Donovan March 30, 2019 Leave a Comment

Why You should have a MONTHLY PRAYER STRATEGY

Creating a PRAYER STRATEGY

Those who have been walking with us on this journey will know that we constantly emphasise the importance of making prayer as deliberate as anything else. It does not just happen, you and I make deliberate plans and act on these plans. This is the only way to build and enhance a prayer life. At its very core, prayer is communication.

It is courting a relationship. There is a proverb in the Shona language of Zimbabwe, that goes “Rudo moto rinotokuchidzirwa.” This can be translated to “LOVE IS A FIRE, IT OUGHT TO BE FANNED!” This applies to prayer. The more you do it, the more of it you want, the more of it you find easy to do. For the month of September remember, “Prayer too is a fire!” Let’s not allow it to die down.

Part of making prayer deliberate is writing things down and holding yourself accountable for things. At this point, get a paper, planner, journal so you can write down you prayer strategy for the month.

What/Whom will I pray for?

Think of things that you are believing God for in this month. Start with things you would like to see him do for you this month. List everything down big and small. I want to challenge you to challenge your faith in this as well. Write two things that you are either struggling to believe God for or think are too big for you to achieve.

Be honest with yourself. Scripture tells us that when Sara had waited too long for God to bless her with a son, she laughed at the prophecy that it would finally come to pass. What is that stubborn thing for you, that has made you wait too long. He is a God of small and massive prayers.

Genesis 18:15 -: So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

Now move on to your family, what or whom needs prayer in your family? What issues come to mind? Is it health issues for someone? It may be financial, spiritual or something else. Write down the people that come to mind and the issues to be prayed about.

Move on to your city. Write down the name of leaders who come to mind when you think of your city. You will also be interceding for them this month. What issues plague your city that you would like to see changed. In my case, I would write homelessness and drug abuse as some of the issues I would love to see changed.

Move on to your nation. As we have done before, write down the nation’s needs as far as you are aware. Think of what you have read in the news of late.

Finally, on a global scale, what would you like to see change?

Why am I praying?

Motivational speakers often say that it is your “why” that will keep you on course. Let’s figure out your why for all the things that you will be praying for. To do this, write down the impact that each of the changes you are believing for would have. A persistent focus on your why will keep you pushing.

When will I pray?

As mentioned, prayer is about building that relationship with the Lord. When will you meet with him to speak about all the things above? Plan daily prayer times that you will stick to. Start a prayer walk, perhaps daily or even weekly. Just take a walk and spend time alone with the Lord.

Part of being deliberate about prayer is building a routine which will then become a habit. A habit that would hopefully become a very part of your being! There is no better habit than that of meeting with the Lord.

Where

Have you come across Bill Hybels’ sermon about a chair? It’s a great, thought provoking preach about deliberately meeting with the Lord. Where you meet with the Lord is important. Beyond praying without ceasing, we are to set time/place aside to meet God.

Choosing your where is down to making sure you pick a place that is conducive. Take yourself away from distractions. Scripture tells us that Jesus would step away from the people to be alone with God. Life often robs us of this important component of prayer. Seek it. Afford yourself time and place for prayer. Here are some things to consider:

Will I be alone?
Can I enjoy being in this place?
Is this a place I can come to frequently?

Account

Make note of your progress throughout the month. Write down what you have done at the end of each day, write down what you intended to do and were not able to. Plan to reschedule those missed moments. The idea is not to beat yourself up, but to redeem time, and be better stewards of it.

Ephesians 5: – 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

That’s our strategy for a fruitful month of prayer, warriors! Keep us posted as you go through your month. You may email us on [email protected] or message us via Facebook or Twitter.

Originally posted 2018-09-03 11:40:05.

Donovan March 30, 2019 21 Comments

54 Powerful Prayer for Pastors and Church Leaders Points

Biblical Prayer for Pastors and church

leaders

Having been involved in ministry for a while now, I know just how stressful shepherding people can be. This is especially true for those who are truly sold out to the cause. A study carried out by Duke Divinity School revealed that the rate of depression among pastors is about double of that of everyone else.

The rate was slightly lower for pastors who were interviewed in person. One could accredit this to the pastors not wanting to burden others with their burdens. This is the way that our pastors are trained in general. https://today.duke.edu/2013/08/clergydepressionnewsrelease

As the body of Christ, we are called to hold each other up. The ones we often turn to and depend on need to know that at the very minimum they can depend on us to lift them up in prayer. Some of the greatest scandals that have rocked the church have been a result of mishaps and misfortunes of leaders.

These people are no deities; they are just as humane as any one of us. Expectations are higher for them, and so are some of the temptations and scrutiny that they face daily. Above that, they also carry additional problem that their flocks are facing at any given time. This is not easy, by any stretch of the imagination.

Matthew 26:31
Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

The scripture above illustrates the key issue here. The enemy’s strategy will always be to target the ones who are in leadership positions. Jesus himself recognised this, as was said in Zechariah 13:7. Our prayers should stand guard over our shepherds. This is what these prayer points are about. As we stand guard over the men and women of God, the Lord will cover all of us.

Beyond the pastors, there are various leaders in ministries. These may be standing in official positions or simply functioning in said capacity. We want to lift these servants up to the Lord as well. Every individual who gives their time and effort to the work of the Lord within the church.

Father keep our shepherds in the right place, may we not be scattered. Uphold and uplift their being, their standing and their voice. May they always stand in and rely on you! Guide and keep us oh Lord! We pray over every person that will raise their voice to you on behalf of their pastors and leaders. Bless and keep them oh Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Prayer for pastors and church leaders:

Day to Day Ministry

2 Tim 4:2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

We want to pray that our pastors would be empower by the Holy Spirit in the preaching of the word.
Give them boldness oh Lord, to speak matters of your heart and not to seek to please man.
Give our pastors boldness to stand as corrector to the flock. In these times where wickedness goes unchecked in the church. Let our pastors arise.
Grant our pastors and leaders grace to be encouragers of the body of Christ. Give them wisdom to know what to say!
May their walk in Christ be filled with patience. May their footsteps bring peace and joy!
May their walk be blameless before you! Raise them to truly be men and women after your own heart.

Keeping Watch

Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

Father we thank you for the gift of stewardship. We thank you for the flocks that you have given pastors to watch over. Grant them grace to lead as you would.
May the value of the flock be never diminished in their eyes. May they always remember the price that you paid for every single person under their care.
Grant our leaders grace to remain watchful over themselves, that they may not stray from your will, oh Lord!

50+ Powerful Biblical Prayer Points for Healing for the sick

Authority

Hebrews 13:17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

Lord we come against the blinding spirit of pride and arrogance in our church leaders. May they remain coachable.
Lord we pray for the body of Christ. Grant us grace to submit to authority of the office that our leaders stand under. Give us wisdom to respect the anointing you have placed on these men and women.
May our ministries not be a burden for the leaders. Let them be a great source of strength and of joy.

To whom much is given

James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Father we thank you for the sacrifice that leadership is. The pray for our leaders today. We pray for preservation for them and for their families.

New pastors and leaders

Jeremiah 3:15 Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.

Father in these selfish times, raise selfless shepherds for your people!
Lord reveal your heart to your people. Raise pastors after your own heart.
We come against the spirit of arrogance and self-centred aspiration.
Father remove the spirit of greed that is eating at the heart of our churches today. May our churches be known for being your hand in our communities.
We pray that you would pull down those who have strayed away from your will, and seeking to profit off the gospel.

Servant Hearted Leadership

1 Peter 5:1-4 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:

2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;

3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Father we pray that our pastors, deacons, elders and all others serving in ministry would never forget the honour that it is to be able to serve your people.
Raise leaders who are more keen to wash others’ feet than to have their own feet washed.
May your gospel not be tainted by greed, oh Lord.
Father, may our leaders be exemplary in all that they do.
As church leaders, Lord we pray that we always remember that we are stewards of all that is in our hands. Grant us grace to multiply and not to hoard for ourselves.

Strength and Perseverance

Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Father we pray for all pastors going through tough periods. Renew their strength.
May they never forget that they can lean on you. Grant them humility and wisdom to know when they are weary and in need of rest. More than anything, grant them wisdom to seek you in these times.
We pray that you would raise a solid support system for our leaders. We come against the spirit of loneliness, in Jesus’ name.
We declare that our pastors will hope in you, oh Lord. They will soar like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Prayer Points for Pastors: Unshakable leadership

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Father we thank you for the families of church leaders. We thank your for the sacrifices that they also have to make. There is a cost to them as well, as their loved ones serve. Bless them oh Lord!
We pray for leaders who have sown seed but are yet to see fruit. Give them wisdom to know to wait on you.
Father let none of our service, as leaders be half-hearted. May we always be fully committed to all we do for you and through you!
We come against the spirit of envy, and denominationalism. Grant us grace to walk in one accord, in Christ.

Do not be weary

Galatian 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Father we call upon a harvest for every seed sown in evangelism. Wherever the gospel has been shared, let it begin to take root.
We pray for consistency and persistence in doing your will.
May your good works never run short of doers, oh Lord. I refuse that the rocks would cry out while I live!!

Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Lord we pray for sustenance and provision for our leaders. May they not be plagued by lack while they serve.
We pray that their needs would not become gluttonous.
May their hearts not be filled with worldly desires of gathering possessions and wealth for themselves.

Prayer Points for pastors and church leaders: Do not muzzle

1 Timothy 5:18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”

Lord raise us to always be uplifters of leadership.
May our leaders never have to carry burdens alone.
Grant us grace to be their providers as they provide for us spiritually.
May our leaders be known to be yours even by how they spend their resources. Your word says that where our treasure is, is where our heart is. May their hearts be in you always.

The ministry of prayer

Acts 6:2 “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Lord we banish the spirit of prayerlessness among our leaders. May they be men and women of prayer, more than they are doers.
Let their actions be birthed in the prayer closet.
We pray for our church prayer meetings to be uplifted.
Let our church prayer meetings become incubators of your glory.
We pray for overflow in the miraculous. Overflow in healing, in testimonies from time vested in prayer.
Our prayer closets will never be neglected.
Lord may your eternal word be shared relentless among us.
Bring unity and harmony beyond our religious and denominational divides.
Bring a prayer revival into our homes, into our workplaces, into our schools and more than ever, into our churches. In Jesus’ name.

We want to take this time to thank you for taking time to pray with us. Let us keep our churches and leaders uplifted through prayer. I remember reading how high the rates of suicide were among pastors. God forbid that this would become acceptable under our watch.

We are stewards even of our words, of our prayers. Let us not be the steward that buried his talent. May your mouth bring forth great things in your sphere, through Christ Jesus! Thanks for using these prayer points for pastors and church leaders.

These prayer points and more can be found on www.prayerrelay.com

Originally posted 2018-03-08 00:58:43.

Donovan February 20, 2019 Leave a Comment

15 Incredible Heartfelt Thing to Pray for Albania About

How to pray for Albania

Geographical detail:

Albania is a country in the southern part of Europe. It is located in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula on the Strait of Otranto, the southern entrance to the Adriatic Sea. The capital city of Albania is Tirana(Tiranë). It has a population of over three and a half million.

Their official language is Albanian. Their terrain has been a very isolating factor for them. Their location has made them an opportune entry point for conquerors. They endured various invasions from various insurgents. The Ottoman Turks would be the ones to successfully conquer Albania in the 15^th Century.

They became independent in 1912. A demarcation led to infringement of their territory by surrounding great powers. This has somewhat led to further isolation from other nations. Post World War 2, they became a communist state with a strong political desire to protect their boundaries and sovereignty.

As other communist regimes fell apart, the Albania nation began to open to other influences. They have maintained ethnic and cultural heritage over the years.

Population: 3581655

Map:

Leaders:

President : Ilir Meta, Bujar Nishani

Prime minister: Edi Rama

Political brief: General politics

Albania has changed quite a bit since its time as a communist state. It is now a full fledged democracy. The current president, Nishani came into presidential office after some years in various political office.

These were years in which he was known to stand up to various government persons and institutions. His election came as a surprise to some, but there was clearly something that the people saw in the man.

Economy brief:

Albanian economic development was somewhat stunted by the Kosovo conflict, which led to a lot of political tussling at the end of the century.

In the communist years, a lot was invested in the agricultural development of the country. Although overall production would increase in this area, lack of technological advancement and improvement of farming method meant that the full potential of the farming sector was not reached.

After the communist period, there has been annual growth in this sector. Nearly all of Albania’s food needs are met by local produce. They mainly grow maize, wheat, sugar beets, watermelons, apples, plums, grapes, walnuts, chestnuts as well as citrus fruits in well irrigated areas.

Livestock farmers raise cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs.

Their best sector remains mainly the mining sector, which produces copper, chromium, iron-nickel and other metallic deposits.

They also have petroleum and natural gas deposits in the Southern part of the country.

Italy is currently Albania’s largest trading partner by a mile. They are the main exporter and importer from Albania.

Albania runs on a flat tax system for both individuals and companies. This is an obvious area of contention.

News highlights

Use the link below to find out other things that are happening in Albania that you can also pray for.

https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/albania.html

What to pray for regarding Albania?

Prayer Points for Albania

Leadership : 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Speak a covering over Ilir Meta, Bujar Nishani, Edi Rama and other government officials.
May their families be preserved.
We pray for unselfish vision in leaders.
Pray for peaceful alliances for a common purpose among the political opponents.

Economic growth

Lord we pray for continual economic grow.
We pray against the spirit of poverty.
Lucrative partnerships with other nations.
We pray for rain and wisdom for the agricultural sector.
We pray for success in the plans to repopulate the over hunted animals through the hunting ban.

Peace

Father we thank you for peace across Albania.
We speak against the rise of organised crime.
May your word find its way into more and more homes and transform the nation.
We pray for peace even as the protests currently go on. May the government handle them with grace.

General

We pray for the nation in the view of stranded refugees that they may take in.
Let it bear good fruits for both.

Ezekiel 22:30

And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

God forbid that this word would ring true in our time. You are that man, you are that woman who will stand in the gap before the Lord for individuals and for nations. Arise intercessor!

These prayer points are part of our intercession drive, as the Prayer Relay Movement. We are a prayer ministry, as such we believe this is a very integral part of it all.

These prayer points will be updated to remain relevant to the needs of the nation, as far as we are aware. Let’s pray for Albania. We would love to hear from you with added information and things that we may have missed when creating these prayer points.

Originally posted 2018-02-13 08:31:25.