Prayer Pointers

This year's CA annual conference theme was The Word of God in our Time Brave and Bold Bible Translations chosen in celebration of 400 years of the famous Authorised or King James Bible of 1611. A great chance to give thanks for those who rendered God's Word into many languages and dialects in past centuries and to see, hear and pray about the challenging and rewarding work of Bible translators today.

“How beautiful on the hills are the feet of those who bring Good News” Is 52:7

1.
“Prayer is asking God to work in and through us by His power to do His will.”
                                                                         Gareth Tuckwell

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of Him.”
                                                                         1 John 5: 14 -15

“The greatest tragedy in life is not unanswered prayer but unoffered prayer.”
                                                                         F.B. Mayer

“Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”
                                                                         Ephesians 6:18 (a)

...”We do not know what to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He Who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.”

                                                                          Romans 8: 26b - 27

“...go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever   you ask in My Name.”
                                                                          John 15: 16b

“Ask (in My Name) and you will receive, that your joy may be complete.”
                                                                         John 16: 24b

“Eternal truths will neither be true nor eternal unless they have fresh meaning for every new social situation.”
                                                                          F.D. Roosevelt

Bible translators and those working for God's Kingdom in all kinds of
ways need to be constantly supported by our prayers. Many are working in
cross-cultural situations where much listening and learning is often needed before the Good News of Jesus can be shared in culturally and socially-sensitive ways. Pray for those people known to you with this challenge and opportunity that they may have grace and wisdom as they go about their work. Pray that they, and we, may be “living letters” (2 Corinthians 3: 2 - 5).


2.
Pray for all those caught up in the current wave of national upheavals in the
Islamic world. Pray that long-established leaders, where clearly their time in office has passed, will have the grace and wisdom to stand down and that the new leaders will do justly, love mercy and serve humbly their peoples and nations.
Pray especially for Christians caught up in these political changes, that they will stand firm and shine out in their faith and witness and that they will have fairer treatment and greater respect from national governments and within their local communities where they may often be only a small minority. Pray for those who harass them - that they, too, may heed the Gospel and be changed.
                                                                           Micah 6:8

3.
Continue to pray for translators who seek to bring not just the Bible but great Christian literature, as well as prayer, devotional and discipleship training aids into the everyday lives of people world-wide - especially in developing countries. Pray for these workers health and safety and that they may stand true and strong in the name of Christ.
                                                                           1 Corinthians 15: 58

4.
“Whatever is just and good in other religions finds its deepest meeting and final perfection in Christ.”
                                                                         Guilio Bassetti Sani

           2 Chronicles 16:9a; John 14:6; !0: 10b;Acts 17: 23 - 31; Hebrews 11:6

Pray for all members of Christians Aware as they seek to come alongside
people with other religious beliefs or none, first to listen and learn from them better to know the nature and origins of their world-views, and better to commend to them the Person and finished work of Jesus and His invitation to start knowing in Him the way to the truly abundant life.
Pray for all the CA office in Leicester and for the CA Council, and for CA's president, Rowan Williams with his heavy and demanding schedule. Pray for wisdom in seeking new members of Council and for nomination of the new Chair, as John Flack steps down in January (2012).
Continue to pray that all that CA is and does may become much better known and supported within the churches and national Christian agencies.

5.
It is only just over a year to the London Olympics. Pray for all of those (athletes, support teams and others) preparing to take part or be spectators in the games next summer. Pray that, amid our often tense, rival-torn world - with so much injustice, greed and abuse of people and resources, the examples of wholesome competition, teamwork and excellence shown by those taking part will both thrill and set a good example to spectators and TV viewers world-wide.
Remember especially those Christian agencies preparing to be available to all-comers in east London and other sites due to host a huge range of Olympic events next summer, to commend those they contact Jesus as the true track and prize in their lives.

           1 Corinthians 9: 22b - 25; 2 Timothy 2: 1 - 2, &5; Philippians 3:10 -14

6.
The “earthing of heaven” - God's healing, glorious love and light breaking
into a broken, fallen world - will continue until Christ returns. Then all will be finally, wondrously, mysteriously made whole.
Give thanks and pray for those of all world-views who come together in common cause to restore and celebrate the beauty of the Earth and its ecology. Pray that in God's sovereign grace and purpose they will bring forth ever more examples of good management and care in society as signposts towards the gloriously renewed order for the Earth and humanity which
God the Father will reveal in His chosen way and time.

Above all, pray that all of us - whoever, wherever, however we are - may be both fully heavenly-minded and always of earthly use in the cause of the Kingdom. Above all, that we may persevere and grow in the Holy Spirit to be transfigured more and more into God's glorious likeness as revealed in Jesus. From that will flow the true transformation of Creation and society

Isaiah 43: 19; Revelation 21:5; 1 Corinthians 2: 9; Matthew 24: 36;

2 Corinthians 3: 17 - 18; Hebrews 12: 1 - 3; Romans 8: 19 - 25

7.
“Let nothing disturb you
Let nothing alarm you.
While all things are passing'
God is unchanging.
Be patient and you will gain everything.
With God in your heart nothing is lacking.
God alone suffices.”

The “Bookmark Prayer” of Saint Teresa of Avila

John 15: 4 -5 & 9 - 17; 1 Corinthians 4: 20