Prayer for Parliament

The Prayer for Parliament website (www.prayerforparliament.com) is soon to be upgraded. A number of new features and changes are under consideration, some of which will need funding. Please pray for wisdom for those working on this, and for the needed help and funds to become available. After over 20 years of involvement in prayer for our leaders, and in the inception of the monthly Prayer for Parliament meetings, Rev Francis Pym has decided to stand down from his role in chairing these meetings and distributing the reports from them. He and Jeffrey Donaldson MP have now asked Pat Brandon to become the facilitator of these meetings, also working to develop the relationship between those meetings and the Prayer Shield, an internet distribution of prayer material that goes further afield than the reports from the meetings, and offers Scripture-based models as starting points for prayer. Information in the reports is sometimes of a sensitive and personal nature and has to be treated with care, but the Prayer Shield is more freely distributed. The present arrangement is that one can go to the Prayer for Parliament website and sign up for the Prayer Shield, which is than automatically sent out.

Middle East

There has been much bloodshed in and around Gaza, and while world pressure for an end to the violence grows, both sides of the conflict seem determined to continue to the bitter end. The timing of this conflict may be related to the end of George W Bush’s term of office and there is uncertainty about any change of position that may be brought in by the incoming President, Barak Obama. Israel has elections coming up soon (late February) and really needs strong leadership: so do the Palestinians. It is a long time since there has been a strong leadership in Israel because of the multiplicity of parties and the difficulty of forming coalitions: the Palestinians appear to be deeply divided, with little sign of genuine reconciliation and cooperation between the Fatah and Hamas factions. 

In our prayers for such a complex situation it helps to remember that God deals with individuals and also with nations: so we can pray for the safety and deliverance of the innocent individual, as well as for a just solution for the nations. The Bible teaches us that God has two sides to His nature: He has to be totally just, but He is also love. Scripture often shows that He prefers to show mercy when possible, and calls on us to intercede to that end – to call on His merciful nature. The problem of how to also be totally just is His: we don’t have to work out how to do that!

Blessings from Northern Ireland’s peace

The outbreak of peace in Northern Ireland was clearly an answer to much prayer, yet its coming surprised many. Around the world, nations facing conflict within, and seeking reconciliation, look to Northern Ireland for a model of how peace can be achieved. Some Northern Ireland politicians make themselves available to help such nations. Please pray for these politicians, whether Christians or not, that the Lord will enable them to bring wise counsel and inspirational encouragement. For the Christians among them, pray that they will have opportunities to witness as well as to be salt and light in these situations.

Christians facing persecution

Assyrian Christians in Iraq are suffering persecution of various kinds: please pray for them. There are many believers among the Palestinians in Gaza, suffering persecution from the non-Christians. Also Christians in Iran are under pressure. In a number of nations where Christians are in the minority and external aid comes into the nation, the Christians are put to the end of the queue when it comes to distribution of aid and financial resources. 

The United Kingdom and the recession

At a time like this we need strong leadership. This is true around the world, especially at this difficult time. Pray for our leaders – or for new leaders – that they may be granted heavenly wisdom. All too often leaders make hasty decisions that have the appearance of wisdom but turn out to lack foresight and discernment.

A call to Christians

At a time like this, Christians should be prophetic, not pathetic – we can easily list the problems but should focus too on God’s answers – on the prophetic rather than on pathos. We have a message of hope and should boldly proclaim it to a world that is crying out for some hope! The number of people seeking fortune telling has increased – we can point them to a secure future and genuine peace!