The following are the Diocesan prayer items for the week beginning Sunday 12th April 2020:

1. Thanksgiving

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:54-58)

• We thank and praise God for the Hope and Power of Resurrection on Jesus. Thank the Lord for death cannot threaten us with hopelessness any more.
• We thank the Lord for giving wisdom to the leadership of this nation and making responsible decisions for the wellbeing and safety of the people. We thank the Lord for all the measures taken to counter this pandemic of Covid-19 and the dedication of all the frontline personnel, which includes the medical personnel, the police, military, RELA, food delivery personnel, etc
• We praise God for the creativity given to the educators, the church, etc in using online resources to stay connected to the people.
• Thank God for healing many from this Covid-19 virus infection.
• Thank the Lord for giving strength, hope and encouragement to the Church through His words and by His Holy Spirit. We thank the Lord for the leadership of our Diocese in bringing God’s words to us in encouraging us.
• We thank the Lord for His provisions, for families, homes and shelter we can have at this time, and at all times.
• Spend time praising God and worshipping Him for the Hope we have in the God who loves us and continues to provide for us.

2. Repentance

Personal and corporate repentance

He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25:24-30)

Confess and repent of the sins of unfaithfulness at the personal and family level:
• Confess and repent from the sins of unfaithfulness to promises made to each other and in marriages.
• Confess and repent from the sins of unfaithfulness to promises made to God in baptism, confirmation, ordination, etc.
• Confess the sins of unfaithful stewardship of finances and money, both at the personal level and family.
• Confess and repent of the sins of burying our giftings, talents and resources from being used for God’s Kingdom and services, for righteous purposes.
• Confess and repent of abusing God’s good gifts in our lives.

Confess our sins at the corporate level:
• Confess and repent of the sins of unfaithful stewardship of money and resources in the Church, where we have failed to utilize them for building up and expanding God’s Kingdom,
• Confess to the Lord where we have failed to be faithful stewards of God’s truth and His gospel, than we have not diligently share them and proclaim them.
• Confess and repent of any acts of unfaithfulness of the Church.

Confess the sins of the nation:
• Ask the Lord to forgive us for the abuse of natural resources in our nation, past and present.
• Confess to the Lord and plead for His mercy for the unfaithful managing of finances and economy of this nation, past and present.
• Confess of the sins of broken covenant in divorces in this nation. Ask for mercy from God.

3. Praying for the nations

• Pray that we shall raise a level of repentance before the Lord that will cause His mercy to triumph against the Covid-19 pandemic in the nation
• Pray that we who are praying will receive divine strength from the Lord to pray effectively in this season of prayer and repentance in the name of Jesus
• Declare that those who put their trust in the Lord in this season will receive divine immunity from the Lord against this plague
• Bring repentance for all the darkness that has filled our land and given the enemy opportunity to afflict us. Many of the behaviors and social activities we call normal are an abomination before the Lord.
• Repent for all the sexual immorality in the land.
• Repent for the drinking culture in our nation that weakens us especially men and fathers who have become irresponsible and unable to take care of their families
• Pray for God’s mercy over nations affected by Covid-19 virus and ask God to save the nations. Pray against the destructive work of the enemy against the purposes of God in the nations. (see latest list of nations affected by coronavirus)

◦ Pray against fear (Use Psalm 91, 23, 46 to pray).
◦ Pray for all those who are or will be affected by the ongoing spread of the coronavirus and pray for healing. Pray for those whose livelihood is adversely affected, and students whose schooling is interrupted.
◦ Pray for our government and other governments around the world, that they would have wisdom to minimize, control and combat this pandemic.
◦ Pray for an availability of resources to help in the fight against this virus, particularly in poor nations.
◦ Pray for Christians all over the world to share the word of hope and encouragement effectively in this time of crisis, especially the Church in Malaysia and the province of South East Asia

◦ Pray for national leaders and leadership of God’s Church, for divine wisdom to make godly decisions and provide godly leadership over those under their charge. Remember especially our Archbishop and all Bishops, our Prime Minister and his cabinet.
◦ Pray for protection for medical staff and personnel, and those who are on the frontline including the police, the military, marine, essential service providers, the elderly, those who have underlying health problems, etc.
◦ Pray for God’s wisdom as we are adapting to the new normal in our lives during this time. Pray that the Church will continue to experience a deep sense of God’s presence in an entirely new way of worship on Sundays, throughout the Movement Control Order (MCO) period
◦ Pray for the healing and recovery of the economy of the nation and the finances of the people in this nation after the MCO is lifted.

• Look to the Lord with hope for His mercy and love
But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Be not so terribly angry, O Lord, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people. (Isaiah 64:8-9)

◦ Pray that nations will turn their eyes and put their hope on God. Pray that many will humble themselves and turn to God for help and mercy.
◦ Pray that many in the nations will find Jesus as the sure hope in times of trouble.
◦ Speak peace, life, hope and restoration to our nation, the nations of the world.
◦ Pray that there will be a reset in economy, financial system and international relations in the world for a better future.

• Focus on the Cross of Jesus, appropriate the Power of the Name of Jesus against all viruses.