2024 Theme Scripture/Focus:
Hosea 6:1-3 (Lexham English Bible)"Come, let us return to Yahweh; because it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck us down and will bind us up. He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live in his presence. Let us know, let us press on to know Yahweh; his rising is sure like the dawn. He will come like the showers to us, like the spring rain that waters the earth." - Hosea 6:1-3 (Lexham English Bible)
2024 PRAYER & FAST: PRAYER FOCUSJanuary 27- February 9
The miraculous is wrought and needs are met, as we pray in the name of Jesus, according to His will. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” - I John 5:14-15.
Jesus said “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” John 14:14
Pray…1. for every believer to “awake” and to recognize the need for faithful fervent prayer (I Thessalonians 5:17, James 5:16).2. for each saint to develop a genuine personal relationship with Jesus and to live a repented life. “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings...” (Philippians 3:10).3. for the Church to practice a lifestyle of prayer and fasting and greater consecrate as they seek the supernatural. “Consecration brings revelation, and revelation brings demonstration” (Mark 9:29; Acts 2:42). “…the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following” (Mark 16:20).4. for the body of Christ to give ourselves to apostolic priorities and kingdom purpose (Matthew 6:33). “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).5. for the Church of Jesus Christ worldwide to effectively unite and proclaim the Lordship of Jesus Christ, function as one Church, and endeavor in one mission of preaching the gospel of the Kingdom. “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism…” (Ephesians 4:3-5).6. for God’s people to “put on Christ” and to align with His purpose and His perfect will. “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Romans 13:14).7. for the ministry and leadership, and for a complete liberty of the operation of the five-fold ministry in the Church, including the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11).8. for a spirit of unity among the people of God, and that God would heal any divisions, schisms, hurts, or resentment in the church, on every level. Pray for pure motives and for God’s righteousness to prevail. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1).9. in Jesus’ name for healing to take place in the Church―for total wholeness and well-being…spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. “…and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).10. for the Church to be adorned with the whole armor of God and for a spiritual command center/apostolic dominion power to prevail in cities worldwide. 11. that wicked powers be subdued and evil strongholds be broken across this world, in the mighty name of Jesus. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (II Corinthians 10:4).12. that the Church hear and obey the voice of God (Exodus 19:5, Jeremiah 7:23), and that we worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24), with sincere praise and thanksgiving. “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalm 100:4).13. for a great awakening of Apostolic doctrine and the revelation of Jesus Christ as the only way to God almighty. “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins…” (Acts 26:18). “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).14. for great revival and harvest among adults, as well as children and youth in our society (Matthew 19:14, Psalm 71:17). “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth” (Psalm 127:4).15. for there to be a revival among the prodigals (backsliders) of the church. “…Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you…” (Jeremiah 3:14).16. for our missionaries, both on the Global Missions and local evangelism levels. Pray for fruitfulness in every work. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…” (Matthew 28:19).17. for America, and for the government leaders of your specific nation. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers…be made for…all that are in authority” (I Timothy 2:1-2).18. for Israel and for God’s purpose to be fulfilled. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).19. for Asia, the 10/40 window, and all other nations of the world. Pray for worldwide harvest. “And the gospel must first be published among all nations” (Mark 13:10).20. for laborers to be sent into the harvest fields, and for finances/resources for God’s work worldwide (Malachi 3:10). “Pray ye…the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:38).21. for open doors of mass evangelization worldwide and that God’s people be strong and do exploits. “…the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits” (Daniel 11:32).22. that the Church be fully empowered by the Holy Ghost to witness and to do good works. “How God anointed Jesus…with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good…” (Acts 10:38).23. that the church of Jesus Christ worldwide enter into a greater dimension of the supernatural and that God use His people mightily to do greater works. “…He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do…” (John 14:12).24. for restoration, revival, harvest, and for the shekinah glory of God to manifest―resulting in unprecedented spiritual/numerical growth worldwide. Pray that the masses be filled with the Holy Ghost and baptized in the name of Jesus. “Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).25. that God would send His angels to help us (Psalm 103:20). They are ministering spirits who minister for the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14) and are bearers of the miraculous, working in the midst of humanity. “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them” (Psalm 68:17).26. that God’s people advocate/experience healing, miracles, signs and wonders, so that His kingdom may be manifested and the immense needs of humanity be met. “my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (I Corinthians 2:4).27. that the church fully possesses the territories that God has given to us. “Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee” (Genesis 13:17). “Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession” (Psalm 2:8 NKJV).28. Spirit-led prayers in the name of Jesus, and that His kingdom come and His will be done in earth, as it is in heaven! “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).29. that the name of Jesus be exalted throughout the whole earth in this end-time! “… how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens” (Psalm 8:1).30. National elections in 2024:
Two thousand twenty-four looks to be the mother of all election years. More than three dozen countries, with a total population of four billion people, will see their citizens head to the polls. Some of those elections are foregone conclusions. The odds are good, for example, that Vladimir Putin will win a resounding victory in the first round of Russia’s presidential election, now set for March 17, which means he will continue his war on Ukraine. For its part, Ukraine looks to be one of the few countries that won’t hold national elections as planned, in its case because of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s judgment that the war with Russia makes elections difficult if not impossible to hold.
But in many if not most of the countries headed for elections next year the outcome remains up in the air. The results in some instances will be consequential not just for the country in question but for its neighbors as well, and in at least one case the results could be consequential for the future of the world order as we know it. Here are a few coming elections to watch and pray about in 2024. In most cases, we know when voters will head to the polls. But in a few cases, the precise dates remain to be set. And the list of critical 2024 election could continue to grow. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has signaled that he will likely call for elections sometime in 2024 rather than wait until 2025 when a new election must be called. Other unplanned elections could materialize as governments fall, whether because of routine parliamentary maneuvers, protests in the streets, or coups.
Pakistani General Elections, February 8. Sometimes elections get postponed. Pakistan is a case in point. In August, incumbent Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for the dissolution of the Pakistani parliament. New elections were set to be held within ninety days. However, the Election Commission of Pakistan postponed the election, first to sometime in January 2024, and then until February 8, 2024. The commission argued that it needed more time to prepare for the vote. The bigger reason is that Pakistan has been embroiled in political turmoil for nearly two years. In April 2022, the Pakistani Parliament ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan, a former cricket star, on a no-confidence vote. Rather than retire, Khan led protests seeking to force his successor, Sharif, from office. Khan soon found the Pakistani military cracking down on his supporters and Pakistani prosecutors accusing him of taking bribes. Khan denied the charges, but he was quickly convicted and sentenced to three years in jail. Then in November he was charged with leaking state secrets. The government has barred television stations from showing Khan. He recently evaded that ban by using artificial intelligence to create a fiery speech mimicking his voice to share with his supporters over the internet. Whoever becomes Pakistan’s next prime minister will face a daunting in-box. The nuclear-armed country of 230 million people barely avoided a catastrophic default on its foreign debt earlier this year, inflation is running at 30 percent, and electrical outages are commonplace.
Indonesian General Election, February 14. Elections are a massive logistical feat under any circumstance. But imagine holding an election in a country with 275 million people spread across 17,000 islands, and doing it all in a single day. Welcome to Indonesia. Its constitution bars incumbent President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) from running for a third term. The three leading candidates to replace him are Prabowo Subianto, Ganjar Pranowo, and Anies Baswedan. Prabowo is the frontrunner. He is a retired army lieutenant-general who was the son-in-law of Indonesia’s dictator Suharto. Prabowo was dishonorably discharged after Suharto’s ouster in 1998 and banned from entering the United States for two decades because of human rights violations. He is making his third run for the presidency. He lost twice to Jokowi and has served as defense minister since 2019. In a bit of electoral gamesmanship, Prabowo picked Jokowi’s oldest son as his running mate. Ganjar served two terms as governor of Central Java, Indonesia’s third most populous province. He is running as the candidate of Jokowi’s party. Ganjar won high marks for improving the province’s infrastructure, but also alienated voters earlier this year when he opposed allowing Israel to play in Central Java in the under-2020 FIFA World Cup. The decision cost Indonesia its role as host. Anies is the governor of Jakarta. Educated in the United States with a Ph.D. in political science from Northern Illinois University, he became president of an Islamic university and is popular with Islamist groups. If no candidate wins 50 percent of the vote on February 14, the top two candidates will square off in a final round of voting.
Indian National Elections, April-May 2024. India’s national elections testify to the wonders of democracy. A country of 1.4 billion people who speak more than one hundred languages will use the ballot box rather than the gun or dynastic privilege to decide who will govern them. In 2024, Indians will be electing members of the eighteenth Lok Sabha, or national parliament. The party or coalition that controls the Lok Sabha will in turn select the prime minister. The odds are good that Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win their third election in a row and avoid needing to rely on a coalition to govern. Earlier this month, the BJP won elections in three Indian states, showing that the party’s message continues to resonate with voters. Indeed, polls show that nearly eight out of ten Indians approve of Modi’s job performance, a number that virtually every other democratic head of state would love to have. Modi’s success reflects several factors. On the positive side, India’s economy is growing at 7 percent lifting incomes across the country and fueling the sense that tomorrow will be better than today. On the negative side, Modi’s government has jailed and intimidated opponents while otherwise squeezing the room for political debate. The BJP has also benefited from the weakness of the Congress Party, which dominated Indian politics for the country’s first six decades but has faded since. Continued electoral dominance may be good for the BJP, but it may mean further erosion of India’s democracy.
Mexican Presidential Election, June 2. Mexico will likely have its first woman president by this time next year. The Mexican constitution bars incumbent President Andrés ManuelLópez Obrador, better known as AMLO, from seeking reelection even if his 66 percent approval rating makes him the envy of elected leaders around the world not named Narendra Modi. AMLO’s governing Morena Party is putting forth Claudia Sheinbaum as its candidate. She is the former mayor of Mexico City and a long-time AMLO ally. Not surprisingly, she has vowed “full responsibility” for continuing AMLO’s policies. Mexico’s leading opposition parties have banded together under the banner of the Frente Amplio por México (FAM), or Broad Front for Mexico, to put forth Xochitl Gálvez as their candidate. She is a former senator with the right-of-center National Action Party (PAN). Sheinbaum currently has a comfortable lead in the polls, no doubt helped by AMLO’s popularity. She can point to several AMLO successes, most notably a falling poverty rate, an economy growing at more than 3 percent, and slowing inflation. But crime and violence, much of it linked to drug cartels, remain a massive problem. Fentanyl smuggling across the border to the United States has raised tensions with Washington and triggered calls for the U.S. military to attack the cartels. Meanwhile, migration to the United States, much of it by people using Mexico as a transit corridor, further strains relations with the United States. Whoever takes the baton from AMLO next December will have her hands full.
European Parliament Elections, June 6-9. Yes, Europe has a parliament. Or more precisely, the European Union (EU) has a parliament. It doesn’t rival national parliaments in power, and it’s the weakest of the EU’s governing institutions. However, it wields one significant power: It has the ultimate say in selecting the new president of the European Commission, the EU’s real powerhouse. Ursula von der Leyen has yet to say whether she intends to stand for a second five- year term as president. Citizens of the EU’s twenty-seven members states will select 720 parliamentarians to serve from 2024 to 2029. That’s up fifteen seats from the number in the current European Parliament, which was seated in 2019. Each member country votes for its own slate of parliamentarians. The minimum voting age is as young as sixteen (Austria, Germany,Malta), though in most member countries it is eighteen. More than four hundred million Europeans are eligible to vote, making the EU parliamentary election the second largest in the world after India’s national election. A critical question is how many Europeans will vote next June. Turnout in 2019 was 51 percent. That is not an impressive number by global standards. It was, however, the highest turnout in an EU parliamentary election in a quarter century. Another question is whether populist politicians will gain a bigger foothold in the EU parliament, as has happened recently in some national parliamentary elections. The European People’s Party, which has been the dominant party in the European Parliament for a quarter century, has already begun shifting rightward.
Belgian Elections, June 9. Besides producing the best chocolate in the world, Belgium has some of the world’s most interesting politics. Belgium literally holds the Guinness world record for going the longest time without forming a government. After the June 2010 national elections, it took 541 days, or almost eighteen months, for Belgium to form a government. Much of the complexity of Belgian politics owes to the division between the country’s two main language groups, the Flemings (or Flemish), who speak Dutch and constitute 60 percent of the population, and the Walloons, who speak French and constitute 40 percent. (There is also a tiny German-speaking community that has official recognition.) The Flemings and the Walloons each dominate a different region of the country and have lived uneasily together since Belgium was founded in 1830 after breaking away from the Netherlands. When Belgians vote next June, they will be choosing members of their regional, federal, and European parliaments. In doing so, they could be unintentionally deciding whether Belgium will end up on the ash heap of history. The far-right Vlaams Belang Party currently tops the polls in Flanders. Its leader argues that Belgium is “a forced marriage,” and he wants a divorce. That might be idle talk. Tensions between Flemings and Walloons have ebbed in recent years. But the Vlaams Belang Party sees opposition to immigration as its winning issue. The recent success of right-wing populists in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe suggests that the unthinkable could become thinkable.
U.S. General Election, November 5. No election in 2024 will be more consequential than theU.S. general election. Up for grabs are the presidency, one-third of the seats in the Senate, and all the seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The presidential race is setting up to be a rerun of the 2020, with Joe Biden squaring off against Donald Trump. If Trump wins, he will join Grover Cleveland as the only American president to serve two non-consecutive terms. But the race isn’t drawing intense interest because it will provide grist for trivia tournaments, but because of fears that it could lead to the demise of American democracy and upend the global order. Trump’s insistence against all evidence that the 2020 election was stolen from him and his talk of “retribution” against those who have opposed him has prompted warnings that he is intent on setting the United States on “the path to dictatorship.” Likewise, his continued attacks on NATO, his dismissal of climate change, and his promises to use tariffs to place a “ring around the U.S. economy” have spurred speculation that his second term as president would upend world politics. Whether Trump or Biden can move on their agenda will depend in good part on what happens in Congress. Republicans look set to retake control of the Senate. Conversely, Democrats could retake the House. In all, next November’s vote may be the one election to live up to the claim of being the most important election of our lifetime.
South African General Election, date to be determined. Democracies may be easier to start than to maintain. South Africa’s next election could prove that hypothesis. South Africa’s transition from apartheid to a functioning democracy was in many ways a miracle. Much of that success is owed to Nelson Mandela, who unlike many other revolutionary leaders resisted the temptation to embrace authoritarianism. But over the years, South Africa’s government has failed to deliver the results that many voters expected while leaders of the African National Congress (ANC), which has dominated South African politics for three decades, has seemed more interested in self-enrichment than in solving the country’s problems. The 2024 election may stop that downward spiral or accelerate it. The election is being held under new electoral rules that should facilitate challenges to the status quo—among other things, independent candidates can now run for office. The ANC has to be concerned. Its support dropped below 50 percent for the first time in the 2021 elections. That drop reflects extensive corruption allegations against party officials combined with high unemployment, slow economic growth, and decaying infrastructure. Despite this bad news, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has himself battled corruption charges, will likely seek a second term. The Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s largest opposition party, hopes to shock the world and wrest power away from the ANC by collaborating with other opposition parties. That seems like a longshot. But if the ANC triumphs, South Africa’s democratic decline could well continue.
2024 PRAYER & FAST: PRAYER FOCUSJanuary 21-27
PRAYER FOR NATIONSPlease pray for these nations:1. Argentina https://operationworld.org/locations/argentina. Evangelical Christians grew from less than 1 million in 1980 to possibly over 4.5 million by 2020. Renewal, evangelism, and prayer touched the nation. Argentinean evangelists, teachers, and missionaries touched the world! Godly, united leadership is necessary for the future. Pray for students in the hundreds of seminaries, Bible schools, and programs. Local Councils of Pastors and the National Evangelical Alliance (ACIERA) now meet to pray and co-ordinate ministry. Pray that leaders may hear what the Spirit speaks to the Church, and act together in faith. Pray for the Argentine economy which is in very serious trouble.2. Senegal https://operationworld.org/locations/senegal. Elections Feb. 25th, 2024. Senegal appears both open and closed spiritually. The nation enjoys religious freedom and tolerates many faiths, and Senegalese feel proud about this. But few of the Muslim majority have ever come to Christ. The Muslim Sufi brotherhoods are organized, wealthy, and have political power. Over 85% of all Muslims belong to one of them. Even after long-standing Christian presence and outreach, a spiritual heaviness covers the land. Pray for the spiritual breakthrough that many wait for!3. Ukraine. For end to the war and Peace. Also, pray for the Ukrainian economy. The war has. https://operationworld.org/locations/ukraine 4. Tunisia https://operationworld.org/locations/tunisia The country had one of the most progressive and open societies in the Arab world, but Tunisians felt frustrated by high unemployment, corruption, political oppression, and poor living conditions. Protests led to government changes, and inspired similar protests across the whole Arab world. However, continued economic decline and unemployment, intensified from the impact of COVID, along with frustration over government corruption and ineffectiveness, led to more protests in 2021. In response, the President dissolved the government, appointed a new Prime Minister, and rewrote the constitution in ways that will give him more power. Pray that the travails of Tunisia might somehow draw people towards Christ. 5. Israel https://operationworld.org/locations/Israel 6. Gaza https://operationworld.org/locations/Palestine 7. Ghana https://operationworld.org/locations/Ghana Ghana enjoys a rich Christian tradition! Many newer churches emerged, and many traditional denominations have a vibrant spiritual life. When churches multiply quickly, doctrines can become confused. Ghana has the blessing of many training institutions. Pray for mature leaders for the Church. 63% of Ghanaians call themselves Christian, but only about 10% attend church regularly. Traditional African practices present the greatest challenge to Christians. Pray for a clear break from all bondage to charms and the occult, and pray for true liberty in Jesus. Also pray for the fragile economy and for good leadership. Elections will hold on Dec. 7.In each nation, pray for:1. Lost Souls – Salvation2. Missionaries – Opened Doors of Ministry, Utterance, and Faith3. Missionary Families – Protection, Provision and Times of Refreshing from the Presence of the Lord.4. Local Churches – Hunger & Thirst for more of Christ5. Church Leaders & Elders – Sensitivity to the Spirit of God, Passion for Lost Souls and effective Discipleship of the younger generation and new Believers.6. The local economies – for prosperity. For Businesses, particularly small businesses.7. Good Political Leadership: Presidents, Governors, Legislators, Judiciary8. Youths – Hunger, thirst and love for God9. Against Occultic Influence10. True Christian Discipleship
CHILDREN We cannot hide our children from the world, but we can be proactive in guarding them. We can inter¬cede for our children, praying for wisdom, protection, peace, and strength. Though the enemy battles for our children in their years of immaturity and inexperience, we have the Almighty God that protects them and powerfully overcomes the enemy when we call on Him. Our children can thrive spiritually! “All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.” – Isaiah 54:14“Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people. All who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the posterity whom the Lord has blessed.” – Isaiah 61:9PRAYER POINTS LORD, please: Put a hedge of protection around our children. Shield them from attacks of the enemy. Keep them from predators and those who try to entice them into evil relationships. Give them courage and wisdom to make right choices when faced with temptation. Help them to keep themselves pure and not have inappropriate relationships. Give them wisdom to know when they are being taught things that go against Your Word. Quicken Your truth to their mind in those moments. Remind them to keep themselves pure in what they see, listen to, and do. Protect them from disease and illnesses that try to come upon them and those that are hereditary. Protect them from physical, verbal, emotional, and sexual abuse. Give parents spiritual eyes to see areas their children are struggling in and godly wisdom to know how to counsel them.
2024 PRAYER & FAST: PRAYER FOCUSJanuary 14-20
PRAYER FOR NATIONSPlease pray for these nations:1. The People's Republic of China https://operationworld.org/locations/china-peoples-republic. China remains politically oppressive and corrupt. It has a poor human rights record, and imposes harsh laws and punishments. The cult of personality surrounding President Xi, the increasingly bellicose tone of China’s foreign policy, and the accelerating oppression of minorities and dissidents should compel us to prayer!2. Pakistan https://operationworld.org/locations/pakistan Elections Feb. 8th, 2024. Pakistan has been embroiled in political turmoil for nearly two years. In April 2022, the Pakistani Parliament ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan, a former cricket star, on a no-confidence vote. He is currently in Jail.3. Ukraine. For end to the war and Peace. https://operationworld.org/locations/ukraine 4. Kenya https://operationworld.org/locations/kenya Kenya is stable at this time, but faces many threats. Ethnic groups clash violently over limited resources, which are themselves environmentally fragile. The fast-growing population, widespread poverty, spreading urban slums, and urgent need for land reform create tension in Kenyan society. Kenya shares borders with Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, and South Sudan – all notorious for upheaval. The political scene is fraught with tribalism and corruption. Pray for peace, for wise governance, and for practical, sustainable, long-term solutions that work for the whole of Kenya5. Israel https://operationworld.org/locations/Israel 6. Gaza https://operationworld.org/locations/Palestine 7. Indonesia https://operationworld.org/locations/Indonesia. Elections Feb. 14th, 2024. Millions of Indonesians need a new place to live as a result of earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods since 2001. Pray that Christians might show the love of Jesus to these displaced peoples
In each nation, pray for:1. Lost Souls – Salvation2. Missionaries – Opened Doors of Ministry, Utterance, and Faith3. Missionary Families – Protection, Provision and Times of Refreshing from the Presence of the Lord.4. Local Churches – Hunger & Thirst for more of Christ5. Church Leaders & Elders – Sensitivity to the Spirit of God, Passion for Lost Souls and effective Discipleship of the younger generation and new Believers.6. The local economies – for prosperity. For Businesses, particularly small businesses.7. Good Political Leadership: Presidents, Governors, Legislators, Judiciary8. Youths – Hunger, thirst and love for God9. Against Occultic Influence10. True Christian Discipleship
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
There are millions of people trafficked and living in slavery today. Countless child soldiers are forced to shoot and kill in grown men’s armies. Of those millions, it’s estimated that only one percent will be rescued. Often, it’s assumed that slavery only takes place in foreign countries, when in reality it’s also occurring close to our own backyard. The fight against modern-day slavery and trafficking must begin with prayer.“The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.” – Psalm 103.6“Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever, who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.” – Psalm 146:5-7PRAY FOR: For liberation and justice to be brought to the victims. For physical and emotional healing for the victims. That God would give peace and remove the bad memories many victims deal with. That traffickers would realize the sin they are in, repent, and turn from it. That government leaders and local authorities would have wisdom and intuition to find where the trafficking occurs so they can stop it. That these same authorities would not give in to bribes or pressure to conceal the matters. For awareness to grow within each community. That those who care for trafficked victims would have patience and love for each person and would not grow apathetic. That organizations and groups against trafficking would find funding and favor to fight these crimes.
2024 PRAYER & FAST: PRAYER FOCUSWEEK 2: January 7-13PRAYER FOR NATIONSPlease pray for these nations:1. The People's Republic of China https://operationworld.org/locations/china-peoples-republic 2. Taiwan https://operationworld.org/locations/china-taiwan Elections Jan. 9th, 20243. Ukraine. For end to the war and Peace. https://operationworld.org/locations/ukraine4. Sudan https://operationworld.org/locations/sudan5. Israel https://operationworld.org/locations/Israel6. Gaza https://operationworld.org/locations/Palestine7. Bangladesh https://operationworld.org/locations/Bangladesh Elections Jan. 7th, 2024
In each nation, pray for:1. Lost Souls – Salvation2. Missionaries – Opened Doors of Ministry, Utterance, and Faith3. Missionary Families – Protection, Provision and Times of Refreshing from the Presence of the Lord.4. Local Churches – Hunger & Thirst for more of Christ5. Church Leaders & Elders – Sensitivity to the Spirit of God, Passion for Lost Souls and effective Discipleship of the younger generation and new Believers.6. The local economy – for prosperity7. Good Political Leadership 8. Youths – Hunger, thirst and love for God PRAYER FOR MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL AND DISCIPLESPRAYER FOR GOD TO OPEN DOORS:DOORS:1. Doors of Ministry2 Corinthians 2:12 King James Version (KJV)“Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord.”2. Doors of UtteranceColossians 4:3 King James Version (KJV)“Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds”3. Doors of FaithActs 14:27 King James Version (KJV)“And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.”
PRAYER FOR YOURSELF PAULINE PRAYERS1. Ephesians 1:17-192. Ephesians 3:16 -193. Colossians 1: 9 -114. Philippians 1: 9 -11
Ephesians 1:17-19 King James Version (KJV)17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:18 The eyes of my understanding being enlightened; that I may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Ephesians 3:16-19 King James Version (KJV)16 That God would grant me, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;17 That Christ may dwell in my heart by faith; that I, being rooted and grounded in love,18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that I might be filled with all the fulness of God.Colossians 1:9-11 King James Version (KJV)9 I pray for myself, desire that I might be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;10 That I might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulnessPhilippians 1:9-11 King James Version (KJV)9 I pray, that my love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;10 That I may approve things that are excellent; that I may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 King James Version (KJV)23 May the very God of peace sanctify me wholly; and I pray to God that my whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 King James Version (KJV)11 I pray that God would count me worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in me, and I in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.Amen.
2024 PRAYER & FAST: PRAYER FOCUSWEEK 1: January 1-6
1. START THE NEW YEAR WITH THE HIGH PRAISE OF GOD IN YOUR MOUTH.Thank Him for the Gift of Life, for the Holy Spirit, and for His faithfulness
O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. Psalms 95:2-3 (KJV).
2. PROCLAIM GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY & DRIVE OUT ALL EVIL FORCES OVER THE NATIONSFor by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17 (ESV)
3. BIND AND CAST OUT EVERY SOVEREIGN EVIL SPIRIT THAT IS THE STRONGMAN OVER YOUR NATION AND OVER THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD AND LIFT JESUS UP AS SOVEREIGN KING OVER THE NATIONSThen Jesus said, “That voice came for your sake, not for mine. Now is the time for the judgment of this world to begin, and now will the spirit that rules this world be driven out. As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all men to myself.” John 12:31-33 (JB Phillips NT)“Verily I say to you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on the earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on the earth shall be loosed in heaven”. Matthew 18:18 (Darby)
4. STAND IN THE GAP, ASK GOD TO HEAL YOUR NATION AND THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Ezekiel 22:30 (ESV)
5. PRAY FOR WORLD LEADERS – FOR GODLY COUNSEL, WISDOM, AND THE FEAR OF GODFirst of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV)
6. PRAY FOR PEACEFUL AND JUST PRESIDENTIAL AND GENERAL ELECTIONS IN BANGLADESH (JANUARY 7) AND TAIWAN (JANUARY 13) THIS MONTH.He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. Daniel 2:21 (NKJV)Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. Psalm 75:5-7 (KJV)
The miraculous is wrought and needs are met, as we pray in the name of Jesus, according to His will. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” - I John 5:14-15.
Jesus said “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” John 14:14
Pray…1. for every believer to “awake” and to recognize the need for faithful fervent prayer (I Thessalonians 5:17, James 5:16).2. for each saint to develop a genuine personal relationship with Jesus and to live a repented life. “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings...” (Philippians 3:10).3. for the Church to practice a lifestyle of prayer and fasting and greater consecrate as they seek the supernatural. “Consecration brings revelation, and revelation brings demonstration” (Mark 9:29; Acts 2:42). “…the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following” (Mark 16:20).4. for the body of Christ to give ourselves to apostolic priorities and kingdom purpose (Matthew 6:33). “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).5. for the Church of Jesus Christ worldwide to effectively unite and proclaim the Lordship of Jesus Christ, function as one Church, and endeavor in one mission of preaching the gospel of the Kingdom. “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism…” (Ephesians 4:3-5).6. for God’s people to “put on Christ” and to align with His purpose and His perfect will. “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Romans 13:14).7. for the ministry and leadership, and for a complete liberty of the operation of the five-fold ministry in the Church, including the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11).8. for a spirit of unity among the people of God, and that God would heal any divisions, schisms, hurts, or resentment in the church, on every level. Pray for pure motives and for God’s righteousness to prevail. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1).9. in Jesus’ name for healing to take place in the Church―for total wholeness and well-being…spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. “…and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).10. for the Church to be adorned with the whole armor of God and for a spiritual command center/apostolic dominion power to prevail in cities worldwide. 11. that wicked powers be subdued and evil strongholds be broken across this world, in the mighty name of Jesus. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (II Corinthians 10:4).12. that the Church hear and obey the voice of God (Exodus 19:5, Jeremiah 7:23), and that we worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24), with sincere praise and thanksgiving. “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalm 100:4).13. for a great awakening of Apostolic doctrine and the revelation of Jesus Christ as the only way to God almighty. “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins…” (Acts 26:18). “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).14. for great revival and harvest among adults, as well as children and youth in our society (Matthew 19:14, Psalm 71:17). “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth” (Psalm 127:4).15. for there to be a revival among the prodigals (backsliders) of the church. “…Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you…” (Jeremiah 3:14).16. for our missionaries, both on the Global Missions and local evangelism levels. Pray for fruitfulness in every work. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…” (Matthew 28:19).17. for America, and for the government leaders of your specific nation. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers…be made for…all that are in authority” (I Timothy 2:1-2).18. for Israel and for God’s purpose to be fulfilled. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).19. for Asia, the 10/40 window, and all other nations of the world. Pray for worldwide harvest. “And the gospel must first be published among all nations” (Mark 13:10).20. for laborers to be sent into the harvest fields, and for finances/resources for God’s work worldwide (Malachi 3:10). “Pray ye…the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:38).21. for open doors of mass evangelization worldwide and that God’s people be strong and do exploits. “…the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits” (Daniel 11:32).22. that the Church be fully empowered by the Holy Ghost to witness and to do good works. “How God anointed Jesus…with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good…” (Acts 10:38).23. that the church of Jesus Christ worldwide enter into a greater dimension of the supernatural and that God use His people mightily to do greater works. “…He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do…” (John 14:12).24. for restoration, revival, harvest, and for the shekinah glory of God to manifest―resulting in unprecedented spiritual/numerical growth worldwide. Pray that the masses be filled with the Holy Ghost and baptized in the name of Jesus. “Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).25. that God would send His angels to help us (Psalm 103:20). They are ministering spirits who minister for the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14) and are bearers of the miraculous, working in the midst of humanity. “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them” (Psalm 68:17).26. that God’s people advocate/experience healing, miracles, signs and wonders, so that His kingdom may be manifested and the immense needs of humanity be met. “my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (I Corinthians 2:4).27. that the church fully possesses the territories that God has given to us. “Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee” (Genesis 13:17). “Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession” (Psalm 2:8 NKJV).28. Spirit-led prayers in the name of Jesus, and that His kingdom come and His will be done in earth, as it is in heaven! “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).29. that the name of Jesus be exalted throughout the whole earth in this end-time! “… how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens” (Psalm 8:1).30. National elections in 2024:
Two thousand twenty-four looks to be the mother of all election years. More than three dozen countries, with a total population of four billion people, will see their citizens head to the polls. Some of those elections are foregone conclusions. The odds are good, for example, that Vladimir Putin will win a resounding victory in the first round of Russia’s presidential election, now set for March 17, which means he will continue his war on Ukraine. For its part, Ukraine looks to be one of the few countries that won’t hold national elections as planned, in its case because of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s judgment that the war with Russia makes elections difficult if not impossible to hold.
But in many if not most of the countries headed for elections next year the outcome remains up in the air. The results in some instances will be consequential not just for the country in question but for its neighbors as well, and in at least one case the results could be consequential for the future of the world order as we know it. Here are a few coming elections to watch and pray about in 2024. In most cases, we know when voters will head to the polls. But in a few cases, the precise dates remain to be set. And the list of critical 2024 election could continue to grow. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has signaled that he will likely call for elections sometime in 2024 rather than wait until 2025 when a new election must be called. Other unplanned elections could materialize as governments fall, whether because of routine parliamentary maneuvers, protests in the streets, or coups.
Pakistani General Elections, February 8. Sometimes elections get postponed. Pakistan is a case in point. In August, incumbent Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for the dissolution of the Pakistani parliament. New elections were set to be held within ninety days. However, the Election Commission of Pakistan postponed the election, first to sometime in January 2024, and then until February 8, 2024. The commission argued that it needed more time to prepare for the vote. The bigger reason is that Pakistan has been embroiled in political turmoil for nearly two years. In April 2022, the Pakistani Parliament ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan, a former cricket star, on a no-confidence vote. Rather than retire, Khan led protests seeking to force his successor, Sharif, from office. Khan soon found the Pakistani military cracking down on his supporters and Pakistani prosecutors accusing him of taking bribes. Khan denied the charges, but he was quickly convicted and sentenced to three years in jail. Then in November he was charged with leaking state secrets. The government has barred television stations from showing Khan. He recently evaded that ban by using artificial intelligence to create a fiery speech mimicking his voice to share with his supporters over the internet. Whoever becomes Pakistan’s next prime minister will face a daunting in-box. The nuclear-armed country of 230 million people barely avoided a catastrophic default on its foreign debt earlier this year, inflation is running at 30 percent, and electrical outages are commonplace.
Indonesian General Election, February 14. Elections are a massive logistical feat under any circumstance. But imagine holding an election in a country with 275 million people spread across 17,000 islands, and doing it all in a single day. Welcome to Indonesia. Its constitution bars incumbent President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) from running for a third term. The three leading candidates to replace him are Prabowo Subianto, Ganjar Pranowo, and Anies Baswedan. Prabowo is the frontrunner. He is a retired army lieutenant-general who was the son-in-law of Indonesia’s dictator Suharto. Prabowo was dishonorably discharged after Suharto’s ouster in 1998 and banned from entering the United States for two decades because of human rights violations. He is making his third run for the presidency. He lost twice to Jokowi and has served as defense minister since 2019. In a bit of electoral gamesmanship, Prabowo picked Jokowi’s oldest son as his running mate. Ganjar served two terms as governor of Central Java, Indonesia’s third most populous province. He is running as the candidate of Jokowi’s party. Ganjar won high marks for improving the province’s infrastructure, but also alienated voters earlier this year when he opposed allowing Israel to play in Central Java in the under-2020 FIFA World Cup. The decision cost Indonesia its role as host. Anies is the governor of Jakarta. Educated in the United States with a Ph.D. in political science from Northern Illinois University, he became president of an Islamic university and is popular with Islamist groups. If no candidate wins 50 percent of the vote on February 14, the top two candidates will square off in a final round of voting.
Indian National Elections, April-May 2024. India’s national elections testify to the wonders of democracy. A country of 1.4 billion people who speak more than one hundred languages will use the ballot box rather than the gun or dynastic privilege to decide who will govern them. In 2024, Indians will be electing members of the eighteenth Lok Sabha, or national parliament. The party or coalition that controls the Lok Sabha will in turn select the prime minister. The odds are good that Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win their third election in a row and avoid needing to rely on a coalition to govern. Earlier this month, the BJP won elections in three Indian states, showing that the party’s message continues to resonate with voters. Indeed, polls show that nearly eight out of ten Indians approve of Modi’s job performance, a number that virtually every other democratic head of state would love to have. Modi’s success reflects several factors. On the positive side, India’s economy is growing at 7 percent lifting incomes across the country and fueling the sense that tomorrow will be better than today. On the negative side, Modi’s government has jailed and intimidated opponents while otherwise squeezing the room for political debate. The BJP has also benefited from the weakness of the Congress Party, which dominated Indian politics for the country’s first six decades but has faded since. Continued electoral dominance may be good for the BJP, but it may mean further erosion of India’s democracy.
Mexican Presidential Election, June 2. Mexico will likely have its first woman president by this time next year. The Mexican constitution bars incumbent President Andrés ManuelLópez Obrador, better known as AMLO, from seeking reelection even if his 66 percent approval rating makes him the envy of elected leaders around the world not named Narendra Modi. AMLO’s governing Morena Party is putting forth Claudia Sheinbaum as its candidate. She is the former mayor of Mexico City and a long-time AMLO ally. Not surprisingly, she has vowed “full responsibility” for continuing AMLO’s policies. Mexico’s leading opposition parties have banded together under the banner of the Frente Amplio por México (FAM), or Broad Front for Mexico, to put forth Xochitl Gálvez as their candidate. She is a former senator with the right-of-center National Action Party (PAN). Sheinbaum currently has a comfortable lead in the polls, no doubt helped by AMLO’s popularity. She can point to several AMLO successes, most notably a falling poverty rate, an economy growing at more than 3 percent, and slowing inflation. But crime and violence, much of it linked to drug cartels, remain a massive problem. Fentanyl smuggling across the border to the United States has raised tensions with Washington and triggered calls for the U.S. military to attack the cartels. Meanwhile, migration to the United States, much of it by people using Mexico as a transit corridor, further strains relations with the United States. Whoever takes the baton from AMLO next December will have her hands full.
European Parliament Elections, June 6-9. Yes, Europe has a parliament. Or more precisely, the European Union (EU) has a parliament. It doesn’t rival national parliaments in power, and it’s the weakest of the EU’s governing institutions. However, it wields one significant power: It has the ultimate say in selecting the new president of the European Commission, the EU’s real powerhouse. Ursula von der Leyen has yet to say whether she intends to stand for a second five- year term as president. Citizens of the EU’s twenty-seven members states will select 720 parliamentarians to serve from 2024 to 2029. That’s up fifteen seats from the number in the current European Parliament, which was seated in 2019. Each member country votes for its own slate of parliamentarians. The minimum voting age is as young as sixteen (Austria, Germany,Malta), though in most member countries it is eighteen. More than four hundred million Europeans are eligible to vote, making the EU parliamentary election the second largest in the world after India’s national election. A critical question is how many Europeans will vote next June. Turnout in 2019 was 51 percent. That is not an impressive number by global standards. It was, however, the highest turnout in an EU parliamentary election in a quarter century. Another question is whether populist politicians will gain a bigger foothold in the EU parliament, as has happened recently in some national parliamentary elections. The European People’s Party, which has been the dominant party in the European Parliament for a quarter century, has already begun shifting rightward.
Belgian Elections, June 9. Besides producing the best chocolate in the world, Belgium has some of the world’s most interesting politics. Belgium literally holds the Guinness world record for going the longest time without forming a government. After the June 2010 national elections, it took 541 days, or almost eighteen months, for Belgium to form a government. Much of the complexity of Belgian politics owes to the division between the country’s two main language groups, the Flemings (or Flemish), who speak Dutch and constitute 60 percent of the population, and the Walloons, who speak French and constitute 40 percent. (There is also a tiny German-speaking community that has official recognition.) The Flemings and the Walloons each dominate a different region of the country and have lived uneasily together since Belgium was founded in 1830 after breaking away from the Netherlands. When Belgians vote next June, they will be choosing members of their regional, federal, and European parliaments. In doing so, they could be unintentionally deciding whether Belgium will end up on the ash heap of history. The far-right Vlaams Belang Party currently tops the polls in Flanders. Its leader argues that Belgium is “a forced marriage,” and he wants a divorce. That might be idle talk. Tensions between Flemings and Walloons have ebbed in recent years. But the Vlaams Belang Party sees opposition to immigration as its winning issue. The recent success of right-wing populists in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe suggests that the unthinkable could become thinkable.
U.S. General Election, November 5. No election in 2024 will be more consequential than theU.S. general election. Up for grabs are the presidency, one-third of the seats in the Senate, and all the seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The presidential race is setting up to be a rerun of the 2020, with Joe Biden squaring off against Donald Trump. If Trump wins, he will join Grover Cleveland as the only American president to serve two non-consecutive terms. But the race isn’t drawing intense interest because it will provide grist for trivia tournaments, but because of fears that it could lead to the demise of American democracy and upend the global order. Trump’s insistence against all evidence that the 2020 election was stolen from him and his talk of “retribution” against those who have opposed him has prompted warnings that he is intent on setting the United States on “the path to dictatorship.” Likewise, his continued attacks on NATO, his dismissal of climate change, and his promises to use tariffs to place a “ring around the U.S. economy” have spurred speculation that his second term as president would upend world politics. Whether Trump or Biden can move on their agenda will depend in good part on what happens in Congress. Republicans look set to retake control of the Senate. Conversely, Democrats could retake the House. In all, next November’s vote may be the one election to live up to the claim of being the most important election of our lifetime.
South African General Election, date to be determined. Democracies may be easier to start than to maintain. South Africa’s next election could prove that hypothesis. South Africa’s transition from apartheid to a functioning democracy was in many ways a miracle. Much of that success is owed to Nelson Mandela, who unlike many other revolutionary leaders resisted the temptation to embrace authoritarianism. But over the years, South Africa’s government has failed to deliver the results that many voters expected while leaders of the African National Congress (ANC), which has dominated South African politics for three decades, has seemed more interested in self-enrichment than in solving the country’s problems. The 2024 election may stop that downward spiral or accelerate it. The election is being held under new electoral rules that should facilitate challenges to the status quo—among other things, independent candidates can now run for office. The ANC has to be concerned. Its support dropped below 50 percent for the first time in the 2021 elections. That drop reflects extensive corruption allegations against party officials combined with high unemployment, slow economic growth, and decaying infrastructure. Despite this bad news, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has himself battled corruption charges, will likely seek a second term. The Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s largest opposition party, hopes to shock the world and wrest power away from the ANC by collaborating with other opposition parties. That seems like a longshot. But if the ANC triumphs, South Africa’s democratic decline could well continue.
2024 PRAYER & FAST: PRAYER FOCUSJanuary 21-27
PRAYER FOR NATIONSPlease pray for these nations:1. Argentina https://operationworld.org/locations/argentina. Evangelical Christians grew from less than 1 million in 1980 to possibly over 4.5 million by 2020. Renewal, evangelism, and prayer touched the nation. Argentinean evangelists, teachers, and missionaries touched the world! Godly, united leadership is necessary for the future. Pray for students in the hundreds of seminaries, Bible schools, and programs. Local Councils of Pastors and the National Evangelical Alliance (ACIERA) now meet to pray and co-ordinate ministry. Pray that leaders may hear what the Spirit speaks to the Church, and act together in faith. Pray for the Argentine economy which is in very serious trouble.2. Senegal https://operationworld.org/locations/senegal. Elections Feb. 25th, 2024. Senegal appears both open and closed spiritually. The nation enjoys religious freedom and tolerates many faiths, and Senegalese feel proud about this. But few of the Muslim majority have ever come to Christ. The Muslim Sufi brotherhoods are organized, wealthy, and have political power. Over 85% of all Muslims belong to one of them. Even after long-standing Christian presence and outreach, a spiritual heaviness covers the land. Pray for the spiritual breakthrough that many wait for!3. Ukraine. For end to the war and Peace. Also, pray for the Ukrainian economy. The war has. https://operationworld.org/locations/ukraine 4. Tunisia https://operationworld.org/locations/tunisia The country had one of the most progressive and open societies in the Arab world, but Tunisians felt frustrated by high unemployment, corruption, political oppression, and poor living conditions. Protests led to government changes, and inspired similar protests across the whole Arab world. However, continued economic decline and unemployment, intensified from the impact of COVID, along with frustration over government corruption and ineffectiveness, led to more protests in 2021. In response, the President dissolved the government, appointed a new Prime Minister, and rewrote the constitution in ways that will give him more power. Pray that the travails of Tunisia might somehow draw people towards Christ. 5. Israel https://operationworld.org/locations/Israel 6. Gaza https://operationworld.org/locations/Palestine 7. Ghana https://operationworld.org/locations/Ghana Ghana enjoys a rich Christian tradition! Many newer churches emerged, and many traditional denominations have a vibrant spiritual life. When churches multiply quickly, doctrines can become confused. Ghana has the blessing of many training institutions. Pray for mature leaders for the Church. 63% of Ghanaians call themselves Christian, but only about 10% attend church regularly. Traditional African practices present the greatest challenge to Christians. Pray for a clear break from all bondage to charms and the occult, and pray for true liberty in Jesus. Also pray for the fragile economy and for good leadership. Elections will hold on Dec. 7.In each nation, pray for:1. Lost Souls – Salvation2. Missionaries – Opened Doors of Ministry, Utterance, and Faith3. Missionary Families – Protection, Provision and Times of Refreshing from the Presence of the Lord.4. Local Churches – Hunger & Thirst for more of Christ5. Church Leaders & Elders – Sensitivity to the Spirit of God, Passion for Lost Souls and effective Discipleship of the younger generation and new Believers.6. The local economies – for prosperity. For Businesses, particularly small businesses.7. Good Political Leadership: Presidents, Governors, Legislators, Judiciary8. Youths – Hunger, thirst and love for God9. Against Occultic Influence10. True Christian Discipleship
CHILDREN We cannot hide our children from the world, but we can be proactive in guarding them. We can inter¬cede for our children, praying for wisdom, protection, peace, and strength. Though the enemy battles for our children in their years of immaturity and inexperience, we have the Almighty God that protects them and powerfully overcomes the enemy when we call on Him. Our children can thrive spiritually! “All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.” – Isaiah 54:14“Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people. All who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the posterity whom the Lord has blessed.” – Isaiah 61:9PRAYER POINTS LORD, please: Put a hedge of protection around our children. Shield them from attacks of the enemy. Keep them from predators and those who try to entice them into evil relationships. Give them courage and wisdom to make right choices when faced with temptation. Help them to keep themselves pure and not have inappropriate relationships. Give them wisdom to know when they are being taught things that go against Your Word. Quicken Your truth to their mind in those moments. Remind them to keep themselves pure in what they see, listen to, and do. Protect them from disease and illnesses that try to come upon them and those that are hereditary. Protect them from physical, verbal, emotional, and sexual abuse. Give parents spiritual eyes to see areas their children are struggling in and godly wisdom to know how to counsel them.
2024 PRAYER & FAST: PRAYER FOCUSJanuary 14-20
PRAYER FOR NATIONSPlease pray for these nations:1. The People's Republic of China https://operationworld.org/locations/china-peoples-republic. China remains politically oppressive and corrupt. It has a poor human rights record, and imposes harsh laws and punishments. The cult of personality surrounding President Xi, the increasingly bellicose tone of China’s foreign policy, and the accelerating oppression of minorities and dissidents should compel us to prayer!2. Pakistan https://operationworld.org/locations/pakistan Elections Feb. 8th, 2024. Pakistan has been embroiled in political turmoil for nearly two years. In April 2022, the Pakistani Parliament ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan, a former cricket star, on a no-confidence vote. He is currently in Jail.3. Ukraine. For end to the war and Peace. https://operationworld.org/locations/ukraine 4. Kenya https://operationworld.org/locations/kenya Kenya is stable at this time, but faces many threats. Ethnic groups clash violently over limited resources, which are themselves environmentally fragile. The fast-growing population, widespread poverty, spreading urban slums, and urgent need for land reform create tension in Kenyan society. Kenya shares borders with Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, and South Sudan – all notorious for upheaval. The political scene is fraught with tribalism and corruption. Pray for peace, for wise governance, and for practical, sustainable, long-term solutions that work for the whole of Kenya5. Israel https://operationworld.org/locations/Israel 6. Gaza https://operationworld.org/locations/Palestine 7. Indonesia https://operationworld.org/locations/Indonesia. Elections Feb. 14th, 2024. Millions of Indonesians need a new place to live as a result of earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods since 2001. Pray that Christians might show the love of Jesus to these displaced peoples
In each nation, pray for:1. Lost Souls – Salvation2. Missionaries – Opened Doors of Ministry, Utterance, and Faith3. Missionary Families – Protection, Provision and Times of Refreshing from the Presence of the Lord.4. Local Churches – Hunger & Thirst for more of Christ5. Church Leaders & Elders – Sensitivity to the Spirit of God, Passion for Lost Souls and effective Discipleship of the younger generation and new Believers.6. The local economies – for prosperity. For Businesses, particularly small businesses.7. Good Political Leadership: Presidents, Governors, Legislators, Judiciary8. Youths – Hunger, thirst and love for God9. Against Occultic Influence10. True Christian Discipleship
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
There are millions of people trafficked and living in slavery today. Countless child soldiers are forced to shoot and kill in grown men’s armies. Of those millions, it’s estimated that only one percent will be rescued. Often, it’s assumed that slavery only takes place in foreign countries, when in reality it’s also occurring close to our own backyard. The fight against modern-day slavery and trafficking must begin with prayer.“The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.” – Psalm 103.6“Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever, who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.” – Psalm 146:5-7PRAY FOR: For liberation and justice to be brought to the victims. For physical and emotional healing for the victims. That God would give peace and remove the bad memories many victims deal with. That traffickers would realize the sin they are in, repent, and turn from it. That government leaders and local authorities would have wisdom and intuition to find where the trafficking occurs so they can stop it. That these same authorities would not give in to bribes or pressure to conceal the matters. For awareness to grow within each community. That those who care for trafficked victims would have patience and love for each person and would not grow apathetic. That organizations and groups against trafficking would find funding and favor to fight these crimes.
2024 PRAYER & FAST: PRAYER FOCUSWEEK 2: January 7-13PRAYER FOR NATIONSPlease pray for these nations:1. The People's Republic of China https://operationworld.org/locations/china-peoples-republic 2. Taiwan https://operationworld.org/locations/china-taiwan Elections Jan. 9th, 20243. Ukraine. For end to the war and Peace. https://operationworld.org/locations/ukraine4. Sudan https://operationworld.org/locations/sudan5. Israel https://operationworld.org/locations/Israel6. Gaza https://operationworld.org/locations/Palestine7. Bangladesh https://operationworld.org/locations/Bangladesh Elections Jan. 7th, 2024
In each nation, pray for:1. Lost Souls – Salvation2. Missionaries – Opened Doors of Ministry, Utterance, and Faith3. Missionary Families – Protection, Provision and Times of Refreshing from the Presence of the Lord.4. Local Churches – Hunger & Thirst for more of Christ5. Church Leaders & Elders – Sensitivity to the Spirit of God, Passion for Lost Souls and effective Discipleship of the younger generation and new Believers.6. The local economy – for prosperity7. Good Political Leadership 8. Youths – Hunger, thirst and love for God PRAYER FOR MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL AND DISCIPLESPRAYER FOR GOD TO OPEN DOORS:DOORS:1. Doors of Ministry2 Corinthians 2:12 King James Version (KJV)“Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord.”2. Doors of UtteranceColossians 4:3 King James Version (KJV)“Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds”3. Doors of FaithActs 14:27 King James Version (KJV)“And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.”
PRAYER FOR YOURSELF PAULINE PRAYERS1. Ephesians 1:17-192. Ephesians 3:16 -193. Colossians 1: 9 -114. Philippians 1: 9 -11
Ephesians 1:17-19 King James Version (KJV)17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:18 The eyes of my understanding being enlightened; that I may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Ephesians 3:16-19 King James Version (KJV)16 That God would grant me, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;17 That Christ may dwell in my heart by faith; that I, being rooted and grounded in love,18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that I might be filled with all the fulness of God.Colossians 1:9-11 King James Version (KJV)9 I pray for myself, desire that I might be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;10 That I might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulnessPhilippians 1:9-11 King James Version (KJV)9 I pray, that my love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;10 That I may approve things that are excellent; that I may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 King James Version (KJV)23 May the very God of peace sanctify me wholly; and I pray to God that my whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 King James Version (KJV)11 I pray that God would count me worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in me, and I in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.Amen.
2024 PRAYER & FAST: PRAYER FOCUSWEEK 1: January 1-6
1. START THE NEW YEAR WITH THE HIGH PRAISE OF GOD IN YOUR MOUTH.Thank Him for the Gift of Life, for the Holy Spirit, and for His faithfulness
O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. Psalms 95:2-3 (KJV).
2. PROCLAIM GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY & DRIVE OUT ALL EVIL FORCES OVER THE NATIONSFor by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17 (ESV)
3. BIND AND CAST OUT EVERY SOVEREIGN EVIL SPIRIT THAT IS THE STRONGMAN OVER YOUR NATION AND OVER THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD AND LIFT JESUS UP AS SOVEREIGN KING OVER THE NATIONSThen Jesus said, “That voice came for your sake, not for mine. Now is the time for the judgment of this world to begin, and now will the spirit that rules this world be driven out. As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all men to myself.” John 12:31-33 (JB Phillips NT)“Verily I say to you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on the earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on the earth shall be loosed in heaven”. Matthew 18:18 (Darby)
4. STAND IN THE GAP, ASK GOD TO HEAL YOUR NATION AND THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Ezekiel 22:30 (ESV)
5. PRAY FOR WORLD LEADERS – FOR GODLY COUNSEL, WISDOM, AND THE FEAR OF GODFirst of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV)
6. PRAY FOR PEACEFUL AND JUST PRESIDENTIAL AND GENERAL ELECTIONS IN BANGLADESH (JANUARY 7) AND TAIWAN (JANUARY 13) THIS MONTH.He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. Daniel 2:21 (NKJV)Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. Psalm 75:5-7 (KJV)