Week of Prayer 
Monday 11th - 17th January 2021 


Prayer slots are available from 00:00 midnight on Sunday 10th night/Monday 11th morning for 7 days

Please use the link below to sign up to an hour prayer slot. 
https://www.24-7prayer.com/signup/5711c4

You can sign-up individually, as a couple, group or family.
 
Here are some Prayer Guides that might help:

60-Minute Lord's Prayer Guide
Coronavirus Prayer Guide 
Prayer Spaces at Home Guide for families.
Fasting Guide

The following thoughts have been shared this week...

Relationship between Jesus commanding the 5,000 to sit down on the green grass and Psalm 23, “He makes me lie down in green pastures”. This passage jumped out to me when I read it recently and felt it relevant to us in this time. He makes us lie down and restores our souls.
 
Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. –
Mark 6:39
 
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 
3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 
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.
Psalms 23:1-6
 
Steve R
 
I was drawn to Revelation 2:8-11, not sure of the exact significance for this season but praying God will bring it out through other words or people.
 
Patrick
 
Like the dashboards we see on the BBC with daily numbers for COVID infection rate, hospital admissions and deaths, I saw a dashboard for people turning to God. The counters were instead of deaths - represented the number of lives given to God. Instead of mental health challenges, it represented victories through Christ. God is on the move globally it feels and COVID won't stop it. 
 
The numbers were growing and being added to every second. 
 
Rick
 
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27
 
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6
 
Erik & Garine
 
In this time of pandemic, we may feel that the church has been closed. It has not. It will not.  It cannot.  Jesus said to Peter "on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall NOT prevail against it" Mathew 16:18. Though those words were spoken to Peter, we are part of that same church.  The buildings may be closed, but Christ's church is not and cannot be closed.
 
Alan
 
Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands.
Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger.
Zephaniah 2:3
 
Which leads to:
Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.
Psalm 57:1
 
Daf
 
“All the days of the afflicted are bad, But a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of the circumstances]. Better is a little with the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the LORD Than great treasure and trouble with it.”
Proverbs 15:15-16 AMP
 
“And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.”
2 Corinthians 9:8 AMP
 
Andre & Litzia
 
The word I got was 'truth' with a picture of a beautiful drop of water.
[I have my interpretation of what that means, but want to follow Ben's instruction of not embellishing]
 
And this scripture
"comfort, oh comfort my people", says your God
Isaiah 40:1-2
....
I was really drawn to these verses:-
"a voice says, 'Shout!' I said what shall I shout?'[....]Climb a high mountain, Zion. You're a preacher of good news. Raise your voice. Make it good and loud, Jerusalem. You're a preacher of good news. Speak loud and clear. Don't be timid!"
Isaiah 40: 6-8
 
Harriett
 
I had two words from God while we were praying tonight:
 
1. I felt God saying that he wants to give us a renewed faith for witnessing to family members during the pandemic.
2. We’re his sheep, he holds us in his hand. John 10:25-30.
 
Hannah
 
It was good to pray together tonight. The scripture I had was when Jesus was asked:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40
 
I had a picture of a small boat on very stormy seas battling over the waves. It was slightly drifting. I felt God saying that all we need to do in the storm is keep the most important thing first, to love God. So, if we feel we are drifting a bit, we just lift our eyes up to Him and He will keep us on track and in peace. The next thing is to love our neighbour as ourselves.  That isn’t a command to do works for every single person around us, God will show us who He wants us to show His love to when we just listen to Him. He will lead us from wherever we are.
 
I woke up this morning still feeling God’s peace from last night and knew that the “drifting” in the picture was just “doubting”, ie seeing the big stormy waves and doubting.
 
Joelle
 
?My word from God was “grow strong in your weakness” I shared with the group I was in and a couple of people looked for the scripture there were a couple of examples can’t remember where, and while they were looking I wondered aloud if I misinterpreted weakness for helplessness but either way God recognises my (our) helplessness in the situation we are in and if we cry out to Him He will make us strong. His yoke is light our burden heavy. 2 Corinthians 12: 1-10.
 
Peter G
 
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
 
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.
 
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
 
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Saviour am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
 
© Words: Public Domain
 
Litzia
 
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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
 
This was laid on my heart tonight.
Firstly, an encouragement that it is right to call us to prayer at this time.
Secondly that our unity as the Church in prayer that matters.
Thirdly God will hear our prayers and heal our land.
 
There is mention of turning from wicked ways - whilst I personally have to come back to the foot of the cross regularly, I don't think there is a message for JCC in that and I certainly don't think the pandemic is sent by God.
 
David R
 
I’m sure you’ll have lots of words and Scriptures to read through off the back of last night.
A couple from me that came from my time listening.
 
  1. I wrote in my trustee report the idea that delivering the youth work was a marathon not a sprint and that we needed to provide regular watering stations along the way for refreshing, refuelling and encouragement. This came back to me as strong picture later in the evening whilst praying. This is not new stuff that you haven’t already said, but a reminder. We pace ourselves, we are in this for the long haul, we may hit walls, but we keep going.  
  2. The Scripture that came to mind was this, such a beautiful passage:
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31
 
Ben

For those who would like to share anything from their time praying during the prayer week, please email Esther Dauncey and Stuart Otto via prayer@jcchurch.org.uk
Social Media Links:   Normal