National Week of Prayer: September 9-16, 2018

Become a faithful prayer champion lifting up the needs of prisoners and speaking blessings into their lives

For any ministry to be truly effective, it must have a solid foundation of prayer. In prayer we call upon God for resources that He alone can provide in our spiritual battle.

If you are part of an in-prison ministry, you know that prisoners have many prayer needs. They desperately want prayer for themselves, their families, and their future re-entry back into society. All you have to say is, “May I pray for you?” Prayer touches the deepest hurts of those who feel so lost, lonely, and unwanted by the world.

Every Prison Fellowship team needs prayer champions lifting up the needs of the prisoners as well as ministry volunteers. But prayer ministry for prisoners does not require going to the prison. Even if you have never been inside a jail, you can be a prayer champion interceding before the throne of God for those who are incarcerated.

Here is a guide to help you pray for prisoners:

THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Pray for prisoners and their relationship with God, that they would:

  • Experience His love
  • Accept Christ as Saviour
  • Allow God to work in them and accomplish His purpose in their lives
  • Earnestly seek God and get involved with chapel services and other Christian programs offered within the prison

THEIR RECONCILITAION AND RESTORATION

Pray for prisoners for love and acceptance, that they would:

  • Be reconciled with victims and the community
  • Be restored to their communities
  • Exhibit the fruit of the Spirit
  • Experience genuine remorse for the harm they have caused their victims, and that they would seek to make amends as appropriate and possible

THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR FAMILIES

Pray for prisoners’ relationships with their families, that they will:

  • Be reconciled with their families
  • Be committed to keeping in touch with their spouse and children
  • Be able to maintain a strong connection with their family, despite being separated
  • Experience reconciliation in strained or broken relationships

THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PRISONERS

Pray for prisoners and their relationships with other prisoners, that they will:

  • Make godly friends to support and encourage them
  • Stay away from harmful associations that will lead them astray
  • Be a friend to the lonely, the discouraged, the lost

THEIR FUTURE

Pray for prisoners and their future, that they would:

  • Take advantage of prison programs to enhance their educational and vocational skills
  • Be wise in the use of their God-given talents
  • Seek the wisdom and resources they need to adjust to re-entering society: job, housing, supportive friends, etc.

THEIR SPIRITUAL MATURITY

Pray that Christian prisoners will:

  • Remain strong in their faith
  • Find a mentor to encourage and disciple them
  • Have strength and courage to witness to other prisoners
  • Resist temptations and remain good role models