Hillside Methodist Church
PRAYER DIARY SEPTEMBER 2020
[The Bible verses in italics are from NIV]
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” Hebrews 13:8 The world has changed in ways we could not have even imagined at the beginning of the year. Our lives have changed and the new normal is replacing what we had taken for granted – we see face masks instead of smiles when we pass people in the street. Hugging a friend can be seen as a sign of not caring rather than affection. But God has not changed. None of what we are going through is taking Him by surprise or is beyond His capacity to deal with. Let us remember that as we pray this month.
Tuesday 1st. Pray for the Church of Christ throughout the world that in this time of change it may preach of the unchanging God to a frightened world. Pray that it may show Christ to the world. “In the same way let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and praise your Father in heaven” Matthew 5:16
Wednesday 2nd: Pray today for the unity of the Church that the different branches may build each other up and encourage each other in these difficult times. “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity” Psalm 133:1
Thursday 3rd The wives of the Bulawayo District Ministers are scheduled to have an outing from the 1st to the 4th. Pray for the ministers’ wives (and husbands) today. They have heavy burdens to bear and have to share the time and energy of their spouse with the whole congregation. “Come to me, all you that are weary and burdened and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28
Friday 4th Pray for our ministers today: Rev. Phiri, Rev. Sibanda and Rev. James. May they be blessed as they do the work that God has called them to do. “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it” Luke 11:28
Saturday 5th Pray for Christians throughout the world who are being persecuted for their faith today. May they know God’s presence with them. “Though I walk in the midst of trouble you preserve my life; you stretch our your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me” Psalm 138:7
Sunday 6th Thank God for His written word. As we read His word, or hear it being read to us today, let us thank Him that His word is eternal. Let us allow the unchanging word to comfort us in these changing times. “All men are like grass and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever” 1 Peter 1:24-25
Monday 7th: There are thousands of orphans and vulnerable children in our country. Pray for them and for those who are trying to care for them – elder siblings, grandmothers, aunts. Pray for organizations that are helping them. “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows is God in his holy dwelling” Psalm 68:5
Tuesday 8th The third term was due to start today. Pray for teachers and students, especially any known to you, as they struggle with teaching and learning in these times. Pray also for those students who are having little or no access to learning. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you” Psalm 32:8
Wednesday 9th Pray for World Leaders today as they have to make and have had to make difficult decisions. It is easy to say now what they should have done and criticize their mistakes. It is difficult to say what they should do next as there are so many different opinions. Pray that they will turn to God for true wisdom and that He will lead them to wise decisions. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” Proverbs 9:10
Thursday 10th Pray today for the political leaders in Zimbabwe. Pray that they may know that God is watching them and that ultimately they are answerable to him. “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees” Isaiah 10:1
Friday 11th Conference is due to start today. Pray that there may be fruitful discussions and wise decisions made. Pray for the safety for all those at Conference. Pray that Christ may be supreme in this conference. “And he(Christ) is the head of the body, the church, he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” Colossians 1:18
Saturday 12th The Circuit Music Convention is due to be held today. Methodism is associated with music. Let us pray for all those in our circuit who involved in the music ministry, especially those who make sure that we have music in our services each week. Thank God for the faithfulness of them. “Sing joyfully to the Lord you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him” Psalm 33:1
Sunday 13th Youth in Action week starts today. Let us thank God for the young people in our church. They must wonder if there is a future for them. Pray that they may grow closer to God through these difficult and changing times and learn to trust him more. “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12
Monday 14th Pray for your family today. Pray especially for those who are far away and whom you cannot see without electronic media. “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other” Genesis 31:49
Tuesday 15th Pray for fellowship groups today, those that are meeting on line or in small groups and those that have not met at all for many months. Pray that the relationships they built up will not be lost in these times. If you belong to a group pray for each person in that group today. “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Wednesday 16th Pray for your friends today, especially any that you know are facing difficult times or who are anxious, troubled and depressed. “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well” 3 John 2
Thursday 17th Pray for the many people who are suffering from Covid-19 today, including the many who have ‘recovered’ but are still suffering from the effects of the disease. Pray that they would know that God is with them at this time. “So, do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:10
Friday 18th Pray for anyone known to you who is unwell. Pray that they may feel the Lord’s love today and that He will heal them in the way He knows is best for them. “ The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness” Psalm 41:3
Saturday 19th The local preachers are due to be writing their exams in Matopo today. Pray for all the local preachers and pray particularly for those writing exams or studying. ”O Lord save us; O Lord grant us success” Psalm 118:25
Sunday 20th . Thank God today that he knows what we are going through and it is because he knows that he can help and heal us. “ He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering….. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon him and by his wounds we are healed” Isaiah 53: 3 and 5
Monday 21st Pray for the many destitute and homeless today. Pray for those who do not know where there next meal is coming from. Ask God to bring about changes that will bring about lasting solutions to these problems instead of helping for one day. “Who is like you O Lord? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.” Psalm 35:10
Tuesday 22nd Pray for the bereaved and any who are grieving a loss today that they may know God’s comfort. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” Psalm 147:3
Wednesday 23rd Pray today for those who do not yet know Christ. Pray that the Church may use these times to reach out to those who are searching. Pray for anyone you know who has not yet accepted Christ. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” Matthew 28:19
Thursday 24th Pray for Bulawayo today. Pray for the Mayor and his Councilors that they will make wise and fair decisions. Pray for the terrible water crisis that is facing Bulawayo. Pray that God will be merciful and send good rains this year and also pray that a long term solution for the water problems is found. “Again he prayed and the heavens gave rain and the earth produced its crops. James 5: 18
Friday 25th Pray for all those who are entrusted with keeping the peace and ensuring that justice prevails in Zimbabwe, including the police, the military, magistrates and judges. “Consider carefully what you do because you are not judging for man but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict.” 2 Chronicles 19:6
Saturday 26th As well as the corona virus, there have been wildfires, floods, earthquakes, snowstorms, landslides and tornadoes this year. Wars are still continuing. There are so many people suffering. There is so little we can do but place them in God’s hands. Let us do so today. Choose one nation or problem and bring it before God. “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wing until the disaster has passed.” Psalm 57:1
Sunday 27th Let us thank God that He is the Lord over all the nations. Whatever is happening in the world He has the final say. “Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts” Psalm 46:6
Monday 28th Pray for those who are feeling abandoned or lonely today. Those living alone may feel particularly isolated at this time when social visiting and social gatherings are so restricted. Pray for any who are feeling hopeless and despairing and who can see no way out of the problems they are in. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
Tuesday 29th The elderly people are also facing great difficulties in our country at the moment. There are many elderly people in our congregation. Pray that they may know God’s unchanging care for them. “They will still bear fruit in their old age: they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming ’The Lord is upright; he is my Rock and there is no wickedness in him’” Psalm 92:14-15
Wednesday 30th As we come to the end of the month let us remember that God is in control. Our part is to trust in Him and obey Him. Let us be still before Him and pray that our eyes may be fixed on Him always. “ Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10
The Hillside Methodist Church Prayer Diary can also be emailed to you (if you just ask). There is usually a print edition, which would be distributed at the door of the church on the last Sunday before the beginning of the month.
The Prayer Diary has changed its format this month:
it is no longer constrained by the space available on a sheet of A4 paper, because we are not making a printed edition for the foreseeable future.
