Prayer for the nation

I received the following prayer request from a National Prayer Initiative yesterday (Monday). Since then rioting has spread to Birmingham. Please pray for peace on the streets of every town and city in the nation - including of course Ipswich...

Liz Beaton

During this holiday season we have been encouraging Christians not to go on "spiritual holiday". We the Church CANNOT switch off.

We have observed a second night of rioting and chaos on some of the streets of London this weekend - homes and businesses destroyed leaving people without any where to live and without jobs. Several communities have been affected including Tottenham, Brixton, Enfield, Islington and Walthamstow.

At a time when resources are reduced, homes and jobs are hard to find, clearly this is only going to add to the problems. Police cars and emergency vehicles have been destroyed and it is our communities that will foot the bill.

Many Police Officers who themselves are struggling with the same issues have now found themselves on the front lines of this outrageous violent rioting and looting. Many have been injured (35 at the last count) and many criticised.

Please pray:

Thank God for the Churches and Street Pastors already working in those communities.
The Church will arise fully into all God has called it to be within those communities.
Salvation for those who are leading these gangs.
Wisdom and strategy for those who have to manage these communities.
Those who would violently arise in other towns and cities will not have the opportunity to do so.
The root of these activities in people's lives to be touched by the love, mercy and peace of God.
For healthy recovery to those people and communities left traumatised by the violence.

Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places....... Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and daughters, your wives and your homes. Nehemiah 4:13-14