Last week I asked you how good your hearing was and said how important it is to be able to hear from God. This week I want to ask another question – how good is your eyesight? I’m not asking if you see physically – I am asking if you see spiritually? Pilate had Jesus, the son of God, standing in front of him and yet he didn’t see him as he really was. He saw a man condemned by the spiritual leaders of the day yet even when he asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” and Jesus clearly said that he was but that his kingdom was not of this world, he could not believe that this man truly was who he said he was. Pilate said to Jesus, “Don’t you realise I have power either to set you free or to crucify you?” Jesus then revealed who he was again by saying, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above!” Yet again, Pilate did not realise that the one standing in front of him was the son of God. His spiritual eyes were not open! Pilate also asked the question, “What is truth?” yet what he could not see was that the truth was standing in front of him. Jesus was and is the truth. Pilate was spiritually blind.
When Jesus rose from the dead, two of his disciples walked and talked with him on the road to Emmaus but they didn’t recognise him. It was only when their eyes were opened (Luke 24:31) that they realised that Jesus was more than a prophet and that he had risen from the dead.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be spiritually blind. I want my eyes to be open to see what is really going on in our world. I don’t want to react with fear or anxiety to what is happening in our world, instead I want to see what God is doing. In 2 Kings 6:17 Elisha asked the Lord to open his servant’s eyes so that he may be able to see spiritually. When the Lord did it, Elisha’s servant’s whole perspective of the situation around him changed. He was filled with peace and joy and had a confident assurance of victory. Let’s pray for our eyes to be opened to see how many of Heaven’s armies are with us as we fight our battles to see this pandemic gone and our nation and our world come to know the Lord. Let’s cry out, “Oh Lord open my eyes so that I may see and know the truth!”
PRAYER POINTS FOR FRIDAY 30th April 2021
- What a joy it is to continue to see the statistics come down. The death rate in particular has fallen so much – it is so good to see this. However, it is not the same all over the world. India, in particular, has a very different scenario. People are suffering and dying from this virus – many of them are without the normal help we can expect here in our country. Let’s pray for the incredible nation of India – they need God’s help so much. So many people are struggling for their lives right now. Let’s pray for God’s solutions for them. Pray that God will save many lives. Continue to pray for mainland Europe too. Many nations are struggling with this virus.
- Praise God too that the vaccination process is going well in this nation and that many have now had both jabs. Pray that every adult who wants the vaccination will be offered it soon whether in this country or elsewhere. Praise God for the protection it brings.
- We continue to pray for our Prime Minster and for our government. Pray for every MP – for good, honest men/women with integrity. Pray for godly men and women to be called to be a part of politics. Pray that the parties will stir each other to move in unity and in the best interests of our nation at this time. We continue to pray for our Queen and for the whole Royal Family. Our Queen knows the Lord – and so easily speaks of her Christian faith. Let’s pray for each of the Royal Family to find their faith in God increasing over this time. Pray for the Queen’s health that she would continue to reign for a number of years yet, and also pray for Prince Charles who will succeed her. Pray for wisdom from Heaven above to guide our nation.
- We continue to praise God for our NHS – do pray for each worker – that they will have the health and strength to do the job that they have been called to do. Pray that they will recover from the trauma they have been going through. Pray for good mental health for them all. Praise God that the hospital admissions continue to go down, but do pray for any who are still in ICU that they would soon be able to go home. We continue to praise God for the carers who work in care homes and also for those who are employed to help people in their own homes. Pray for kindness to be shown to all their patients.
- Poor mental health continues to be a problem in our nation. Do pray for many people, particularly young people, afflicted with this – I heard about a young girl recently who is suffering so badly with poor mental health. Cry out to God to heal our nation and for God to show himself to the most vulnerable. Pray for health and wholeness for them and that they will find in Jesus a reason to live. Do look out for people in your family or in your friends’ circle who need your encouragement and kindness at this time. Let’s be sensitive to other people’s needs even though those needs may not be easily seen.
- Again, we notice in the news about people being on the receiving end of violence in the home and in our streets. Do pray that everyone who has been subjected to this finds the courage to get help. Pray that these scenarios will be exposed so that help can be given. Let’s continue to pray against the deep-seated anger in people’s hearts at this time. Pray for protection from this deep anger but also pray that those who have this spirit of anger will find God and be delivered from it. Pray for peace and for joy in our society. Let’s ask God to help us to speak wise and kind words to others around us. Let’s show generosity to our neighbours (not just those who live next door to us, but those we come across in life). We know that God is the answer – so let’s show that answer in its many forms to all around us.
- Let’s continue to pray for our economy. Pray that as lockdown continues to be lifted that many businesses will enjoy a time of prosperity. Pray for those who cannot open as yet like those who work in hospitality, hotels, conferences, theatres etc. Pray for the wisdom and strength to go on. Pray for hope for everyone, especially those who have lost jobs during this pandemic. Many jobs are beginning to open up, so do pray that many will find their ideal job.
- The cry from our hearts remains – Lord, Heal our Nation. We so need God to move in our nation and in our world. Let’s finish today by praying the words from the song my husband co-wrote in 1985 – Heal Our Nation. The words are just as applicable now as they were then. If ever we need revival – it is now – so let’s cry from our hearts for God to bring his tidal wave of his Spirit to our land and to our world.
Lord, we long for You to move in power
There’s a hunger deep within our hearts
To see healing in our nation
Send Your Spirit to revive us
Heal our nation
Heal our nation
Heal our nation
Pour out Your Spirit on this land
Lord we hear Your Spirit, coming closer
A mighty wave to break upon our land
Bringing justice, and forgiveness
God we cry to You, ‘Revive us’
Heal our nation
Heal our nation
Heal our nation
Pour out Your Spirit on this land
© 1986 Thankyou Music
T Morgan; R Goudie; D Bankhead; I Townend.
Do you need prayer? What a joy it has been to pray for those who have asked for prayer in recent months. We are seeing many answers to our prayers. Remember if you or others need prayer do drop us an email and we will pray. Don’t forget our prayer line if you or others need prayer – prayer@ngm.org.uk
When we see things from God’s perspective our faith begins to arise and hope is kindled in our hearts. Let’s keep asking the Lord to open our eyes to his goodness and his kindness. He shows us every day how much he loves us and yet sometimes we fail to notice his many kindnesses to us all. We fail to see and recognise how much he loves us and the many blessings he pours out on us. Let’s cry out to God to open our spiritual eyes to behold his goodness and his faithfulness. Indeed, we have an amazing God. Let’s praise Him today and always. Sending you much love and encouragement – your friend – NANCY
For those who are reading these prayer points for the first time: do read below:
Setting the scene
On 20th March I called for a National Day of Prayer, not only for the UK, but also for others who live further afield. A few days after it was over two friends contacted me and asked if I would do a National Prayer Day every Friday, and asked if I would continue to give some pointers each week for prayer. After prayer, I took up the challenge of doing just that. Thank you for joining us. To read previous prayer points and encouragements – go to www.nancygoudie.com/blog/
Helpful instructions/suggestions:
- Set your phone, your watch, your alarm clock or whatever to remind you to pray throughout the day. I would suggest praying every hour for a few minutes or for as long as you wish, but make a time that is suitable for yourself.
- Maybe pray for one of the above pointers every hour – or take one for each day of the week.
- Every time you wash your hands, which should be often – then pray a ‘Heal Our
Nation’ prayer – sing or speak the lyrics of ‘Heal our Nation’ and ask God to pour out his Spirit on this land. ‘Heal our Nation, Heal our Nation, Heal our Nation, pour out your Spirit on this land.’ Sing or speak that twice. And finish with the first line from the verse ‘Lord we long for you to move in power’ – and ask God to move in the UK but also move in our world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoZwje7Ogkg
- Keep reading Psalm 91, Psalm 121 and Psalm 46 to encourage yourself and your family with the truth of the word of God. Perhaps try meditating on Psalm 62:5-6 – Find rest, O my Soul in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress; I will not be shaken.
- Use the UK Blessing – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUtll3mNj5U Play it in your home – make this as a wonderful blessing on you and your family, your children and their children. When you go a walk pray it over your neighbourhood. The song was written in Elevation church, USA. You can watch here and discover how the song came together in the presence of the Lord – no wonder this song is being used at this time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp6aygmvzM4&feature=emb_rel_end
