Grace Community Church, Tipton

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Prayer

1. Take a moment to turn back to God for any specific way that you’ve fallen into one of the sinful ways of thinking from Job 32-37 (thinking God is not speaking to you, that He’s unjust, that following Him is pointless or that He’s not up to running this universe). Trust His grace to you in Jesus!
2. Prayer for Christians suffering in Sri Lanka:
   A house church was attacked by a 40-strong mob of Hindu extremists in Batticaloa district, eastern Sri Lanka, on Sunday 19 July. The mob broke into the Jesus’ Witness church in Chenkalady town at 9 a.m., during a worship service. They beat the pastor and his wife, who sustained a minor injury. The pastor’s father, mother-in-law and other Christians attending the service were also violently assaulted. Christians make up 8% of Sri Lanka’s population and they are frequently harassed and attacked by extremists from other religious communities. The majority of the population is Buddhist, Hindus make up 14% and Muslims 9%.
   https://news.barnabasfund.org/Church-attacked--pastor-and-congregation-beaten-by-Hindu-extremist-mob-in-Sri-Lanka/
3. Pray for poor believers in Pakistan who are discriminated against and for whom life has become more difficult with Covid-19 restrictions on businesses.
   For example: Ameen Masih was burnt to death by angry Muslims in Sialkot, Pakistan, in April 2017. Ameen, a Christian, had bought some electronic equipment by instalments. As a hosiery worker, he had only a small salary, and one month he was unable to pay the instalment that was due. The Muslim shopkeepers came to Ameen’s home, beat him with cricket bats and locked him in his own house. That night the house burnt down, with Ameen inside it. Ameen’s wife Rakhal and their three children had taken refuge in Rakhal’s brother’s house before the angry shopkeepers arrived. So they survived, although deeply traumatised.
   Like so many Pakistani Christians, Rakhal’s wages were very low and she could not support the children without Ameen’s earnings. She took a loan but could not pay it back. Terrified, Rakhal and the children remembered what had happened to Ameen when he could not pay the money he owed. Barnabas Fund stepped in to pay off her loan and give her a monthly food package. “I never thought that God would help me through His people,” said Rakhal. Even during Covid lockdown, when the factory she works at was closed, she has been able to feed her children, without stress or worry.
   https://news.barnabasfund.org/providing-for-the-persecuted--help-feed-suffering-christians-in-pakistan/
   
4. Pray for someone (else!) at church who you know is in need. That might be because of health issues or because of caring for someone or because of loneliness. If you want a prayer to pray, why not turn Romans 8:28-30 into your own prayer for them?

Oh, how deep are the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable are his judgments, and his paths are beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?

From him and through him and for him are all things. And to him be the glory forever!
Amen.

Something for this week ahead!