TEARFUND PRAYER DIARY FEBRUARY 2017
Houses of prayer: 5 – 11 February
This week, join us in praying alongside Christiansacross the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. Two'Houses of Prayer' have recently been establishedthere – groups of families who meet together ineach other's homes twice a week to seek God.
Sunday 5 February
Pray for the nation of Pakistan, where Tearfundhas been working since 1973. Tearfund worksthrough partners in the country on issues rangingfrom disasters to education, preventing drugaddiction and providing theological training. Prayfor our partners as they work to support localchurches and other Christian groups to meet theneeds of their communities.
Monday 6 February
'Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold thecause of the poor and the oppressed.' Psalm 82:3
Recently one House of Prayer was able to use itsresources to support the children of a localorphanage with clothing and bedding. Praise Godfor this, and ask for more opportunities for theHouses of Prayer to serve their local communities.
Tuesday 7 February
'Let all who take refuge in you be glad; let themever sing for joy. Spread your protection overthem, that those who love your name mayrejoicein you.' Psalm 5:11
Pray for the safety of the Houses of Prayer acrossIslamabad and beyond, that families andcommunities can continue to meet together freelyto encourage and bless one another.
Wednesday 8 February
'From them will come songs of thanksgiving andthe sound of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers,and they will not be decreased; I will bring themhonour, and they will not be disdained.' Jeremiah30:19Pray for the training that took place lastSeptember, that aimed to equip and support theHouses of Prayer as they look to divide andmultiply.
Thursday 9 February
'But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first ofall pure; then peace-loving, considerate,submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartialand sincere.' James 3:17
Pray that church leaders in Pakistan would beencouraged and equipped with wisdom as theyconsider how to expand and progress the conceptand mission of Houses of Prayer.
Friday 10 February
'Let us then approach God's throne of grace withconfidence, so that we mayreceive mercy and findgrace to help us in our time of need.' Hebrews 4:16
Pakistan is susceptible to natural disastersincluding, floods, landslides and earthquakes, aswell as man-made humanitarian emergencies.Pray that through our partners' work on disasterpreparedness, the impact of any futureemergencies upon the most vulnerable would beminimised.
Saturday 11 February
Dear Lord, we ask for your blessing on Pakistanand for protection against disasters and conflict.Please bless, encourage and strengthen theHouses of Prayer and local churches throughoutthe country. We pray that they will be a source ofsalt and light for people during times of trouble andparticularly for those facing the challenges ofpoverty. Amen.
Supporting Southern Africa: 12 – 18 February
Over the last two years, the El Nino and La Ninaweather cycles have had devastating impactaround the globe. Parts of Ethiopia and Somalia,and much of southern Africa, have particularly feltthe challenge of disrupted weather patterns. Theyhave faced long periods of drought and severeflooding – which damages crops and causes hugefood shortages. Across Southern Africa, 40 millionpeople are estimated to be in need ofhumanitarian assistance, 23 million of theserequire immediate humanitarian assistance tosurvive. This has been challenging for countriessuch as Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe,where Tearfund works, whose people aresmallholder farmers, dependent on what they cangrow.
Sunday 12 February
The majority of people in Mozambique, Malawiand Zimbabwe are dependent on the crops theycan grow or the animals they can raise. Thismakes it hard to recover when drought or floodinghappens. Ask God to provide for their needs,particularly families facing severe malnutrition.
Monday 13 February
The governments of these countries, and theinternational community are trying to help peoplesurvive, and have declared the crop failure anemergency. Because the whole region has beenaffected, they can't rely on buying grain from otherneighbouring countries, which they have been ableto in the past. Pray for governments to prioritisethe needs of the poorest people.
Tuesday 14 February
Tearfund partner projects, through initiatives suchas self-help groups, are helping communities bemore resilient to shocks and stresses like long-
term weather pattern changes. Praise God forself-help groups, which help people save andincrease assets, and provide a place of support,encouragement and learning.
Wednesday 15 February
Foundations for Farming, a form of conservationagriculture taught in many communities across theregion, has been helping farmers improve theiryields. Because the technique uses less water ithas helped farmers to keep growing their crops forlonger. Thank God that many farmers have foundhope through the Foundations for Farmingtechnique.
Thursday 16 February
Our partners in Mozambique, Malawi andZimbabwe are taking action in many different waysto help communities, but they have limitedresources. So please pray they make wisedecisions and are able to support families whoneed the most help.
Friday 17 February
'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obeymy commands, I will send you rain in its season,and the ground will yield its crops and the treestheir fruit.' Leviticus 26:3-4
Pray for Christian farmers across Southern Africawho are facing drought this year.
Saturday 18 February
Dear Lord, we pray for these weather patternswhich are causing challenges for the lives of somany, especially the poorest of the poor. We askyou to be their provider, and meet their dailyneeds. Amen.
Bringing peace in Mali: 19– 25 February
Despite a peace agreement signed with armedgroups in June 2015, violence continues in Maliwith some areas still inaccessible to thegovernment and to many charitable andhumanitarian organisations, including Tearfund.This week we pray for a speedy and responsibleimplementation of this peace agreement so thatthe vulnerable in the population can be reached toreceive the support they need.
Sunday 19 February
Despite the presence of international armedforces, regular attacks in northern Mali continue toincrease instability in major cities such as Kidal,Gao and Timbuktu. This also threatens the stabilityof the central regions of Mopti and Ségou. Praythat peace will be restored in northern Mali andattacks on innocent people will end.
Monday 20 February
There are clear signs of an entrenchment ofradical Islam in the north and parts of centralMali – particularly in the Ségou and Mopti regions.The success of recent attacks in Mopti and Ségoushow these groups have powerful networks withinthe local communities. Pray that God will protectfamilies under threat.
Tuesday 21 February
Our partners carry out incredible work invulnerable communities, reaching out with God'slove to the poorest people. Christian are a tinyminority in Mali, so the vast majority of ourpartner's work is in communities where there is nochurch presence. Pray for Tearfund partners asthey bring the love of Christ to communities, oftenrisking their own lives in the process.
Wednesday 22 February
Because the work of our partners is so highlyregarded, they are increasingly accepted incommunities. Pray that God will protect ourpartners and strengthen them to continue andfurther develop their work. Pray that new work willbe blessed and that partner staff will be kept safe.
Thursday 23 February
Pray for Christians in Mali who are persecutedbecause of their faith. Aziz Sidibe, employed byTearfund in Mali, faces persecution for giving hislife to Jesus. Aziz was born into a Muslim family,but chose to follow Jesus while attending a churchcommunity training course in Ségou. Lift up Aziswhose family – apart from his mother – haverejected him.
Friday 24 February
Aziz now lives on his own and is determined tofollow Jesus despite being rejected by his family.He attends biblical devotions with the Tearfundstaff in Mali whenever he works. Aziz also attends
Sunday services and Bible studies at the localchurch to grow in his faith. Pray for Aziz, and manylike him, who face daily persecution.
Saturday 25 February
Everlasting Father, thank you for holding the wholeworld in your hands. You are a sovereign God andwe thank you for reigning supreme. Your wordsays about your son, 'He is before all things, andin him all things hold together' (Colossians 1:17).We, your children, say Amen.
Tearfund Prayer Diary February 2017 –