Click here to download the Prayer Guide
Ascension Day 2021
REACH-SA Prayer Guide
Praise
The Lord reigns,let the nations tremble;He sits enthroned between the cherubim,let the earth shake.Great is the Lord in Zion;
He is exalted over all the nations.Let them praise Your great and awesome name
He is holy. (Psalm 99:1-3)
Jesus reigns on the throne of Heaven. Praise God for who he is and for what he has accomplished for us. Sing songs that help us remind each other of how great our God is and how Jesus reigns as King over all the nations.
Confession and Repentance
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
(Psalm 32:5)
Come before the Lord in confession and repentance.
Pray for God to be merciful to us and to pour out his Spirit to bring about real repentance among His people.
Ask the Lord to shine the light of His Word into our hearts and empower us to change and grow ever more into Christlike members of His family.
Commit before the Lord to pursue reconciliation and unity with estranged brothers and sisters in Christ.
Thanksgiving
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;give thanks to him and praise his name.For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:4,5)
Give thanks to the Lord for his unchanging love and faithfulness. We see his enduring love in the salvation accomplished for us in Christ. Jesus is God’s love to sinners like us.
Take time to thank and praise God for the many kindnesses He has shown in your life, even through the trials, our God is good.
Petitions
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:18)
1. Our Country
Heavenly Father, we lift up to you our land and its government. We ask you to give our leaders wisdom and resolve to do what is right and best for all her people. Give our president and his cabinet ability to lead rightly within the current COVID crisis.
We pray for all emergency service and medical workers, that you will continue to strengthen and protect them in their task.
We ask that you comfort all who mourn over the loss of loved ones.
We pray also for the many who have lost employment over this time. Please unite your people in caring for all in need, showing the love of Christ in word and action. We ask all in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Passages for reflection: Nehemiah 9; Romans 13:1-7
2. Our Churches
Our Gracious God and Heavenly Father. We pray for all your people and for the strengthening of faith through this time of unusual trial. We pray for the many who are struggling with mental and physical health issues. We ask that you give courage and peace to those who are feeling despondent and anxious.
We pray for all pastors and leaders in our churches. Give them wisdom and insight to implement effective gospel centred initiatives in these difficult days. Help all of us to keep Kingdom priorities in mind and not to be distracted and disillusioned by the trends and trials of our times.
Father, please pour out your Spirit upon your Church. Make Your people heralds of the Gospel in all their words and actions. Give true peace in our time through the Prince of Peace. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Passages for reflection: Ephesians 3:14-21; Philippians 1:3-11
3. Our Mission
Almighty God, we pray for you to complete the work you have given to your church.
We pray for our Bishops and all national leadership. May they be united in their Kingdom purpose and turn from tolerating any divisive or worldly agendas. Give them vision and passion to persevere in the work of the gospel through these days of trial.
We lift up to you all our churches. We pray for ongoing resources to provide the needs of faithful gospel workers. Open doors for the message of Christ and grow your church across our land.
We pray for George Whitefield College, that they will continue to equip gifted ministry candidates as they hold to sound Reformed Evangelical Anglican Theology. Strengthen the work of our faculty and staff and bring Kingdom fruit from their work.
Please raise up passionate patrons for the work of the gospel. Lord of all the Harvest, raise up workers and people to provide for them as they serve Christ in the ministry.
We pray for all our missionaries and their families. Please sustain them in their task and give them fruitful labour.
Father help us all to see what role we can play in playing our part in the prayers we have prayed. We ask all these things in the name of our precious saviour, Jesus Christ.
Passages for reflection: Psalm 2; Colossians 4:2-6; Titus 2