Give us This Day, our Daily Bread.

Petitionary Prayer for the World

Let all the earth fear the Lord;
    let all the people of the world revere him.

For he spoke, and it came to be;
    he commanded, and it stood firm.

The Lord foils the plans of the nations;
    he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.

But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
    the purposes of His heart through all generations.

Psalm 33:8-11

Last week we prayed that we would allow God to make his kingdom in ourselves.  This week we pray that God’s kingdom come, and be done in the world as it is in heaven.

If you are like me, most days I pray for myself, my family, and my most immediate concerns but have not consistently widened the scope of my prayers to include folks I’ve never met.  Therefore, it may be especially straightforward this week to reach Gretchen’s goals for increased expectation, capacity and perception.  At the moment, I start at near ground zero.  I don’t often pray for people outside what I consider my sphere of influence.  Should the range of my prayer influence widen?

Last October, I was in dark, rainy Oxford, UK. I’d been wet and uncomfortable all day and had a cold.  I didn’t have enough clothing to keep warm.   It was evening. There were lots of people in the street and the rain wasn’t going to stop.  I glanced to my left and spotted a woman close by who reminded me of myself.  As our eyes met, she asked me for money.  At that moment I was overcome with emotion, mainly sadness. I felt a connection between her and I.  I looked into her eyes, she registered a look of surprise.  I realized that my eyes mirrored the sorrow I was feeling.  The lady took several steps backward, muttering, “No! No!” and disappeared into the crowd.   I walked on, shaken.  I had no idea why she’d reacted to me with fear.  I decided that I owed this woman.  I committed myself to pray for her.

Since the early days of Christendom, people have made it their vocation to step away from everyday life to fully devote themselves to prayer.  Bells ring in communities around the world calling women and men to prayer several times daily.  Joining monastics are everyday people who connect with prayer movements such as Prayer 24-7.  As a young mother, I prayed with several women, who spent more time in prayer than I did.  We called these women our prayer warriors. 

From  MaryKate Morse:

We, too, are called to pray for the world.  “Today believers are priests who are the bridge-builders in their neighborhoods.  … Out of the security of our love in God, we pray for others without any thought of gain.  Blessing prayers are priestly prayers. …Priestly prayers are prayed generously and with lovingkindness for the nations of the world by all of us.  

We’ve the grace and opportunity to participate in what God is doing.  He desires that we join Him in His work in the world.  With the habit of praying for some of the world’s needs each day, comes an increased perspective of how huge God’s love is.  We also more fully understand our place in the world and may realize more responsibility for the well being of others. 

When praying for others:

1. Ask God for increased perspective.  For example, be watchful for specific ways to pray while driving around town.  God will make needs known to you.  Actively listen for ways to pray while watching the world news. Ask God for discernment.  Put yourself in the shoes of whom you are praying.
2. Ask God for increased capacity.  Pray that you will not be overwhelmed.  There is tremendous need.

Start small.

Put limits on news and socials that leave you defeated.

Look for stories on progress God is making in the world.  Share the stories with others.

Remember God is in control.

3.  Ask for increased expectation.  

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3:20&21

It may be helpful for you to choose one specific area to pray for.  Here is a list of possible international prayer topics:

1. Healing
2. The hungry
3. Peace
4. Unreached people groups
5. The poor and under-served
6. Climate change and the environment
7. Areas of injustice
8. Use of scientific advancement
9. Oppression of LBTQIA+ folks and their community
10. The government
11. Care of refugees and immigrants
12. The enslaved
13. The church 
14. Guidance through changes

Here are some tools that may help you settle on a way to expand your prayer life:

Operation World:  https://operationworld.org/
An app for your phone. Operation World highlights a country for prayer each day. includes basic information.

The World Fact-book: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/ Information which sparks prayer for specific countries.

The Joshua Project: https://www.joshuaproject.net/ Started in 1995, this group seeks to provide information on people groups with the least access to information about Jesus.

24-7 Prayer https://www.24-7prayer.com/ A worldwide prayer movement for nonstop prayer with the aim of church revival.  Lectio 365 is it’s devotional resource.

Source:

Morse, MaryKate, A Guidebook to Prayer: Twenty-four ways to Walk with God, pgs. 66-73. Practical book on how to pray.  I have a copy that you may borrow.