Prayer for the City & Church: Nov 22-28

November 22nd, 2010 by Stephanie

As next Sunday marks the beginning of Advent, the season of anticipation of the Messiah’s birth, this week’s prayer focus is going to set the stage for it and prepare our hearts for this month-long season of celebration. Just as the Israelites were longing for their Saviour, so we too can pray that our city would long for its deepest need to be fulfilled and for our church to long for God’s kingdom to be established in this city in and through us.

Prayer for our City:

Come Thou long-expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free. From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. -Charles Wesley (Come Thou Long Expected Jesus)

Pray for our city to recognize the futility of finding pleasure or ultimate satisfaction in anything other than a relationship with Christ.
Pray that the deep longings in their hearts for something more would compel them to begin spiritually searching during this season of Advent. Pray that they would be led to truth-teaching churches or friends that would share the news of Christ as our Saviour and Redeemer with them in a loving, gracious way.
Pray for our city to be moved to meet the needs of those around us, such as the St Jamestown fire victims, the community of Regent Park, the homeless, the new immigrants, teenage moms.

Prayer for our Church:

Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King. Born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring. By Thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone. By Thine all-sufficient merit raise us to Thy glorious throne. -Charles Wesley (Come Thou Long Expected Jesus)

Pray that our church would be a place of longing, at all times, for our Saviour and for His kingdom to be established both in our city and in our hearts.
Pray that we would remember to keep Christ in Christmas this season and to not let the busyness of life around us distract us from reflecting on the true reason for this season.
Pray for the upcoming Mezzanine event this Saturday to bring a blend of Christians and non-Christians who could interact and discuss the theme of Christian influences in contemporary culture. Pray for the remaining details to come together and for the follow-up afterwards to cause many to take one step further on their spiritual journey to the Lord.
Pray for the newcomer’s lunch next Sunday to be a place where those who are new could come and get to know Grace Toronto better, as well as find opportunities to get involved and invest in the work God is doing in our city.

Prayer for our World:

Haiti has just been hit with an outbreak of cholera that has already killed over 1200, in a country that is still recovering from the January 12 earthquake that killed over 250,000 earlier this year.

Pray for quick response and full involvement by those in neighbouring countries that could help safely assist the Haitians.
Pray for a miraculous end to this outbreak that it may not spread any farther than it has and would remain contained.
Pray for wisdom, maturity and integrity among the leaders of this country in their decisions, in their allotment of resources and in their response to the needs of their people.
Pray for the violence, anger, hatred and resentment that is building up in this ravaged country to be calmed by an adequate, long-term commitment to the response of their needs by those who are involved in helping them. Pray that they would not take out their pain and brokenness on one another.
Pray that the Lord Almighty would bring peace, restoration, healing, mercy, justice and provision to this country that He would be glorified as the true Deliverer of this country and that the church there would stand firm in upholding His name and being among the foremost to meet the needs of their people.

Grace Toronto. A church for the city in the city. Get to know us.