Prayer of Encouragement for 21 November
Deacon Arlene Burton offers the Prayer of Encouragement for 21 November 2021 for our country, businesses, frontline and other workers. Deacon Burton owns the copyright to this post. We reprint here with her permission.
Hi everyone, God’s blessings and favour be upon you and your family. Just a reminder that if you or anyone you know is in need of prayer, please let us know. You can post your prayer request here on our website.
Have you ever heard the Holy Spirit saying something but did not focus on it? Have you ever seen a vision of something that the Lord shows you but tried to focus on what you were doing? Or have you ever experienced an interruption by God, even in the midst of a prayer? My hands are raised to a yes answer to all of those questions.
We were at the Church for a prayer and counselling outreach yesterday, Saturday, November 20th. We all had to stand outside of the church with our signs inviting persons for prayer and counselling because hardly anyone came through the gates. As I stood there the Lord showed me a media entity doing an interview of the event as well as the broadcast. However, I did not see anyone speaking at the forefront. Actually, right after, I saw a motor vehicle with the logo of a radio station on it but kept my focus on what we were doing.
Shortly after that, I kid you not, someone approached me and said that a person from one of our main television stations wanted to interview one of us. I kept quiet until the fingers started to point and the mouths said “You”. Immediately, I started to pray because only God knew what needed to be said and the way it needed to be said. I heard it was on the news later, but I went on to do some work at Choose Life International and did not leave until after 8 pm. So I did not see the news. I say all glory and honour to God Almighty for the coverage and thanks to Sister Dionne and the team for pushing forward the idea of such a needed event.
You know, God has a way of telling us things. I felt something different was going to happen but I was not sure. So I remained quiet. I know the signs which I started experiencing before I left home but remained quiet because, for the life of me, I am learning to remain quiet and let God work things out.
I tell you the truth, at times I feel like Gideon without the idea of sending out a fleece because of certain experiences that I have encountered over time. However, my prayer while leaving home was that God let me be who he calls me to be. Trust me, that little prayer always sets me up in some kind of way. Interestingly, I still pray in that manner.
As I thought about what happened, I reflected a little on Gideon and his response to the Lord. “When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, ‘The Lord is with you, mighty warrior’.
‘Pardon me, my lord,’ Gideon replied, ‘but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian’. (Judges 6:12-13, NIV).
Gideon was not focused on what the Lord was saying but on the current situation. So the Lord had to convince him of who He is, and the way He saw him, Gideon. The Lord turned to him and said,
“Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” (Judges 6:14-15, NIV).
Gideon got a key reminder that the Lord will be with him but he was still trying to determine if it was him God was about to use to deliver Israel. God had equipped him. He just needed for God to work through him. Yet we wonder what made it so difficult for Gideon. He was made to feel like the least among the people. You saw what he said. His clan was the weakest and he was the least in his family. Does this remind you of king David and Joseph and the list goes on?
Even then, “The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive”. Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me”.” (Judges 6:14-15, NIV).
Are you feeling like the least? What does God have to say about it? Think bout it, chat bout it, what are you going to do about it?
Let us pray:
Praise the Lord, our soul. Lord our God, You are very great. You are clothed with splendour and majesty. You wrap yourself in light as with a garment, You stretch out the heavens like a tent and lay the beams of Your upper chambers on their waters. Lord, You make the clouds Your chariot and ride on the wings of the wind. You make winds Your messengers’ flames of fire Your servants. Lord, we honour You, we magnify and glorify Your name.
We come in the name of Jesus Christ thanking You for this a new week, a new day. We thank You for waking us up to see the birth of this morning. Lord, we thank You for providing, protecting and guiding our lives as individuals, families, communities, Churches and our country as a whole.
Lord, we pray that You have mercy on us. Blot out all our transgressions, take away all of our iniquities and cleanse us from all our sins. Forgive our sins and make us worthy vessels. Help us to forgive those who wronged us.
Lord, we ask that You save us from having a criminal mindset. Purge our lives and country of the forces of criminality in every facet of our society and grant us peace, and let Your kingdom come and Your will be done.
Lord, we lift up to You the leaders in our country. We pray especially for our church leaders, the Honourable Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness, Minister of Health and Wellness, Christopher Tufton, Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Nigel Clarke, health workers and support staff, Minister of Education, Youth and the Environment, Fayval Williams; Minister of National Security, Horace Chang and his team, Minister of Justice, Delroy Chuck, and the leader of the opposition Mark Golding and his team. We also remember the judges in our congregation, Paula Blake Powell and Grace Henry McKenzie. Lord, let not evil rule over us. Grant to our leaders the wisdom and courage to do what is in our best interest. Also, grant creativity and strategies that will help us to manoeuvre through these unusual times. Protect and continue to provide for us.
Lord, we remember those who are not well, especially Deacon Loy, Sisters Nicole Evans and Kadine Stewart. We also present to you those among us who are on the usual sick and shut-in list, as well as Sisters Iris Lawrence, Merle Braham, Valerie Smellie, Mary Clarke, Cherrie Lee, Lelith James, Jennifer Nicholson, Virginia Muir, Marville (Cherry) Murray (Sister Iris Lawrence’s daughter), Janet Chen-Young, Joyce Bailey, Lucille Alexander, Jhada Graham, Cherrie Lee, Merlena Hartley Roberts (Sister Nicole Roberts Mother); Brother George Gabbidon, Brother Lloyd Trusty, Sister Dawn Ashley’s parents, Brother Danville Japp’s father, Mr. Isaiah Japp, Mr, Delorn Dixon (Sister Rachael Dixon’s husband), Brother Cornel Richards and family; and any member or family member who is in need of healing and comfort. Grant healing, strength and peace.
Lord, we continue to keep in prayer Sister Jhenelle Black who is currently studying Dentistry in the United Kingdom (UK).
Lord, we ask that You comfort the hearts and minds of those people who are mourning losses of different kinds. Saturate us with Your peace, Your presence and Your power. Help us to realise that we are overcomers and grant us victory in our circumstances.
In Jesus’ name we pray with thanksgiving.
Amen.
Our Prayers of Encouragement are for everyone. Therefore, if you also need prayer or comfort, please contact us with your request. We would gladly share with you.
Grace Missionary Church is a member of The Missionary Church Association in Jamaica.
