Australia: continue to pray
03 Jan 2020
New South Wales declared a week-long state of emergency in response to escalating bushfires. Ask God to give strength and wisdom to Australian military aircraft and vessels and to US and Canadian ‘specialist aviation resources’; may there be clear, unconfused communication between different agencies fighting fires and saving lives. Ask God to bless those providing humanitarian assistance, upholding them in all they do. Pray for wisdom and sensitivity to those carrying out evacuations of whole communities in the coming days. May God protect the thousands of volunteers deployed to help struggling emergency services. May He comfort those who once lived in the 1,200+ destroyed homes. Thousands are fleeing a vast ‘tourist leave zone’ in the largest relocation ever. May calm minds replace panic and fear. Pray for cut-off towns where supplies are running low and people are living in fear of flames spreading across their communities. May God bring wind direction changes and rain to take the worst of the fires away from towns and farms.
France, Germany, and Britain have told the UN's secretary-general that Iran has developed a ballistic-missile system capable of delivering a nuclear weapon in violation of the Security Council resolution. A letter from those countries, plus Russia, China, and the USA, stated that the development of such missiles was inconsistent with the resolution endorsing a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and urged Tehran not to pursue activity related to such missiles. Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called the letter ‘a desperate falsehood to cover up European countries' miserable incompetence in fulfilling their commitments to the nuclear deal. He said, ‘If Britain, France, and Germany want a modicum of global credibility, they can begin by exerting sovereignty rather than bowing to US bullying.’ Pray for Iran’s church leaders amid the upheaval. They are praying that God will give them strategies to use the current unrest to advance His kingdom.
Hong Kong: no Happy New Year
03 Jan 2020
South China’s Morning Post editor prophesied: ‘There is no Happy New Year ahead for Hong Kong, just endless protest chaos for the foreseeable future. Get used to it because nothing is changing, nobody is coming to the rescue, and no one has any panacea for the most destructive and debilitating social and political crisis since the city’s return to China. Wreck and repair, rinse and repeat: that’s been the new normal for more than six months and the lid has been blown off the Pandora’s box of Hongkongers’ pent-up problems and frustrations. Hong Kong’s revolution is sliding into terrorism with home-made bombs. There will be scattered protests on weekdays while most citizens go about their daily business, occasional mass rallies to mark some anniversary or another of the hate-China / destroy-police / despise-government campaign, and regular outbreaks of violence and anarchy over weekends and public holidays.’ Let us pray that this gloomy prophecy will not be accurate and that God will miraculously end a frightening situation.
North Africa: Christian parenting
03 Jan 2020
Dr Maged presents The Coach, an Arabic TV programme on SAT-7. He said there’s a lack of awareness of how to raise children in a healthy way in North Africa. Many cultures are based on a patriarchal model where women and children are not encouraged to speak up, share an opinion, or disagree with the male head of the family. Many parents use parenting techniques of beating, shouting and intimidation. This is where The Coach steps in, discussing the parenting issues that many families face. The programme encourages healthy, open conversations between parents and children, preparing them to cope with the world and helping them feel safe within the home environment. Children can express themselves or admit to a mistake without the fear of being beaten or belittled. It is clear that the programme is making a real-life impact in Arab families. Dr Maged’s end goal is for healthy parenting to become the norm for parents.
Global: fighting corruption
03 Jan 2020
Around the world in 2019, corruption sparked demonstrations and toppled governments in what should be a wake-up call for leaders to follow through on their commitments and make good on old promises as well as new, meaningful resolutions. Corruption is deepening the crisis of democracy in many parts of the world. Countries with higher rates of public sector corruption have weaker democratic institutions, depriving citizens of political rights such as free and fair elections and the right to protest. Many protested and, losing patience, took to the streets demanding that their governments serve public interest. We may see more protests in the coming year unless political leaders take urgent steps to eradicate corruption and make their countries a liveable place for all citizens. In over 100 countries, people can turn to Transparency International chapters for advice on long-lasting and inclusive approaches to strengthen their democracies.
Desperate Prayer for a ‘Decade of Harvest’
Psalm 126:5–6 (ESV), “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
My wife has been on a long journey of suffering from migraine headaches for the last 20yrs. Often she has to be in a dark space, crying out in pain until it passes. We have struggled over the years asking the questions of “why” and “how long.” We know and trust in the goodness of God and continue to believe God, asking for his healing power! My wife is an amazing woman, godly wife and nurturing mom. I often hear her interceding in the midst of her suffering and pain and I know this touches and moves the heart of God. Often the only thing we are left with is desperate prayer. This kind of prayer is born out of human inability to make anything to happen, where we recognize we can do nothing about the situation… But God!
Throughout history, believers have cried out to God in times of distress. Sometimes after years of desperate praying, a single cry brings direction or deliverance instantly. The promise is clear:
“Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me” (Psalm 50:15).
Here are some examples of people crying out to the Lord
• A cry of deep distress
“You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, And heard their cry” (Nehemiah 9:9).
• To cry out for help
“He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them” (Psalm 145:19).
• To shout a war cry
“Then the men of Judah gave a shout [ruwa]: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel” (II Chronicles 13:15).
• A cry of deep distress
“When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble” (Psalm 9:12).
• To cry out
“But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him” (Matt 14:30-31).
• To implore with strong voice
“And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily” (Luke 18:7).
Crying out to God often with tears is an act of desperation and total consecration. It is a fervent expression of faith in God and trust in His goodness and power to act on our behalf. As Spurgeon said, “tears are liquid prayer.”
Jeremiah, often described as the weeping prophet, was a man caught up in the heart of the weeping God. As he walked through the streets and alleys of the Holy City and saw nothing but pain, suffering, and destruction in the wake of the Babylonian invasion of 586 BC, he writes,
“Their heart cried out to the Lord, “O wall of the daughter of Zion, Let tears run down like a river day and night; Give yourself no relief; Give your eyes no rest. 19 “Arise, cry out in the night, At the beginning of the watches; Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him For the life of your young children, Who faint from hunger at the head of every street” (Lam 2:18-19).
Not only do we see believers throughout Scripture crying out to God often with tears, our God is also a ‘weeping God.’ Jesus himself, wept with his grieving friends over Lazarus. Jesus wept over Jerusalem as he rode in on Palm Sunday, and Jesus wept in the agony of prayer at Gethsemane hours before the cross. The author of Hebrews writes,
“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence” (Hebrews 5:7).
Not only does Jesus weep over the lost and the broken but he also weeps over us with compassion in the midst of our pain and loss. He cares so deeply for each one of us. Only a weeping God can truly wipe away our tears. Think how close Jesus has to be to take his thumb to our face and wipe away the pain, and disappointment in our lives!
It so important for us to slow down, and let our hearts be gripped with the compassionate heart of Jesus. May we take time to watch Jesus weep, crawl under his burden, and cry out for his intervention!
It is this type of intercession, crying out to the Lord that often brings a breakthrough. When Jesus saw Mary weeping over her brother Lazarus, he was moved with compassion and raised him from the dead! God promises that those who ‘weep’ will ‘reap’ a harvest!
“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! 6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:5-6).
The Bible is utterly unfamiliar with casual praying.
Jesus was clear that those who reject him will spend an eternity in hell, ‘weeping and gnashing their teeth’ (Matt 8:12). May God grip us with the reality of millions walking on the broad road that leads to destruction. May we cry out and weep over them for their salvation!
When Jesus taught us to pray to our Father in heaven, He used the Greek word proseuchomai—the common word for prayer in the New Testament. But in Matthew 9:38 and Lk 10:2, Jesus used the Greek word deomai, a much stronger word meaning to ‘plead desperately.’ Also Jesus didn’t simply tell His disciples to pray for laborers to be sent out to the harvest fields. Jesus used a much stronger word—ekballo, meaning to ‘drive out, or hurl forth!’ This same Greek word ekballo is used in Mt 9:34, 10:1 and 10:8 for casting out demons! In both Matthew 9:38 and Lk 10:2, Jesus commands us to deomai (plead desperately) to the Lord of the Harvest to ekballo laborers (thrust them forcefully) into His harvest!
This year we are partnering with Go2020 to see 100 million united in prayer to see 1 billion come to Christ over this next decade! http://www.go2020.world/prayer
As John Robb writes,
“No one organization or movement can accomplish such a staggering feat, but if we flow together like tributaries in one unstoppable river, this can be achieved! Getting God’s heart of love for the lost through prayer will lead to our sharing Jesus with them in the power and sensitivity of the Holy Spirit just as the early church experienced” -John Robb
It will truly require desperate prayer to see these outcomes come to pass this next decade!
• 100 million Christians inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit to pray and share the Gospel with as many as possible in their own communities and to the ends of the earth.
• One billion people being reached with the Gospel and millions upon millions getting saved all over the world over the course of this next decade!
• Unreached people groups hearing the Gospel for the first time and planting new churches among them. We have put together a helpful guide to praying for unreached peoples around the world. Here is the link https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EksUzKPVPfkKg8Ki2bLnDaeaCqFa3UZC/view
• 50 million new believers integrated into existing and new churches.
We praise God for the promise that the “effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).
In our desperation we want to encourage people to Pray God’s Word for the Nations! In 2020 believers and organizations across the globe are celebrating the Year of the Bible! The vision is for 2 million people to pray for renewed Scripture engagement - www.yearofthebible.com.
A great resource we recommend for praying God’s word for the nations is Dick Eastman’s book “A Watchman’s Guide to Praying God’s Promises.” You can request your free copy at www.ehc.org/free-books
May we cry out in 2020 to the Lord of the Harvest in fervent, desperate, Bible-based prayer for a coming ‘Decade of Harvest.’ May the Lamb who was slain receive the due reward for his sufferings!
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” – Revelation 5:12
For the Glory of the Lamb,
Jason Hubbard - Executive Co-ordinator
International Prayer Connect
Our IPC colleague, Yanira Gonzalez received this good news / answered prayers message from Gabo & Shelly Castro who run 'Talita Cumi', one of the orphanages (kids 0-5 yrs) in Cochabamba, Bolivia. They are part of the Latin America network of Children in Prayer.
I am so pleased to write with GOOD NEWS!!!
Things in Bolivia have improved SIGNIFICANTLY!!! Thank you for praying!
Evo Morales fled the country and has taken asylum in Mexico. The constitutionally empowered interim president (Jeanine Añez), has called for new elections (probably in April 2020) and has done a wonderful job at establishing order.
While there is still protesting and occasional riots (from Evo supporters- wanting him to return to power and pushing to pass a law to give him and all of his highest officials immunity to all criminal charges), the peace has basically been restored.
Family and staff report that public transportation is functioning normally and that, apart from a slight cost elevation, they are able to access everything they need. We are SO THANKFUL and so RELIEVED!!
Despite Evo’s plan to remain in power, the people stood together for freedom and for democracy. I feel honored to have witnessed this incredible historical moment for Bolivia; old men and women pulled out their wooden stools to sit in the streets and support the blockades; young men and women came together to protect the people and freedom for the following generations. When the police sided with the people and were cut off from the government; the nation came together to protect and provide for them; organizing themselves in each neighborhood to make meals for each of the stations. When there were threats that the military was going to attack the police force, entire families made massive human barricades around the stations; telling the military that they would have to kill hundreds of unarmed citizens before they got to the police.
Evo executed his plans, but God’s prevailed!!!
I am so proud of the Bolivian people and the example they now are to so many nations around the world deep in this fight for freedom.
The best part: THE KIDS HAVE NO IDEA!! While I’m sure they knew something was up; not going to school and dynamite going off just blocks from the front door; the staff did an incredible job of protecting their minds and hearts. They played games, watched movies, did their school work at home, and had birthday parties.
I am forever thankful for the tias and their hard work and tangible testimony of Jesus’ love to the children not only in this tumultuous time, but always.
Praise: God for answered prayers – and for this breakthrough that brings a positive window of opportunity for the people of Bolivia.
Praise: God for the way that the people stood arm in arm – in unity, in support of the police.
Pray: that the Bolivian elections are conducted fairly and democratically.
Pray: that men and women of God will be prompted to stand for election.
Pray: that all the misappropriated assets will be recovered and those involved in corrupt activities will be brought to justice.
Beijing has summoned a U.S. diplomat after lawmakers in Washington approved legislation that calls for sanctions against senior Chinese officials for human rights violations linked to a crackdown on the country's Muslim minority.
The Uighur (Uyghur) Act of 2019 criticizes Beijing's "gross human rights violations" in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, where about 1 million Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim minorities are held in internment camps.
The measure passed 407 to 1 on December 3 and is a stronger version of the bill that cleared the Senate in September. The two documents must be reconciled into one bill for U.S. President Trump's signature, or veto.
China has defended the existence of the internment camps, which it says are used for "re-education" and has denied mistreating Uyghurs.
"We urge the U.S. to immediately correct its mistakes, prevent the aforementioned Xinjiang-related bill from becoming law, and stop using the Xinjiang-related issue to interfere in China's internal affairs," a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a statement on December 4.
Chinese media later reported that Vice Foreign Minister Qin Gang had summoned William Klein, the charge d'affaires of the US Embassy in China, to lodge "strong protests" against the bill.
"Any attempt to stir up ethnic relations in China, undermine Xinjiang's prosperity and stability, and curb China's development and progress is doomed to fail," Qin said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Beijing first denied the existence of the camps, but has since justified its policy as providing valuable vocational training and veering Muslims away from extremism.
Activists and witnesses have instead said China employs torture to forcibly assimilate Uyghurs into the region's Han majority.
Other measures include pressuring Muslims to reject their beliefs such as, giving up prayer and abstaining from eating pork and drinking alcohol.
With reporting by dpa, AFP, AP, and Reuters
Pray: for all those who are being oppressed in China because of their religious beliefs.
Pray: that this proven crackdown on the Uyghur people will stop.
Pray: for broader international support for sanctions along with political intervention.
Pray: for the Christian Church in China which is facing severe persecution.