“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always,” -1 Chron. 16:11
SUNDAYS • Thanking God for grace
On Sundays this month, join in prayer with thousands of believers across East Asia and beyond. Thank God for the abundant work of the Holy Spirit as the good news of Jesus Christ impacts individuals, families and communities. Rejoice in God’s grace calling scores of new workers to cross-cultural ministry where most needed.
MONDAYS • Growing in discipleship
Pray for a cross-cultural worker who is discipling a young believer preparing for baptism. This young adult has been “sitting on the fence” for many years, and now wants to be baptized. Chalor is spending time with her, making sure she understands what baptism means and rejoicing that she has truly put her faith in Jesus Christ.
TUESDAYS • Vision trips
Thank God for teams preparing to take vision trips and prayer journeys through creative access areas during the summer. Pray for clear next steps for participants exploring long-term ministry among those people groups. Pray that the teams might encourage resident workers. Thank God for the effective impact made by short-term vision opportunities. Ask God for renewed vision to see more believers step forward to fill many opportunities for ministry.
WEDNESDAYS • Abundant grace
Intercede for Asian brothers and sisters facing pressure in their walk with Christ. Pray that the Holy Spirit would strengthen them in the face of opposition. Ask God to remind believers that he is in control, that he is with them, giving them the words to say at the right time, that he will not be defeated, working out his purposes for their lives.
THURSDAYS • Praise for new appointees
Praise God for new appointees trusting God for friends and supporting churches to participate in their ministries. All of them are seeking God’s provision, wanting to attend the July Orientation training in Singapore. Pray for Dan (East Asia); Kreg and Charis (East Asia); Andrew and Cathy (East Asia); John and Helen (Diaspora); Rose (East Asia); Aaron and Nikki (Taiwan); Allen and Lilliana (Japan); Marci (Japan); Rachel (Japan); and Dan and Ruth (East Asia).
FRIDAYS • Outreach opportunities
Thank God for ongoing freedom to share the gospel through many evangelistic outreaches in Cambodia. Pray for follow-up and that Satan will not snatch away the seeds that have been sown. Ask God to continue calling more workers to Cambodia as the opportunities are abundant and the task remains unfinished. Pray for Cambodian believers who put Christ first in the face of social and family pressures. Ask God for empowerment.
SATURDAYS • Prayer partnerships
Thank God for authentic partnerships between faithful intercessors and grateful workers. For example, one wrote, “Thank you for being part of the work of the Spirit and praying for me. I so often feel upheld on the prayers of others. I truly could not be here without you! May each one of us be led by the shalom of Jesus, and may God give us eyes to see things we can be thankful for in the midst of every situation.”
Praying with believers in Wuhan
The following is a letter from a pastor in China. Pray for all those affected by the health crisis, especially for believers in and around Wuhan. Pray for God’s strength and direction
Brothers and sisters, peace be upon you: During these past days the Wuhan pneumonia virus has been at the center of my thoughts and life. I am always watching the latest news, and always thinking about how our family and the church should face this. As for family, I have gathered masks and foodstuffs and have ventured out of doors as little as possible. When venturing out in public I have worn a mask, but as for the rest, I have placed it in the Lord’s hands. As for the church, the safety of the congregation, a faithful witness, the possibility that members could contract the illness, have all become a great area of struggle. We are facing a test of our faith. The situation is critical, yet we are trusting in the Lord’s promises. Christians are not only to suffer with the people of this city, but we have a responsibility to pray for those in this city who are fearful, and to bring to them the peace of Christ.
First, we seek the peace of Christ to reign in their hearts. Christ has given us his peace, but his peace is not to remove us from disaster and death, but rather to have peace in the midst of disaster and death, because Christ has already overcome these things. Otherwise we have not believed in the gospel of peace, and, with the world, would be terrified of pestilence, and lose hope in the face of death.
Why do only Christians have this peace? Because of sin, humans deserve the trials and tribulations that come upon them, Jehovah says: the wicked have no peace. We were sinners, but Christ, because of faith, took our penalty and gave us his peace. Christians may with the world face the same tribulations, but such tribulations are no longer punishment, but a new opportunity to grow nearer to the Almighty, to purify our souls, and to proclaim the gospel.
When disaster strikes us, it is but a form of God’s love. Wuhan’s pestilence cannot separate us from the love of Christ; this love is in our Lord Jesus Christ. These words are so comforting for us, we have already become one body with Christ. We have a part in his sufferings, and we have a part in his glory. All of Christ’s is ours, and our all is Christ’s. Therefore, Christ is with us as we face the pestilence in this city; the pestilence cannot harm us. If we die in the pestilence, it is an opportunity to witness to Christ, and even more to enter into his glory. I encourage you to be strong in Christ’s love. If we more deeply experience death in this pestilence, understanding the gospel, we may more deeply experience Christ’s love and grow ever nearer to God.
If you do not feel a responsibility to pray, ask the Lord for a loving soul, an earnestly prayerful heart; if you are not crying, ask the Lord for tears. Because we surely know that only through the hope of the Lord’s mercy will this city be saved.
Shared with permission of www.chinasource.org. “A Wuhan Pastor Prays with Us”
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