Seasonal potential threats
22 Dec 2016
The threat of a terrorist attack in the British Isles remains high, and more police have been deployed in sensitive areas after the Berlin truck massacre. Many of us are boarding planes and ferries to visit family and friends, shopping, and singing carols in prominent places - all soft terror targets. Please pray for God’s protection over all ‘gateways’ into this country: airports and aircraft, cruise liners, ferries and ports; railway stations and peak train journeys; motorways and tunnels (especially the Eurotunnel); places where large crowds gather such as sport stadiums, shopping centres, Christmas markets, theatres and concert halls; schools and colleges; and all churches. We can pray for God’s plans for peace, mercy and hope to blot out every plan and purpose of terror, death or destruction. May the British Isles be safe under God’s authority and canopy of prayer over Christmas and into 2017. See also
Prince Harry 'wants to make a difference'
22 Dec 2016
In a TV programme broadcast last Monday Prince Harry said it was ‘fun to be good and boring to be bad’. And ‘If you're me, if you're your Average Joe, whoever you are, if you can't affect politics and change the big things in the world, then just do whatever you can do. Whether it's in your local community, your village, your local church, walking down the street, opening a door for an old lady, helping them cross the road. Whatever it is, just do good. Why wouldn't you?’ Prince Harry said he no longer struggles with his royal role and wants to ‘make something’ of his life. He made these comments while speaking in a documentary about his charity work in Lesotho.
‘But there was no room for them at the inn’
22 Dec 2016
This Christmas please pray for those sleeping rough or in temporary B&B accommodation, and ask God to work through society to bring about more housing and adequate places for the vulnerable to settle into. Pray for the unemployed, and especially for homeless and vulnerable people selling the ‘Big Issue’ magazine on street corners. One vendor said, ‘It’s great when people stop and say hello, it’s nice to feel part of the community and feel that people actually care.’ May God’s mercy flow so that they will soon be housed adequately in a place they can call their own. Give thanks for the many churches and charities providing shelter, warmth and food for ‘rough sleepers’ over the winter; pray God’s blessing on everyone involved, and for the provision of every resource they need.
Some face a painful Christmas
22 Dec 2016
The death of someone we love, who matters to us, is a devastating experience. We are faced with the painful and daunting task of coping with all that bereavement brings and with the challenge of finding a new sense of life and purpose. All of this takes time - nearly always longer than we think - and help of many kinds may be needed. At Christmas many widows, widowers, orphans, brothers and sisters of close relatives experience a particular pain mixed in with seasonal celebrations. Please pray for all those for whom Christmas is not a time of rejoicing and ‘making merry’, but a time of sorrow due to loss of loved ones at this time.
European Election Guide – 2017
30 Dec 2016
Canopy of Prayer over Europe recently wrote, ‘When we look back on this year 2016, the most outstanding events for Europe were the Brexit vote of Great Britain, the victory of Donald Trump, the breakdown of the cornerstone of the EU - the solidarity of her members - and therefore the endangering of the EU as a Union. All these events have to do with the fear of migration: from Mexico to the USA, from the Near and Middle East into Europe. These anxieties were readily used by all European populist parties to fuel fear, envy and negative prejudices; cheering Brexit, congratulating Trump, and supporting every opposition against Europe.’ In 2017 there will be significant leadership elections in many discontented European countries, and within the hierarchy of the EU. Click the ‘More’ button for insights to help you pray about the elections and situations that could bring about political changes in Europe next year.
Security in Europe threatened
22 Dec 2016
In the week before Christmas a truck was used as a weapon of terror in Berlin. The Russian ambassador to Turkey was murdered (see separate article), and in Switzerland a gunman shot three people at a Zurich Islamic centre and then was found dead by police. Pray for European countries to continue to invest significant resources in maintaining and developing security, and effective information-sharing and networking.
Paint a prayer for the nations
22 Dec 2016
On Sunday we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, but peace is missing in so many places. Central African Republic is experiencing armed clashes between Muslims and Christians. Democratic Republic of Congo is warring against rebel groups. Egypt is has militant branches of Islamic State. Libya still has an ongoing civil war. Mali citizens are burdened with clashes between army and rebel groups. Mozambique is contending with RENAMO rebels. Nigeria is battling militants. Somalia is struggling against al-Shabaab. South Sudan is suffering continual atrocities between opposing groups. Praying into so many situations can be overwhelming, but this Christmas perhaps we could offer our imaginations to the Prince of Peace and have our thoughts inspired by the Holy Spirit. Let us paint a prayer based on ‘What would it look like if God touched this place, this situation, this nation, with His glorious colours of salvation and restoration?’ Let this Holy Spirit-inspired image fuel our prayers for 2017.
Syria: the future costs
22 Dec 2016
As the war in Syria rages on, Chatham House calls us to consider the humanitarian, cultural and political costs of the war, the domestic politics of Syria, and the response of Syria’s neighbours and Europe to the refugee crisis. They remind us, ‘The conflict in Syria has also placed an enormous strain upon its immediate neighbours, as they not only seek to accommodate Syrian refugees, but also manage the spill-over effect on existing social, political, demographic, economic and security challenges.’ Pray that next year surrounding countries (Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Israel) and the West will take on some of these challenges more positively and effectively. The murderous activity in Syria evolves hour by hour and is documented by the media. Let us pray for future accountability and prosecution for all perpetrators of war-crimes, through the presentation and validation of actual events recorded on internet outlets.