24/7 Prayer
24/7 began at midday on Sunday 20 September 2009 and finished at midday on Sunday 27 September.
We have been really thrilled with the stories coming back to us from the prayer room, many unwritten. Below we are pleased to reproduce some of the prayer log. If you have further prayers or stories we should love to add them to this record. The week has blessed Stuart and myself (John Callaghan) and challenged us as we step out in faith. If the same has been true for you why not drop us a line.
Best wishes to you all as the Church of Christ in Petersfield chooses to walk together in seeking first the Kingdom of God.
You may borrow the Prayer Logbook which contains prayers from the 24/7 Prayer in September 2009 and the 24/1 prayer in January 2010. Contact John Callaghan: vice.chair@pact.org.uk.
See photographs of the 24/7 week
Download the thoughts, comments and prayers that were recorded during the week (pdf file - 5 pages)
Below we reproduce some of the thoughts, comments and prayers that were recorded during the week:
Introduction to the Prayer Log Book:
Please add thoughts, prayers, visions and Bible verses.
Our prayers this week will start with a focus on the unity of all Christians in Petersfield. Jesus prayed for us that we might be one.
May God richly bless you as you spend time with him.
- We pray for all the nations of the world, for revelation of the glory of God, your Gospel to be preached to all nations. Wisdom to all world leaders, to work together, trust, hope, love one another. World peace, harmony, no more greed or prejudice. We bid world debt, western greed. We pray you would bind spiritual blindness and deception. WE pray for your Gospel to reach the ends of the earth. For all who hear your word to put it into practice to do what you say God. Choose God, not worldly ways, but God's ways.
- Father God, we live in relative peace and security with plenty of your provisions. We bring before your throne those who live daily in poverty of things, of food and of your love. In so many countries people remain unfed and unloved. Father help us to respond.
- All the nations you have made shall come and bow down before you, O Lord and shall glorify you name. For you are great and do wonderful things: you alone are God. Psalm 86 verses 9 and 10.
- You have the keys to the Kingdom. Whatever you bless will be blessed. Heal the sick, bind up the broken hearted.
- Dear Father God, Please open the eyes of us, your children, to see the people around us in Petersfield who are broken and in chains (addictions of many kinds). May we meet them with love, friendship and guidance through your Holy Spirit.
- Thank you Father, for belonging to the church is Petersfield. We are so blessed! We can do far more together. Lord unit our hearts.
- How good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity. It is like the precious oil on the head running down the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down the collar of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon which falls on the mountains of zion for there the Lord ordained his blessing. Psalm 133.
- Now let the church shine as your bride, that you saw in your heart as you offered up your life. Let now the lost be welcomed home by the saved and redeemed, those adopted as your own.
- I commit to you children who have witnessed abuse and violence in their lives that has damaged them. Lord you have the power to change situations and heal them - I ask this of you.
- The ears of God
In the silence
The voices of the world are heard
Some in freedom
Laugh and joke
And praise the Lord
Some scream in silent fear
Not knowing if they will be alive come the dawn
Other whisper in groups, afraid of being caught
As they struggle to find freedom and a better life
The children whose eyes plead for food and water
The elderly who wait to die
And spouses, shaking with emotion
As they try to stop
Without the will to which they have been married for 50 years
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- For in one spirit we were all baptised into one body ... now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 1 Corinthians chapter 12.
- Steps to revival: Realising that we are the people of God's presence and so becoming a people of Bible-based prayer. When we next organise a 24/7 Prayer Room there will be no problem to fill all the prayer slots and there are several people from all the different congregations eager to pray at any given time. And one day a 24/7 Prayer Room will no longer be required because this town will be covered in prayer 365 days and nights. Christians will not just gather in houses and churches but outside, on the streets, at work, on the play ground. The church will be seen as relevant and vital for the life of the community and more and more people will want to find out about their Creator and Saviour.
- Thank you Lord that we are all special in our own way. Thank you that we are all one big family, brothers and sisters, children of God. You are love, you never give up on us, you never leave us. Thank you.
- I ... beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. Ephesians chapter 4 verses 1 to 5.
I pray PACT will build on the unity of the Spirit, keep practicing unity through prayer, through God's unchanging word and the bonds of love and the Spirit. Come and command your blessing Lord God, as your brothers and sisters live together in unity in this community, let your kingdom come, let your will be done. - Thank you Lord, for the Spirit of Peace that has been in this place this week.
- While I was here, a visitor popped his head round the door. After explaining what it's about, I thought that there's no harm in the Prayer Room being empty some times, because maybe God wants strangers to come in.
- I see the great need in Petersfield is a release from the "prison" of materialism. Let us ignore the advertisers who tell us "This is a must-have" or "You're worth it" and set our minds on more eternal issues. We pray, Lord, that people who choose to ignore you here may soon realise their need and find Christ as Saviour.
- I pray for those outside the church who are looking for Jesus but don't know or can't find the way. Show us the way, Lord, through your Holy Spirit, to open doors and let your people in.
- This morning, I found the church locked as we hadn't been praying during the night. So, as I was praying outside, I thought of the many people who feel shut out of church. Then I looked up at one of the stained glass windows. The light was shining out so I could see the pictures, but the writing was backwards. From my point of view it might just as well have been in Russian. I think we're still very inward looking, aren't we? However, outside with me was Jesus on the cross.
- We pray for God's healing to those in need - the bullied, the poor, those who are sick in body or mind, the disabled, those who feel that have to sense of belonging - comfort them Oh Lord.
....................................................................................................................................................................................... top of this page - Prayer 24//7 Petersfield: God's people doing business with God! I sense God wanting us to pray and break bread and listen to him more together. God has a vision for this town, he wants his name to be proclaimed afresh to this generation.
- Dear Lord we pray that you will empower the 'Body of Christ' in petersfield to shine brightly in the darkest parts of our town so that all peoples will know that you are God and that many will be saved through knowing this truth.
- The church is the Lord's sanctuary
A sanctuary is a place which guarantees peace from fear
Why then do you lock your doors
There are voices crying out for sanctuary and a better life
Why then do deny people access to the love of God
Refugees and asylum seekers are turned away - the borders have just got large
There is everything here - homes, food, a welfare system
And we deny people seeking what we take for granted - the basics that sustain life
Jesus said "I stand at the door and knock". - Have you not known? Have you not heard? the Lord is the everlasting GOD, the creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint and strength to the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary and the young will will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah chapter 40 verses 28 to 31.
- Pray green prayers for our planet Earth. For solidarity across the nations and people to walk together to keep God's world beautiful, healthy and abundant for all.
- Praise our God all you his servant and all who fear him, small and great. You are worthy, our Lord and God to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things and by your will the existed and were created.
I was led to spend my hour in praise to the Lord. Our unity flows from our relationship with Him, the one who died for our sins - rose again and is exalted at the right hand of the father. - I pray to he Heavenly Father, His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to be the "Sun of our night, lamp of our days". I ask this is the name of everyone in our parish.
....................................................................................................................................................................................... top of this page - Lord, O that more could experience the quiet and stillness of your house, feel your presence and see beyond the everyday things of their world. May PACT help us achieve this.
- I have found no division among the laity of different denominations. We must therefore pray that the ordained hierarchy can discover a way forward for themselves.
I am sure that our sins of omission are much greater than those of commission. Where are the giants of sloth and spiritual pride?
But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control. There is no law against such things as these. Galatians chapter 5 verses 22 and 23. - This is a place of Peace and God's presence, may it go out into our streets and filter into every home. Lord make your Glory be known by all - may hearts be turned to you and Jesus reign in this beautiful part of your creation.
- I pray that all of the churches in PACT may concentrate on their community and try to lessen their differences.
We are, together, saved through the blood of Jesus, we have our sins forgiven, we are "new creations", each of us is a light to the world - together we could be a lighthouse to our town.
Help us Heavenly Father to be a beacon of your love to Petersfield.
"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that here may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought" 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 10. - Light of the World thank you, you shine all day and all night. Whilst we sleep your love and care continues. Jesus your death on that cross should convince us once and forever that we don't need to be anxious or afraid.
- Thank you Father, for letting us know you more.
- What an experience, what a privilege, thank you Father - I pray that Petersfield will become a BEACON in Hampshire.
- This is a real, tangible opportunity for the Church together in Petersfield to pray together for our town, people etc. Let's do it again!
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- I see this 24/7 room as an incubator, God our heavenly father is brooding over special eggs that he wants hatched here. To bring those things, those dreams, plans from God an allow him to warm them with his love and birth them with his power.
In Jesus name, through prayer and then action.