Your Kingdom Come

CHARACTER: Justice

Verse of the Day: But few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. – Luke 10:42

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you that you have divinely appointed us to be your “hands and feet” to all those in our spheres of influence. We thank you that you have strategically placed us
right where you want us to be for such a time as this. We pray that Your Kingdom come, Your
will be done over this neighbourhood and in the businesses that you have us in. We pray Your protection, justice and liberty for those we live around, and for those we intersect with. 

Give us Your heart for the lost and marginalized, and help us to remember, and declare Your promise found in Psalm 2:8 “If you ask, the lost will be your inheritance.” So, Lord, we ask You for the lost in our neighbourhoods and spheres of influence that they may receive You as Lord and Savior.
Amen.

Gerry Esselink - Associate Pastor - Trinity Church

Bring Healing to the Broken

CHARACTER: Moral Purity

Verse of the Day: Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. - Isaiah 58:12

Dear Father in Heaven, please look upon the youth who are homeless, abandoned, unwanted and uncared for in our city and come to their aide. Provide for them a healthy sense of who they are and how they are unique and made in your image. Help them have the courage to break the cycle of poverty, of crisis and brokenness. 

Your prophet Isaiah prophesied your people would be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. So we ask that you would use us to repair those things that have taken away their sense of security and safety. Use us to restore a sense of belonging in this world giving them a sense of purpose, hope and direction for their lives. Help them and us to see that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves as a response to the obedience, love, prayers of your people.

Darin Reimer - Executive Director - Sanctuary Youth Centre

Courage to Speak the Gospel

CHARACTER: Courage

Verse of the Day: But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. - 2 Chronicles 15:7

Lord Jesus, we believe that you are actively pursuing the lost. We believe that you are in the business of redeeming and restoring your creation. We believe that you want your light to shine in, through and out of our city. So Lord, we invite you to transform our lives, our neighborhoods and our city. Holy Spirit, give us courage to live out and speak your Gospel in and to our city.

Overcome our fears by the power of your Spirit, and compel us to live with integrity and courageous humility. Reclaim Greater Victoria Lord, and reshape our culture to center our lives in Jesus Christ. With gratitude we declare that there is no one like you to help the powerless, bind up the broken, and proclaim freedom. We rely on you, and in your name we boldly trust and obey.

Kevin Thiessen - Pastor of Outreach/Missions Central Baptist Church

May the Holy Spirit be Working in our Relationships

RELATIONSHIPS: Healthy Relationships

Verse of the Day: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.–- Matthew 5:9

Dear Lord, please bless my neighbours with healthy relationships. Relationships are the context into which we are called to live out our faith. As Jesus was teaching the beatitudes he said, “Blessed are those who work for peace…” We understand the word “blessed” to mean “happy!” Being at peace with the people in our life is a trusted path to true happiness. There are many homes on my street filled with people who need God’s peace and happiness in their relationships. 

Lord please use me to help support my neighbours in their relationships through prayer and the ministry of presence. May my neighbours learn to set healthy boundaries, tell the truth, and stay loyal to the people in their life and in these ways participate in the peace/happiness that you offer God. May the presence of the Holy Spirit be in the homes of people who do not yet know you God. Jesus finishes that teaching by saying “…they will be called children of God.” May my neighbours know the happiness of being a child of God. Amen.

Eric West - Pastor to Families - Gateway Baptist Church

Friend of Jesus

RELATIONSHIPS: Authentic Friendships

Verse of the Day: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:13

Is there a higher compliment than to be called a friend of Jesus? When we lay down our life for Him we are his friend. When we silence every other voice that shouts for our time, our attention, our focus, and say ‘not my will but yours be done Oh Lord’, then we are a friend of God. 

‘Lord may our neighbours know such friendship in the one with a listening ear and discerning heart, the one who will share his time, his resources and his talents, the one who will bring encouragement, and hope and new answers.....and the one who will pray. May we hear your voice Lord and respond. May we be an authentic friend to you Jesus and an authentic friend to those in our communities.’

Doug & Mary McCulloch - Directors of the Obed House of Prayer

Bless Our Elders

RELATIONSHIPS: Generational Honour/Respect

Verse of the Day: Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord…. - Psalm 102:18

Illuminate our eyes to respect those older than us. Though sight may be dimmed, wisdom shines through. Help us listen. Bless our elders, Lord. Work in us to give them the respect they are due. Forgive us for the individualism we display in our society. Help us, help me be the difference maker(s). Through a deeper sense of humility, help us bless our seniors with time, with attentive ears, and kindness that opens the doors to their wisdom. 

Shine Your Light on them, we pray… through us. Help us to honour and learn from our children - grant us renewed wonder to see as a child. Bless our children and our youth, Lord. Protect them from those who seek to do them harm. Break spiritual strongholds that distract, exploit, and rob our children of their rightful life in who they are created to be in You. Let this begin with us, with me. Transform our hearts as we honour our children, becoming more like them, and in turn blessing them to discover who they truly are.

Robert McKinley - Regional Church Advisor - World Vision Canada

Reconciliation Through Christ

RELATIONSHIPS: Reconciliation

Verse of the Day: Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. - 2 Corinthians 5:18,19

We thank you, Father, for the blessing of family, friends and our community. We pray that people would be reconciled to you as you are jealous over them with GODLY jealousy (Exodus 20:4-5). You are the GOD that saves, you are Sovereign and Mighty and escape from death only comes from you. (Psalms 68:20). We thank you for the gift of reconciliation through Christ. (2 Corinthians. 5:18) On behalf of our neighbours we stand in the gap and ask that you would forgive us and reconcile us to yourself (repent for any sins as Holy Spirit reveals). Lord Jesus we ask that you would also heal all broken relationships. That the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control would be evident in our lives so that we see our family, neighbourhoods and city transformed. We decree this blessing over all our relationships today: The Lord bless you and keep you, The Lord make His face shine on you, The Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:22-26) In Jesus Name, Amen.

Jacki Knight - Co-Founder Renaissance International Ministry