Prayer Points 2023

Theme: “Lift Up the LIGHT”

Psalm 84:2,11 “With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God… For the LORD God is our light and protector.”

Isaiah 9:2 “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light — a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow.”

Psalm 115:1 “Not to us, O LORD, but to you goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness.”

What is the theme, “Lift Up the Light”?

John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

We lift up the Light in the heavenly realms when we praise and worship the Lord. Have you ever noticed how things begin to change when you say, “Praise God”, even quietly but deliberately? There is a response from heaven; sometimes it’s our own heart that becomes less hardened or more faith-filled; sometimes the circumstances shift. Heaven is all around us and our praise and worship glorifies God in that place!

We lift up the Light on earth when we pray for others, and God hears and answers our prayers! God is ready to give his guidance, provision, and intervention for the people of our city if we will ask. Our faith and God’s answers display who God is and what he is like — they raise his Light for others to see. May there be many more opportunities to give God credit for what he has done, and more anticipation of his promises yet to be fulfilled!

Sunday, Jan. 15

Public Authorities

John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Proverbs 4:6 “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.”

Proverbs 11:14 “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of couselors there is safety.”

Thank God for the public authorities we have, and that he hears our prayers for them. 

Please pray for:

  • The Light of God’s love and wisdom to shine on Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, City Council, all first responders, and those in authority over courts of law, schools, hospitals and health care, and detention centres.
  • Godly advisors around them, and good will toward their peers.
  • Their passionate commitment to do what is good and right for the people in the city; encouragement.
  • God’s protection on their home life and their families.
  • Safety, protection and health.
  • Healing from traumatic experiences in their work, particularly for police and first responders.
  • Members of the new City Council, along with Mayor Sutcliffe, to keep working together in a spirit of unity.
  • The Lord to bless them, keep them, make his face shine upon them, and be gracious to them; to turn his face toward them and give them peace. (from Numbers 6:24-26)
  • Christians in these roles of authority to lift up God’s Light when opportunities arise
  • Those who are in authority to respond to God’s Light for salvation

Take a moment to pray by name for your city councilor and any public authorities you know, for their peace, health and protection. You can use this tool to find your city councillor: Find My Councillor

Monday, Jan. 16

The Church

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

Psalm 72:18-19 “Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory.”

Luke 10:2 “He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Thank God for our amazing part, as the Church, in his plans. Thank him for the Light that shines in our lives and through us to others. 

Please pray for:

• Believers to follow him prayerfully, trusting in his faithfulness and obeying him
• Believers to lift up more praise to God in 2023, privately and corporately
• continued growing unity in the Church, and as the lights come together, it will shine brighter and brighter
• pastors and all clergy to be greatly strengthened in the Lord
• The Lord of the Harvest to send us forth as labourers into the Harvest in Ottawa who will lift up the Light of the World for others to see and receive. (Luke 10:2)
• Boldness and love in the public square to continue sharing Biblical perspective and wisdom
• God to confirm his Word with signs and wonders (Acts 4:30)
• pioneer churches to be supported, grow and reach many new people with Light
• increased faith among churches in reaching out to those who don’t know Christ
• the Church in Ottawa to be generous in finances and in serving vulnerable people

Take a moment to pray for one or two churches near your own. Pray for their pastors/clergy, by name if you can, for their strengthening and encouragement.

Tuesday, Jan. 17

Housing

Isaiah 58:7 “Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.”

Psalm 72:12-14 “For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.”

Galatians 2:10 “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.”

Thank God that he will help us when we turn our hearts toward people experiencing homelessness. 

Canadians face a housing crisis, particularly among the needy and young people just starting out in life. Many Canadians cannot afford to own or rent accommodation.

Please pray:

  • The City of Ottawa will meet newly-elected Mayor Mark Sutcliffe’s target of 100,000 new residences in the next 10 years.
  • All levels of government will take steps to support affordable housing so that everyone has a place to call home.
  • Governments will streamline the approval process so more houses and apartments can be built.
  • Christians will encourage their elected representatives at all levels to deal with the housing crisis.
  • Christian missions in Ottawa will receive sufficient funds to provide shelter for homeless people currently living on city streets.

Take time to pray for those you know who are homeless or facing problems finding a place to live.

Wednesday, Jan. 18

Workplaces

Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Colossians 4:6 “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

Thank God that he has given Christians the opportunity to lift up the LIGHT in their workplaces. 

Please pray:

  • A growing number of believers will make reaching out to their workmates with God’s love a priority in their work lives.
  • Believers will pray for fellow-workers and reach out with concern and acts of kindness to those who are hurting and need help.
  • Christians in the workplace will support each other through prayer and meeting together.
  • Groups of believers will connect with and receive assistance from workplace ministries such as One Way Ministries’ Workplace Network and the Public
  • Service Christian Fellowship.
  • Christians will share the gospel with fellow-workers as opportunities arise in the office, at lunch-hour and in other places.

Take time to pray for people you know who are working.

Thursday, Jan. 19

Mental Health

Psalm 34:17-18 “The Lord hears his people when they call out to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

Give thanks that God walks with us and rescues us in our deepest troubles. 

The magazine Psychology Today says that mental health problems are afflicting a growing number of people in our society, including young people. Many Christians are struggling with emotional and mental issues and need our prayers and support.

Please pray:

  • Christians will be channels of God’s love to those who are suffering from mental issues.
  • Wait times for care and counselling will greatly diminish, and no one in dire need will be turned away.
  • God will bring peace to families and single people who are dealing with mental and emotional pressures.
  • Workers in high-pressure jobs will receive support and time to recover from mental concerns.
  • Christian counsellors and others in mental health jobs will see God at work in the people they counsel.
  • Christian agencies and mental health institutions such as the Royal Ottawa Hospital will receive the financial support to meet the needs of Ottawa residents.
  • Christians will reach out to young people who are particularly vulnerable to mental and emotional problems.

Remember to pray specifically for those you know are suffering severe emotional or mental problems.

Friday, Jan. 20

Children, Youth & Young Adults 

Isaiah 59:21 “‘As for me, this is my covenant with them,’ says the Lord. ‘My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,’ says the Lord.”

Matthew 21:16b “‘Yes,’ replied Jesus, ‘have you never read, “From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise”?'” (Psalm 8:2)

1 Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Thank God for his faithfulness to every generation, and for the children, youth and young adults in the Ottawa region. 

Please pray for children and youth:

  • God’s Love and Light to shine on them; to know they are loved unconditionally
  • Those in poverty in Ottawa to have all the support and opportunities they need to thrive
  • Healthy development of their true identity and worth
  • Physical protection over schools, parks and other places they gather
  • Christian children and youth to grow strong in praise, worship and prayer
  • Christian children and youth to be bold, to let their light shine
  • Those who don’t know Christ to have Christian friends, and to hear the gospel clearly explained

For young adults:

  • To seek Truth and beauty; our Father to draw them to his Son
  • To be strengthened by good mentors as they begin their adult lives
  • Christian young adults to be encouraged, to have opportunities to lead, and to grow in wisdom
  • Christian young adults to lead many peers to Christ

Saturday, Jan. 21

Human Trafficking

Proverbs 31:8 “Speak out for the one who cannot speak, for the rights of those desolate.” 

Isaiah 1:17 “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”

 Psalm 82:3 “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.”

Thank God for his commitment to the oppressed and his heart for us to share that compassion. 

Human trafficking is a global phenomenon of modern-day slavery. In Canada, most trafficking cases are domestic cases of sexual exploitation (they stay within Canadian borders). Approximately two-thirds of cases in Canada take place in cities in Ontario. It is known to take place in hotels/motels, strip clubs, massage parlours, rental properties, escort services, streets, homes, and online.

Please pray for:

  • God’s Light to shine through prevention efforts (e.g. speaking engagements and social media), raising awareness about sex trafficking and alerting vulnerable people to schemes of deception and entrapment.
  • Increased protection of vulnerable children, women and men, through partnerships between agencies and ministries.
  • Protection also through direct support to individuals impacted by the sex trade and sex trafficking – God’s Light to shine through this support.
  • More available resources for survivor care networks in the form of basic needs, therapy, housing, transportation, life skills, programming, and self-care.
  • God to convict the hearts of traffickers and buyers, turning them away from their actions and toward Himself.
  • Thank God for survivors who have journeyed to freedom, healing and restoration, and pray for many more to do so.

Take a moment to pray for your neighbourhood, that vulnerable people there would be aware and protected from human trafficking.