor Akihito (who has served his country faithfully and sought repeatedly to apologise for previous Japanese atrocities) share in this extended extempore prayer, set to a piece of music that I wrote with the nation of Japan and her people in mind.

Japan has often earned itself the unwelcome reputation of being largest unevangelised country in the world, where barely 0.5% of the nation are active believers, and millions know next to nothing about the Lord Jesus.

At this time when much that has given Japan stability in recent times is being shaken to the core, why not set aside some time to join in this heart cry for a land that is famed for its mountainous beauty and fiery colours of autumn forest and flowering cherry trees – as well as for its fishing and industrial savvy – but also for its earthquakes and tsunamis. Let’s push in and pray for Jesus to be known more widely!

The notes below seek to encapsulate and focus these thoughts so you have something to read as well as to listen to.

Join in this heart cry for many more to come to know and love the Lord Jesus in this land famed for its mountainous beauty and fiery colours of autumn forest and flowering cherry trees, and renowed for its fishing and its industrial savvy but feared for its earthquakes and tsunamis, where much that has given it stability in recent times is being shaken to the core.

The Lord knows how devastated the people were when they learnt that the emperor was not divine, and their cause not destined to win the Second World War; He saw how they took refuge in old traditional ways, and in new found prosperity through material things.

As these things are in turn being challenged, may the Lord sound a call that makes sense to restless questing hearts.

Yes we pray for true and honourable government, for stable conditions best favour the spread of your word – and Japan needs united and focus government at this time when it faces many external as well as internal challenges at this time for which it needs real wisdom. But we know that You use times of turmoil, Father, to shape and sharpen and people’s hunger for eternal things.

May He raise up prophets, pastors, and evanglists who put the cause of Christ above and beyond their own, and who shine a bright light that others can safely follow. May integrity mark the spread of the gospel to these islands that He has long longed to welcome into His courts.

May He raise up a people for His own possession, so filled with love for Jesus that they will model and reflect the ways of the eternal kingdom.

Then let it be that ancient traditions of courtesy find their true and proper mark, with their focus increasingly directed toward the one who is Lord of all and Prince of Peace.

In a land where the dangers of too much overtime at work are finally being recognised, may there be time for men to attend church functions, and for whole families to come to Christ.

Then may family loyalities and ritualistic traditions, qualities that appear attractive in themselves but which have so often proved a defence and stumbling block against wholehearted discipleship. May much be redeemed and find its truest highest mark.

In a land where congregations tend to be small, and almost entirely metropolitan centred, may the Lord raise up new and strikingly fresh initiatives across the land, including in the many towns and cities where there is currently no witness.

May voices be raised for You, Lord Jesus in schools and univiersities, and Your word be known and loved in places where there is so little voice for Him. Let there be a renewed drawing power from Heaven for when and wherever the invitation of Christ is extended: a warming of heart to embrace it, and a lowering of resistance in the mind as a result of understanding that the claims of Christ are clear and absolute in ways quite foregin to the Shinto and Buddhist ways.

Yes, may the Lord pave the way for a great opening of the heavens over Japan, for many to see and hear and gladly take to heart that that there is something here that takes them far beyond outward rituals into a reality of truth and grace, of life everlasting, and of Love made flesh – and to be willing to follow the One who warned that He had not come to bring peace but rather a sword that could not but divide.

Redeem the samurai ‘warrior’ quality, and let it find its true and final mark in a people prepared to take their stand for You and to advance Your kingdom in these islands steeped in tradition, but which now are being shaken to the core by many changes.

Remember the fate of the thousands who took their stand for Him and paid for it with their life in the early days after the Christian message reached the land. Water and honour the seed of the martyrs and cause a latter day harvest to emerge. Use every input from Radio, TV and Internet broadcast to stir hearts and to kindle curiosity. Stir up a hunger that will lead many to seek and quest until they find their peace in You.

Many of you may want to continue this prayer by considering the wider context of the region. Japanese invasion and occupation of both Korea and China in years past have left profound roots of resentments not far below the surface. There are also new challenges to face from the heavily militarised powers of both China and North Korea, both of which are adopting a more aggressively robust stance in recent days, leaving Japan feeling acutely and increasingly vulnerable. May the Lord use this to soften hearts and pave the way to break through into more and more people’s hearts.

A Brexit Panorama in Prayer

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A Brexit Prayer

I woke this morning with a strong sense to read chapters 9-14 of Jeremiah, and felt one verse after another lighting up and standing out. I knew immediately that it would be good to turn this into a prayer for everything related to Brexit: a suitable follow on to Anna’s call yesterday for us all to serve as the Lord’s watchmen and women.

In this uneasy hiatus between the inconclusive indicative votes last night and the next round of this ongoing saga, it feels like the right time to release such a prayer.

This is not a Bible study as such – please read the chapters yourself for that – rather it is an panoramic overview set to stunning music, including powerful pieces by Justin Coldstream and Corelli, along with a further glorious piece by Monteverdi, following the one we released in the Mashal a couple of days ago.

The better the speakers you play this piece through the more you will appreciate it!

It was a great blessing that Colin was free to prepare the recording. And, for the first time, Sally Mowbray joins us as a reader. She has a lovely voice, and it is a delight to hear her.

Because this was an extempore prayer I accidentally said ‘English’ democracy when I should have said ‘British!

May this presentation stir your spirits and bless your hearts.

Taking sides on Brexit

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Brexit, Pray for our country

Making Friday 22nd February a day of special focus in prayer.

There is certainly a need to pray for breakthrough into the apparent stalemate between Westminster and Brussels, even as new twists and turns continue to develop. The vote in Parliament on 29th January 2019, was significant because a number of Labour MPS voted with the government not to extend Article 50, bring the whole matter of timing into sharp focus with March 29th being only a few weeks ahead of us now. Pray for the handful of MPs from both sides who have stepped away in protest from their mother parties. Is their stance merely opportunistic individualism – a ‘straw in the wind’ – or is it something more than a symbolic gesture that others will follow, and which will lead to some degree of political realignment?

Although most people are bone weary of the whole topic, these things merit our attention, for the simple reason that we are called first and foremost to ‘pray for all men with all forms of prayers and requests as you intercede with intense passion. And pray for every political leader (or king) and representative, (or magistates) so that we would be able to live tranquil, undisturbed lives, as we worship the awe-inspiring God with pure hearts.’ (See 1 Tim. 2:1-3 TPT)

There has been a call to make Friday 22nd a day of special prayer and fasting – not in big meetings but simply where we are. I am sorry we were not able to give more advanced warning of this.

Praying ‘with intense passion’ sounds a great deal more inspiring than just supposing that our prayers are nothing but a ‘drop in an ocean!’ So let’s continue to play our part in the ongoing political and economic shaping of our times – remembering, too, the many who are losing their livelihoods in places such as Swindon and Jaguar-Landrover, irrespective of the extent to which these decisions were directly Brexit related or not.

To keep these wider issues in focus, we are passing on the following article from the Jubilee Centre. The comments at the end of it represent a wide and interesting range of viewpoints.

The Wood Cutter’s Story and the Call to Intensify our Prayer Life

A refreshingly different perspective on Brexit

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Brexit, Prophecy and Brexit

With both sides in the Brexit situation seemingly on the edge of despair at the terrible things which will happen if it goes the other way, here is a refreshingly encouraging contribution that was sent to me. I am not familiar with Jennifer Abigail Lawson-Wallace and the Quiver Prayer Movement, but this prophetic word provides a positive reminder of Who is on the throne, without pushing any particular viewpoint. It feels like a timely reminder. As a friend said who I sent it to, “My only reference point on that is the reminder that even though God had promised the return from Babylon it was still necessary for the intercessor to take hold of the promises and to pray them through until all was  fulfilled. Whatever promises we may feel are given regarding the state of our country, there is still a clarion call for intercession at such a time to see His purposes fulfilled in the Earth.”

Dipping our toes in prayer for wider matters – then going deeper!

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David Watson, Praying for big topics

Ankle deep, up to our waists – then swimming freely! Extending our prayers from the particular to the wider

Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you . . . (Col. 4:12-13)

Something I have found helpful over the years as a ‘way in’ to praying for ‘wider’ topics (especially I have been feeling somewhat dwarfed by the sheer size of some of them) is to start by focusing on one or two people or situations, and taking them as being ‘representative’ of a profession, community or even nation.

So if, for example, the thought of praying for education seems too big a task to contemplate – start by praying for someone you know who goes to school, or who teaches in one. As we identify with these dear ones they become our starting point, from which we move on to pray for all who – in mathematical terms – fall into their {sets of} schools, nurses businesses and so on. Suddenly, and almost without effort, we realise that we have gone from ‘ankle deep’ to waist deep and now are swimming freely in the gift of praying for education! We can do the same for the NHS, or for any big issue, organisation or even nation.

This seriously moving brief clip (from CBN.com) of Josh Kezer, who was sentenced to sixty years imprisonment for something he hadn’t done, serves as an excellent prompt to pray for those who are the innocent victims of allegations – as well as a powerful testimony of reaching out with grace to those who are not innocent!

Is it fair to expect God to answer ‘generalised’ (as opposed to personalised) prayers? I think it is. When I was at Oxford, David Watson led a major mission to the university, accompanied by a team of assistant missioners. The Lord told this group that if they were prepared to make sacrifices at night and pray, He would raise up a harvest of souls. They were faithful to that calling – and one hundred and fifty of us students  gave our lives to the Lord during that memorable week – including, quite separately, my flat mate.

That was back in 1976. Within two years at least eight of us were in ‘full time’ service for the Lord. Only the Lord knows how many have come to know Jesus over the course of these forty plus years through the witness of those who came to faith then. But behind their example lie the faithfulness of those who were prepared to toil in prayer for people they would never know by name – in this world at least. May we be ready to respond as the Spirit of prayer stirs within us.

The dilemmas that Russia is posing the world

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cyber warfare, Gavin Williams, Russia, Winston Churchill

This overview follows on from our recent article (To Russia with love, and further dimensions to the cyber-threat) on the risk posed by Russian to global internet cables. You may well find some of the details here disturbing. I have quoted historical precedents for showing why it is important to pray for western politicians and defence chiefs to respond appropriately and to make adequate preparations. What I am sharing is very much at an earthly level: our real warfare of course is at a spiritual level against those mighty beings without bodies – and, to a very great extent, on what the Lord Himself decrees.

Chinese Harvest

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China, Prayer for China

No short prayer or summary can even begin to do justice to the full complexities of all that China is, let alone all that the Lord is doing there, but we pray that these simple thoughts may prove a worthwhile offering . . .

Spirit of God, breathe new life into this vast and ancient land. Praise You that You are raising up Your servants in every stratum of society – from those who work on the land right up into the echelons of the communist party itself. Let your Holy Spirit flow into places where it has long been frowned on to speak openly of anything that is not endorsed by the State.

Focus for Friday prayers

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Hallowe'en, Pray for America, Pray for the Uk

Continuing our sequence on praying for wider matters on Fridays, particularly between 1 and 1.15 . . .  The Lord will surely lead you into the prayers He has in mind for you to pray but here are just a few starter suggestions you might like to follow through on . . .

Jesus, we remember how Pilate’s wife tried to warn her husband to save You from being crucified . . . (Matt. 27:19) She did not succeed but we ask You to raise up prophetic voices who will have the courage as well as the wisdom to intervene when and wherever evil is taking root – to warn and show a better way.

Raise up a people for Your own possession in positions of influence, even as You raised up Martin Luther to spearhead the campaign against the sale of indulgences.

It is so important to remember those whom God specifically appoints and raises up to high profile positions in society. [This is an opportunity to pray specifically!]

Father, You are the God of the whole world and not just of the Church. May we live in the