The following are the Diocesan prayer items for the week beginning Sunday 26th April 2020:

1. Thanksgiving

“Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body….Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”” (Hebrews 13:1-3, 5-6)

“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 and praise God that He is faithful and trustworthy, that He remembers us and will never leave us nor forsake us.
• We thank the Lord for the love and fellowship we share in Christ in the Church, even during our online worship together
• 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 thank the Lord for His provisions- spirit, soul, body and material in our times of need
• 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

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! (Galatians 5:14-15)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

• Confess and repent from failing to demonstrate to the world around us God’s love by living out Christ’s love among brothers and sisters in God’s family.
• Confess and repent from not loving our neighbors as ourselves in our personal dealings with others around us in daily life.
• Confess and repent from being indifferent to the needs of foreigners, migrant workers (legal or illegal), refugees and stateless in our society.
• Confess and repent from failing to pray for our neighbors, as an expression of God’s love towards them.
• Confess and ask the Lord to forgive us of the sins of exploiting and abusing migrant workers for gains or benefits in business and in this nation

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.

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 our Province as we look intentionally to address the issue of ministering Holy Communion in the face of lockdown in the nations in this Province.

• 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 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 that God’s people will continue in fellowship using internet technology.
• Ask the Lord to speak to His people at this time, so that we may know what areas of our lives that need reset and re-prioritize. Pray that we will remember what the Lord is revealing to us individually and corporately even after the MCO period.
• 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.

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 Psalm 27, 145 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 after the MCO is lifted.

• 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.
• Plead for God’s mercy and loving kindness.

For a mere moment I have forsaken you,
But with great mercies I will gather you.
With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;
But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,”
Says the Lord, your Redeemer.
“For this is like the waters of Noah to Me;
For as I have sworn
That the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth,
So have I sworn
That I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.
For the mountains shall depart
And the hills be removed,
But My kindness shall not depart from you,
Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,”
Says the Lord, who has mercy on you. (Isaiah 54:7-10)

◦ Plead for God’s mercy upon the nations of the world. Ask the Lord to remember His Covenant with the earth.
◦ 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, 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.