Prayer Guide
May Prayer Needs
Merge Conference
May 1–2
Couples will hear biblical insight to help prepare them for marriage. Please pray that each couple would grow together in understanding and build their relationship on a Christ-centered foundation.
National Day of Prayer
May 7
Believers from all across our city will come together to pray for the Church and our nation. Pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to fill the room as the Body of Christ intercedes for Memphis and beyond!
Camp Ocoee
May 23–27
Middle school students are heading to Camp Ocoee! Pray for everyone to stay safe, have fun, make new friends, and most importantly, grow in their knowledge and love of God and His Word.
Young Adults Retreat
May 29–June 1
Bellevue’s young adults are going to Nunnelly, Tennessee, for a weekend retreat. Pray for God to strengthen relationships, and pray that the weekend will be filled with moments of joy and spiritual renewal.
Missions Project: Galllup, New Mexico
May 29–June 6
This team will partner with Rock Springs Baptist Church to jump-start their summer by hosting a Vacation Bible School and doing discipleship and outreach. Please pray for many people to accept Jesus.
Focused Prayer: Summer at Bellevue
Summer is almost here, and Bellevue has a full lineup of exciting opportunities for all ages! From CampOutrageous and Adventure Kids to Next Gen’s summer camps and more, God is going to be moving in powerful ways this season. As these events are announced in the coming weeks, we invite you to lift them up in prayer. Ask God to draw children, students, and adults to Himself—that many would encounter His love and place their trust in Jesus for the very first time. Pray for those who already know Him to be refreshed and renewed by the Holy Spirit, keeping their hearts and minds fixed on Him throughout the busyness of summer. Most of all, pray that in every moment and through every event, the name of Jesus would be lifted high and glorified.
Pray for our Pastor
Pray for Ben to experience supernatural peace.
“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6–7
Pray for Ben to walk in the power of the resurrection.
“My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death.” Philippians 3:10
Fasting That Moves From Burden to Breakthrough
Before Nehemiah ever rebuilt a wall, he carried a burden.
When he heard that Jerusalem’s walls were broken down and the city’s gates were burned, his first response was not strategy—it was fasting and prayer: “I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4 NASB1995).
Nehemiah shows us something we often forget: God-sized assignments are birthed in God-centered desperation.
Nehemiah’s fasting was not casual or routine—it was connected to a burden. He allowed what broke God’s heart to break his. And instead of rushing to act, he slowed down long enough to seek God deeply.
Notice what happened in his fasting:
- Clarity came. Nehemiah began to see the situation as God saw it—not just as ruined walls but as a reproach of God’s people.
- Confession flowed. Nehemiah didn’t stand above the problem; he stepped into it: “I and my father’s family have sinned” (Nehemiah 1:6c). Fasting has a way of humbling us and aligning us with God’s holiness.
- Confidence grew. By the time Nehemiah finished praying, he was no longer just burdened—he was ready. Fasting didn’t weaken him; it strengthened him for action.
Here is the challenge for us:
We often want God to move quickly, but we are reluctant to seek Him deeply.
Nehemiah fasted “for days.” There was no instant answer, no immediate change. But something far more important was happening—God was shaping the man before and as He was accomplishing the mission.
What burden has God placed on your heart?
- A prodigal child?
- A struggling marriage?
- A drifting church culture?
- A lost neighbor?
- Governmental leaders who seem more selfish than selfless?
- Educators who seem to have lost their way?
What if that burden is not something to escape but an invitation to fast and pray?
Fasting says, “God, this matters more than my next meal.” It’s a declaration that we are serious about seeking God, not just solving the problem.
This month, don’t just pray—fast with purpose.
Give up a meal. Invest that time in fasting. Let physical hunger remind you to seek God with spiritual urgency. Bring your burden before Him. Confess. Intercede. Listen.
And trust this: The same God who stirred Nehemiah’s heart is still at work today—raising up men and women who will fast, pray, and then rise to act.
Resources
Use these resources to pray for Bellevue, Memphis, and the world.
Prayer for America
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Prayer for Memphis
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Prayer for the World
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Prayer for Families
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Prayer for Revival
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Prayer for Missions
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