Psalm 71:12-21

O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! May my accusers be put to shame and consumed; with scorn and disgrace may they be covered who seek my hurt. But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge with the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those who come. Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth, you will bring me up again. You will increase my greatness and comfort me again.

Psalm 23:6

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

God’s design goes all the way through to our dying breath. Getting old is also a design set forth by the Lord. God describes gray hair as a “crown of glory”. But none of those things can make getting old any easier. It has been said that growing old is not for the faint of heart. But that does not change the fact that God does everything on purpose for a purpose. Throughout our lives, older people were always there to care for us, support us, pray for us, and guide us toward the path God had for us. Now it is our turn to repay that support.

Pray that we will love the elderly as Jesus would have us to love them. Pray Jesus will give us the strength to shower them with affection and give them the honor they are due. Pray that we will give up our time to care for them as they cared for us.

Proverbs 11:11-14

By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown. Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

I Timothy 2:1-2

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

All authority in heaven and under heaven is given by God Himself. So our leaders, whether we like them or not, were given that position by God himself. So we should respect their position and submit to their leadership as long as it does not make us go against the teachings of the Bible. We also have a biblical duty to pray for them as well.

Pray that God will grant the necessary wisdom our community leaders need to lead well. Pray for local government as well as the leadership of our local churches. Pray for God’s Will to be done and that they will allow God to use their positions of authority to shine as His Light in our community.

Psalm 91:1-6

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

Ephesians 6:12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Our country has stood for hundreds of years as a beacon of hope to the rest of the world that freedom can and should happen. We would not be that beacon if it wasn’t for our military. They go and fight for our freedom so we can enjoy it in our homeland. We can never repay that sacrifice, but we can pray not only for their safety, but for the military leadership.

Pray that as our military members do their jobs, God will put a hedge of protection around them and keep them safe from harm. Pray for their families who are sacrificing time with their loved ones while they serve.

Psalm 27:7-9

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!

Psalm 121: 1 -2

I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

The Bible teaches us that the Lord will never leave us nor will He ever forsake us. He is a present help in time of need and sticks closer than a brother. However, we still feel lonely at times and miss loved ones who have gone on before us. We, as God’s people, need to stand in the gap during these times and be there for one another in our times of need. Let us lean on the Lord, and each other, during these times of loneliness. Let us learn to watch others and meet needs as they arise.

Pray that God will give us eyes to see the lonely and learn to slow down and make them a priority in our busy lives. pray that God will use us to be His Hands and Feet and bring His peace and joy to someone in need.

James 5:13-16

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

I Peter 2:24

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

We as Christians believe that our God is the great physician. We believe that He is the cure for all of the things ailing us. Jesus Himself took it upon Himself to bear stripes from a whip so that we could be healed. Faith in Jesus is all we need in this world.

It is in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that the sick are healed. Therefore, let us pray for the sick through the wounds that Jesus suffered on the cross and believe with faith that God will heal them according to His will.

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

I Peter 3:15

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.

God the Father in his infinite wisdom has left it to us to take the gospel into the rest of the world. We have many people in our small community, right here in the bible belt, who have not witnessed the difference a church family can make in their lives. To have someone tell them the gospel is one thing but to see someone living out the gospel in front of them makes all the difference.

Pray God will give us unmerited favor with the unchurched in our community. Pray that God will open doors and prepare hearts ahead of time so they will be ready to accept the truth and love from a church family.

II Chronicles 7:14-15

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.

Psalm 85:6-8

Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.

In the book of Revelation Jesus says that he stands at the door and knocks. If anyone answers the door he will come and eat with them. II Chronicles states something very similar. If we as God’s people, will openly admit that we cannot fix the problem that we ourselves have created, get on our knees and pray to the one who is able to fix the problem, then God Himself will heal our land and bring revival to His people.

We must first come to the realization that God is our only hope and that we are completely dependent on Him. Once we realize that, we can then pray that God’s Will be done in our lives and the lives around us. Pray that revival ignites around us. Pray that we can impact this community for His Glory.