Prayer of Encouragement for 31 December
Deacon Arlene Burton offers the Prayer of Encouragement for 31 December 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! We are almost in the New Year. Yeah! We made it this far with the Lord on our side. Amen! Hallelujah! May His many blessings and favour run you down as you head into 2022. I said 2022. Wow! Thank you, God. What has the year 2021 been like for you?
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. Please note that the Encouragement and Prayer will be sent on Fridays only as I will be working on another mandate.
You know, I went to the “country” for the Christmas holidays, as previously stated. It was raining and the place was muddy. On the first day, I fell flat on my back. I felt it in my head. However, I am okay, nothing torn or broken. So I got up and moved on to sort some things out. I told my mother and our assistant at home and they said that it has also happened to them a few times.
As I reflected on what happened with the fall, my thoughts rolled into the idea of us faltering as children of God. We are not perfect human beings so now and again if we check ourselves, we have faltered or even fallen. Yes, Jesus is making intercession for our sins but do we just press on and not acknowledge our sins? I recalled John saying, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NIV).
The apostle John seemed to understand thoughts and behaviour. Having made that statement in verse 9, he went on to say, do not even think you have no sin. Hey! Hey! “If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:9, NIV).
When I told my mom and our assistant about my fall in the “country”, and they agreed that it happened to them as well, I felt some assurance. I felt like others understood. Another thing, my mom and I had a disagreement which was upsetting for me but I had to check my reaction and tone down though I promise you, I did nothing wrong. Still, she is my mother and I have to always remind myself that I am required to honour her, regardless. At times it is not easy, especially when you know that you are right. Interestingly, I was speaking with a friend of mine about it and he had a similar encounter with his mom.
God has a way of setting us up. A few days after returning to Kingston I had to provide counsel to someone who had some serious mommy problems. I mean really serious to the point where the person had to seek help. Our experiences are certainly not wasted when God is in them. We have to be prepared to humble ourselves. I find that when we share our testimonies, we realize that others have similar experiences. It helps them and us. So we experience freedom, a power of overcoming. Eh! Yeah!
As we are about to face another year, let us reflect on 2021 and what it has brought to us. Are there relationships that you need to mend? Are there situations that you need to adjust or correct? What do you need to do? Do you need help to deal with some issues? Think bout it, chat bout it, and, do something about it.
Let us pray:
Our heavenly Father, hallowed be Thy name. We thank You for Your mercies and Your grace. We thank You for Your unconditional love, Your provisions, Your peace and Your goodness. Lord, we thank You for provisions, sustenance and protection. Lord, we thank You for keeping us in our right minds. We also acknowledge Your infinite greatness, Your omnipotence, Your omniscience and Your omnipresence as critical to our functioning. We thank You for Your blessed Holy Spirit who guides and counsels us along the way. Lord, we thank You.
We will extol You, Lord, at all times. Your praise will always be on our lips. We will glory in You, Lord. Let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me. Let us exalt His name together. In 2021, we sought the Lord and he answered us. He delivered us from our fears. Those of us who look to him are radiant. Our faces are never covered with shame.
Father, we come in the name of Jesus Christ asking that you cleanse us from all unrighteousness and forgive all of our sins. Grant us the heart and will to forgive those who trespass against us. Lord, cause it that we are not led into temptation. Deliver us from all evil. Let not evil rule in our lives but counsel us, and guard our thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours. Lord, comfort our hearts and heal our hurts/brokenness.
Lord, saturate our hearts and minds with words and songs of deliverance so that we do not fear. Restore us as individuals, families, communities, Churches and our country as a whole. Help us to see the need to protect those who are vulnerable especially our children, those who are incapacitated in one way or other and not allow evil to lead us into abusing them.
Lord, we pray for all the leaders of 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.
We also lift up to You those among us who are in business: Ewan and Maxine Oliver; Lanna and Desmond Bennett; Warrick Bogle, Carol and Leroy Blake, Marcia Leair, Robert and Bevelin Smith, Paulette Dixon, Kemorine and Karl Henry, Ava Comrie, Catherine Barkley and husband, Cornel Richards and family, Everton Lewis, Pauline and Mark Garvey, Brother Astley Hall, Maxine and Benedict Ranger, Melva Knight, Nicole Fender, Sharon Baldie, Karl Jones and others.
We also pray for the frontline workers connected with GMC: Medical Doctors: Asana Anderson Wilks and Rohan Wilks, Kahlete Falloon, Tina Kong, Vernon Jones, Leighton Logan; Esther Reynolds, Medical student-Gabrielle Channer; Dentists: Dania Jones, Eleanor Reynolds; Pharmacists: Sandra Bucknor-Jones, Viveen Watson; other doctors and nurses from GMC or in connection with members and adherents of GMC who are working on the frontline (for example Dr Richard Reynolds) and their families.
Lord, we continue to keep in prayer Sister Jhenelle Black who is pursuing further studies in Dentistry in the United Kingdom (UK). We thank God for the kind of break that she gets at this time.
Lord, we present to you those among us who are on the usual sick and shut-in list, as well as Sisters Nicole Evans, Kadene Stewart, Iris Lawrence, Valerie Smellie, 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; Brother George Gabbidon, Brother Lloyd Trusty and his niece Deloree, Sister Dawn Ashley’s parents and aunt, Mr Delorn Dixon (Sister Rachael Dixon’s husband).
Lord, we lift up to You every member or family member, adherent, and visitor associated with GMC as we face another year. Lord, we thank You for healing, strength, support, comfort and peace, hope. Help us to reflect on Your goodness to us. Lord, cause it that those who do not know You as Lord and Saviour, open their hearts and receive You before it is too late, in Jesus’ name we pray with thanksgiving.
Amen.
Our Prayers of Encouragement are for everyone. Therefore, please contact us with your request if you also need prayer or comfort. We would be so very happy to share with you.
Grace Missionary Church is a member of The Missionary Church Association in Jamaica.
