The following are the Diocesan prayer items for the week beginning Sunday 10th May 2020:

1. Thanksgiving

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:26-33)

if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

• We thank and praise God that He is faithful to His words. When we humble ourselves before Him and turn away from our rebellion, He will hear our prayers and heal us.
• We thank the Lord for His provisions and promise of provision for God’s people who set their faces to seek after His Kingdom
• Thank God for healing many from this Covid-19 virus infection especially in this nation, that we see more are cured from the virus than new infection. We praise the Lord that the nation is moving into re-opening of economic and social activities.
• We thank and praise God that His eye is on those who fear Him and He is our shield and our help.
• Let us give thanks for each other in the Body of Christ, thank the Lord for those in the fellowship of our respective local churches and the Diocese.
• 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

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4)

• Confess and ask the Lord for forgiveness that we have not looked out for the interests of our neighbors within our society, nation, and among the nations.
• Confess and ask the Lord to forgive us of selfish ambitions, prejudices and devouring one another.
• Confess and repent of any actions and decisions which compromise on the welfare of others around us, personally and corporately.
• Ask the Lord to forgive us for not loving our neighbors (the migrant workers, legal or illegal, stateless and marginalized) as ourselves.

3. Praying for the Church

◦ Pray for leadership of God’s Church, for divine wisdom to make godly decisions and provide godly leadership over those under their charge. Pray that the Lord will continue to speak to them concerning His Church in the midst of this pandemic. Remember especially our Archbishop and all Bishops.
• Pray for all Christians in politics in the nations, that they will humble themselves before God in the fear of the Lord and make godly choices and responsible decisions for the welfare of the people and the nations.
• Pray that the people of God will find the reality of God’s love so close to us in our daily lives and our faith continues to be strengthened.
• Pray for the Church to be sensitive to the needs of those around them, that we may share God’s love, the message of hope and the gospel of salvation with them, especially the Church in Malaysia and the province of South East Asia.
• Pray for the Church that during this time we will express practical love and acts of kindness to our neighbors, to testify to the love of God.
• Pray for the rebuilding of Gereja Anglican Sumur Hidup, Kuala Penyu and the worship life of the church. Pray for comfort, strength and financial provision for the entire leadership and congregation of the church.
• Pray for the Church as we move into re-opening, that the Lord will lead us into this new normal in our fellowship, witness and evangelism, discipleship and ministry.
• Pray for God’s favour, grace and wisdom on all God’s people, that their livelihood will be restored. Pray for those who have lost their jobs or income will experience God’s favour and miracles in their lives in the months to come.
• Ask the Lord to speak to His people at this time, so that we may know how to conduct our lives in manners which are pleasing and glorifying to Him.
• Pray for God to re-order relationships and re-center them on Christ in the Church.
• Pray to the Lord to show us the way He is bringing revival to the world and pray for God’s people to have a paradigm shift in His direction.

4. 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.
• Declare that those who put their trust in the Lord in this season will receive divine immunity from the Lord against this plague
• 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)

◦ Meditate on Isaiah 54, 55 and respond with prayers.
◦ Pray against fear, anxiety and hopelessness.
◦ 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 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 the healing and recovery of the economy of the nation and the finances of the people in this nation in the coming months.

• Pray for the sitting of Parliament on 18 May, that
◦ our leaders will act in the best interest for the nation, looking out not only for their own interests, but also the interests of the people and the future generations
◦ God’s will and reign will prevail over the motions put forth, the debate and the entire proceedings
◦ God’s timing and manner to execute justice
◦ Decisive and selfless leadership with integrity is evident
• Pray for the welfare of our neighbors in our nation, those of other faiths and the foreigners, that they will come into encounter with the love of God in this season.
• Speak blessings to the various communities in our nation, seek their welfare and pronounce success over their lives and their generations.
• 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.

• Plead for God’s mercy and loving kindness.

O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear.In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy. (Habakkuk 3:2)

◦ Plead for God’s mercy upon the nations of the world. Ask the Lord that in His wrath, remember mercy.
◦ 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 in seeking answers to life, 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, all works of the Kingdom of Satan. Spend time worshipping the Lord, praising Him and declaring the Victory of the Cross over sins and darkness.