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“NATIONS SHALL COME TO YOUR LIGHT”

WEEKLY PRAYER GUIDEPray without ceasing.

“And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” – Isaiah 60: 3 ESV

Thank you for picking up this adaptable prayer guide, which was birthed as a companion when the pandemic restrictions began. Today, this prayer guide continues to encourage the people of God to continue to pray without ceasing, in thanksgiving and also in intercession, for the kingdom of God to come and for God’s will to be done in these difficult times. This is designed for personal, family and small groups use. You may find it helpful for running prayer meetings either online or in church, and for running virtual 24-7 prayer rooms. We have provided a framework that sets a foundation, for those who are new to prayer or those who desire to grow more intimately in prayer. It has sufficient material that will help you build up prayer stamina for one hour, and help you gain confidence in your prayers. This guide applies the PRAY mnemonic. The PRAY method is in 4 steps, spelling out the word PRAY: Pause – Rejoice – Ask – Yield.

P – Pause (Deliberately slow down as we come before His PERSON, a reminder that we are not rushing into a “tick a box” activity, but coming before the presence of God, humbling ourselves to be in a posture of listening, reflecting and repentance.)

R – Rejoice (To worship the One who is worthy of our love, a natural outflow of our time spent earlier in pause and reflection.)

A – Ask (Intercession – After the first 2 steps, we now come to ask, as our hearts are now in a better position to align with His heart and His will. )

Y – Yield (Surrendering to God all our prayers and petitions, in faith allowing Him to lead us and to speak to our hearts as we experience the joy of partnering with God for His kingdom to come.)

As this is the week of our Merdeka celebrations where we commemorate our 63rd Independence Day, our special prayer focus will be on our nation.

We give thanks to God who continues to pour His manifold blessings on our nation and prospers our land with abundant resources, peace and economic growth.

We give thanks for the wisdom bestowed on our government for steering Malaysia to be well regarded by the global community for her diversified economic structure and sound track record of macroeconomic management that has made the nation more resilient than others.

We give thanks that despite the political instability caused by weakened the political developments and manoeuvrings of coalitions, Malaysia remains peaceful and well placed to navigate through these unprecedented times brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and the global trade wars.

On this Independence Day that symbolises and recognises the freedoms of being a nation that comes with rights of citizenship and belonging, we thank God for the peace and many physical freedoms enjoyed by the peoples of this land where many have sacrificed their lives to build this nation.

As we intercede for our nation, we resolve to pray for full freedoms to be accorded to all peoples of Malaysia to enjoy; such as religious freedoms, social, educational and economic equality and fair play among races and religions, so that the symbolism of Merdeka and a free people are honoured. Let us also pray that Malaysia’s fiscal credibility and moral integrity be restored fully after years of corruption and decadence that has enriched the political elites and “the politically connected”.

May God’s truth, justice and righteousness shall be the light to guide our feet, and may peace and prosperity be the fruit that is shared by a united people. May Malaysia be a light where nations will come to seek her wisdom and beauty, and bring glory of God’s holy name and bring good, truth, justice, peace and prosperity to all its people.

SUNDAY, 30 AUGUST 2020

24th ISSUE – MERDEKA CELEBRATION

AN INVITATION TO THANKSGIVING AND TO

PERSEVERE IN PRAYER

For private circulation only among members and associates of Prayer United Malaysia

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PAUSE BE STILL, Deliberately pause - breathe deeply, and welcome the Holy Spirit.  

READ Isaiah 60:1-3 ESV and Jeremiah 18:5-10 and meditate

PRAYER OF NATIONAL REPENTANCE Lord God, we stand in the gap today to repent of the sins of our nation. We repent of the unrighteous suppression of Your truth through laws that prevent men and women from having knowledge of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. We repent of our decadence and corruption, shameless abuse of wealth that belongs to the people, racial polarisation and allowing for widening disparity between the rich and poor. We repent of our lack of compassion for migrants and refugees, religious and racial minorities, and police detainees and prisoners. We ask for Your mercy and grace, and declare “Thy Kingdom Come” in our nation, so that we shall be blessed with Your truth, righteousness, justice and peace reigning over Malaysia. Lord, You say that if Your people who are called by Your name would humble themselves and pray, and seek Your face and turn from our wicked ways, You will turn Your face, forgive our sins, and heal our land. Lord, please forgive us for our wickedness, self-righteousness, apathy and hate. Please come and heal our land. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

REJOICE /WORSHIP

READ ALOUD Psalm 33 ESV

SING Song[s] of worship and thanksgiving. Suggestion includes: 

SHINE, JESUS, SHINE -Verse 1- Lord, the light of your love is shining In the midst of the darkness, shining Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us Set us free by the truth You now bring us Shine on me, shine on me -Chorus- Shine, Jesus, shine Fill this land with the Father's glory Blaze, Spirit, blaze Set our hearts on fire Flow, river, flow Flood the nations with grace and mercy Send forth Your Word Lord, and let there be light

-Verse 2- Lord, I come to Your awesome presence From the shadows into Your radiance By the blood I may enter Your brightness Search me, try me, consume all my darkness Shine on me, shine on me -Verse 3- As we gaze on Your Kingly brightness So our faces display Your likeness Ever changing from glory to glory Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story Shine on me, shine on me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3iB30gCqAc

ASK In your own sincere and simple words, pause briefly over these suggested prayers as a guide as we seek to further build and deepen our own prayer life. (Please feel free to add or to re-word these points and items.) INDEPENDENCE DAY PRAYER

Amos 5:24 ESV “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

PRAYER: Lord God, You reign sovereign over the nations. You are the Ruler of rulers - of kings and governments that rule nations. We give thanks for Your sovereign hand of grace and mercy over Malaysia for the 63 years of nationhood. We exalt You as God of the nations, that it is You, who alone determines the times and seasons, for You alone who removes kings and raises kings.

On this Merdeka week of celebrations, we ask for Your truth, righteousness and justice to reign over this nation. We pray for Your Word to reign in every corridor of power and law making – from the Rulers to the Parliament, to the Judiciary, and to the Government.

Lord God, we want to see You glorified in this nation because righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne. We pray that You will bless Malaysia with a judiciary and a legal system that courageously upholds Your benchmarks of truth, righteousness and justice. We pray that as we see more high profile political arrests and more court cases being tried, including the big 1MDB cases involving powerful personalities, we ask for an undeterred judiciary that is anointed with wisdom, strength and courage; men and women who are god-fearing and desire to uphold righteousness. Thank You, Lord for the recent court outcomes of great significance to bring stolen wealth back to the nation and charge the perpetrators of the grave crime through their abuse of their political power. We ask that justice will continue to prevail, and those who have truly abused power, laundered money and stolen the people’s money, be swiftly dealt with. But should any be falsely accused, may justice be done for them.

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We pray for a nation whose people are discerning, honest and righteous, who know how to weigh right from wrong, not easily duped by political deceptions. We pray for spiritual breakthroughs in the present political strife and impasses, and economic uncertainty that the reality of “Thy Kingdom come” - will be fully felt in this beloved nation of ours. Help us not to feel embittered, defeated and apathetic or only look to political solutions, but to look to You, O God, to deliver us from evil men; for You have said, “Vengeance is mine.”

We thank You for our Prime Minister and his cabinet as they demonstrate having a heart for the people, especially during this time when many are suffering under the strain of the pandemic and economic turmoil. We continue to lift up the health of our Prime Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin, into Your keeping hands. We ask that a powerful continuing work of the Holy Spirit be upon this Cabinet - to bring about cleansed hearts, sincere motives, good conscience and empowerment to genuinely serve the Rakyat with integrity of heart and effective competencies. We pray for the fear of God to be upon these ministers as they discharge their duties and responsibilities.

Please transform Malaysia to be a beacon of truth, justice and righteousness. May You receive all the glory and praise for Your righteous laws from all tribes and tongues in this nation, as we ask that the people will be given full rights to religious, political and economic freedoms. We know that You are continuing to work Your purposes. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven; and let Your Kingdom come.

We ask for the demolishing of strongholds of demonic activities, secret plotting and witchcraft. We ask that the intensifying efforts of the evil principalities and powers in stirring and stoking disunity, corruption and deception, and plotting unholy alliances, will tremble and desist in fear at Your Name.

Please remove from us the evils of apathy, racism, prejudice and hate that must not find a home in our hearts. Stir in our hearts a deep compassion for those who have lost homes and who are just seeking for hope, fairness and essential provisions. Cleanse us, O Lord, and remove from us blockages to Your work of grace that hide in the corners of our souls and minds.

Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that we may walk in newness of purpose and mission for Your glory. May we be Your mouth, Your hands and Your feet in bringing truth, justice and righteousness to those who are oppressed, displaced and in material need. Help us to get out of our comfort zone and offer compassionate and practical help together with our prayers, as we seek not to grieve or quench the Holy Spirit. Use us, O Lord, to prosper the nation.

We ask that You will remove all hindrances that prevent us from speaking to those who need to hear the gospel so that they may be saved. You have promised that those who hinder the work of the gospel are piling up their sins and awaiting the judgement of Your wrath. We humbly ask You to intervene through Your divine authority over the affairs of men. We also ask of You, O God of Justice, to quicken justice due to families who have suffered disappearances of their loved ones. We continue to ask for justice and truthful closure for them, so that all attempts at cover-up will be thwarted.

Lord Jesus, shine Your light into the darkness in Malaysia, expose that which is hidden, and cause human darkness and the demonic agents to fail and flee at Your powerful name. AMEN.

Spontaneous Prayers Open your heart to be led by the Holy Spirit on other matters that He has for you to pray for our nation. YIELD  Lord God, as we celebrate Merdeka Day with the Coronavirus pandemic hanging heavily over the nation, we pray for those who are sick and who are grieving over lost ones. In Your mercy, we ask that You will rid us of this virus for, “Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jeremiah 32:17) SONG OF NATIONAL BLESSING (A Song of Prayer for Malaysia) YESUSLAH TUHAN (MALAYSIA BAGI KEMULIAANMU) Yesuslah Tuhan yang layak ditinggikan Layak disembah oleh suku-suku bangsa Dengan darahMu Kau telah tebus dosaku Genapi Tuhan firmanMu atas negriku Hatiku rindu melihat kemuliaanMu Hatiku rindu melihat curahan kuasaMu Di tanah tercinta negaraku Malaysia Ku berdoa Malaysia penuh kemuliaanMu Malaysia bagi kemuliaanMu (Repeat)

Ya Allahku nyatakan kemuliaanMu Ya Allahku nyatakan curahan kuasaMu Di tanah tercinta negaraku Malaysia Ku berdoa Malaysia penuh kemuliaanMu Malaysia bagi kemuliaanMu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7qnn90rGpY

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BENEDICTION - DECLARE Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV AS A BLESSING FOR ONE ANOTHER “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

CLOSING PRAYER PROCLAIMING HIS KINGDOM COME - THE LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9-13  ESV   “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. AMEN.”

BE STILL   DELIBERATELY PAUSE FOR A MOMENT, breathe deeply, thank God for His presence and release into His hands all that you have prayed.

MERDEKA PRAYER WALK & DRIVE Be encouraged to take a prayer walk or prayer drive this week to bless the nation. Take a challenge to bless a

place other than your own neighbourhood. Examples to cover in prayer include government buildings, hospitals, schools, police stations, business districts and housing areas. You may want to drop by places like

public toilets where baby dumping is most prevalent.

Pray for God’s Kingdom Come.