Prayer Guide

April 3, 2024

In his letter to the Roman Christians, the apostle Paul revealed the depths of his soul for Israel and, indeed, for all people without Christ: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation” (Romans 10:1). As someone who had experienced the miracle of new birth in Christ and the indescribable blessings that accompany it, Paul passionately wanted others to know the riches of knowing Christ.

God designed us to want to share the experiences of life, good and bad, with others:

  • If you are married, do you know someone who has lost the love of their life? If so, have you shaken your head in anguish for them and cried out to God for His mercy and comfort for them? Of course you have.
  • If you are a parent, do you know someone who has lost a child? If so, has your heart gone out to them? Sure, it did. I’m sure you have prayed for them many, many times.
  • Have you ever gone to a vacation spot and thought of someone (maybe a good friend) who would LOVE to see it too? If so, did you text them or take a picture and send it to them? If not, I’m sure that at least when you got home, you told them, “You have to see this place.”
What we learn from Paul is not merely the fact that we desire to share the blessings and sorrows of life with people—he also teaches us what to do for lost people. Paul writes, “My heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation” (Romans 10:1). Paul prayed for people to be saved—and so should we.
  • Pray for those you know who went to an Easter service and who are away from God, that God will use the music and the message to bring them to Jesus for the first time or, if they are saved, to bring them back to Jesus.
  • Pray for lost people, that the experience of worship will stir up the thirst that can only be satisfied by Jesus.
  • Pray that we will have hearts like Paul’s (which is like the heart of Jesus) and be people who have the world on our hearts. Pray we will know that the world starts with our next-door neighbor.
Oh, and live with a full, Spirit-filled heart. That’s one way people know HE LIVES!

    Pray for Pastor Steve

    Pray for God’s healing

    • “Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for You are my praise.” Jeremiah 17:14
    • “I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up, and have not let my enemies rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me.” Psalm 30:1–2

    Big prayers for Memphis!

    The matters we are praying for this month regarding Memphis are big prayers! As John Newton, author of “Amazing Grace,” wrote:

    Thou art coming to a King,
    Large petitions with thee bring;
    For His grace and power are such,
    None can ever ask too much.

    Big prayers require God. God requires that our petitions are prayed in faith.

    The following requests are not simply a list to be hurriedly read to God but areas where the Holy Spirit can do a deep, powerful, and personal work in you and through you. The goal is not to get to the end of the list! And you may not finish it. As God prompts you to settle down on a particular request, do that.

    Churches

    “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.” Acts 9:31
    • Pray for the Word of God to be proclaimed from every pulpit in Memphis with Holy Spirit power! Pray by name for the pastors and churches that God brings to mind. The Spirit of God will guide you regarding what to pray.
    • Pray that Christians will not be satisfied with emotionalism, traditionalism, or dead orthodoxy but instead hunger for the Word of God and the living presence of God.
    • Pray that churches will become “a house of prayer for all the peoples” (Isaiah 56:7).
    • Pray for genuine revival to break forth in churches and pray that people will embrace the Holy Spirit as He moves in fresh ways.
    • Pray that God will raise up men and women who will love God, love people, share Jesus, and make disciples. “The church is not developing her recruits into disciplined soldiers. We are fighting the greatest battle of all time with the most untrained army on Earth” (Vance Havner).

    Leadership in Memphis and the Mid-South

    “It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, for a throne is established on righteousness.” Proverbs 16:12
    • Pray that God will raise up righteous political leaders—men and women who lead from a sense of personal responsibility to God and who serve in a holy fear of God.
    • Pray for your political leaders by name (you can find them after the “Prayer for Memphis”). Pray for their salvation if they are not saved. Pray that God will surround them with godly friends and associates. Pray that political power will not be an idol. Pray that God will bring political leaders to their knees in surrender to and dependence on God.
    • Pray that city and county leaders who are believers will pray with one another and walk in unity of Spirit.

    Safety

    • Pray that God will quench the spirits of violence that frequently strike our neighborhoods and people.
    • Pray that God will give police officers and elected officials wisdom to know how to combat evil. “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:1–2).
    • Pray that God will raise up soul winners, disciple makers, and churches who will reach those committing violence so they can be born again and transformed. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness” (Mark 7:21–22).

    Pray that the National Day of Prayer, Thursday, May 2, will be a time when God’s people seek him powerfully in prayer!

    “And My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

    Continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem

    “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you.’” Psalm 122:6
    • Pray for God’s protection over Israel.
    • Pray that God will give wisdom to Israeli leaders.
    • Pray for justice to be carried out on those who have murdered innocent civilians.
    • Pray for God to bless the witness of Christians in Israel.
    • Pray for God to open the eyes of Jews and Muslims and bring them to Jesus.
    • Pray that the United States will maintain the wisdom to support Israel.

      Pray for Memphis

      Rather than simply reading the words of Bro. Steve’s “Prayer for Memphis,” please take time to verbally pray for our city, using this prayer as a guide:
         

      Heavenly Father, thank You for Memphis. Thank You for strategically locating our city in the middle of this nation so we can be a catalyst for revival and spiritual awakening. Please pour out Your Spirit on Memphis, Shelby County, the Mid-South, and beyond. Help every Christian and every Bible-believing, Jesus-loving, Gospel-preaching church to love God, love people, share Jesus, and make disciples. Demolish every demonic stronghold of pride, violence, racism, poverty, crime, sexual immorality, drug abuse, sickness, religious formalism, fanaticism, legalism, liberalism, and traditionalism. Replace those with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, blessing, mercy, grace, hope, healing, liberty, and freedom. Destroy the stronghold of religion in Memphis that has a form of godliness but denies the power thereof. Give us churches that believe in the Bible and preach salvation only in Jesus Christ. Let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done in Memphis on Earth as it is in Heaven. Bring pastors, lay leaders, and congregations together as we pray for this city. Bless our governmental leaders, schools, and economy. Please send good jobs to Memphis. Keep casinos, strip clubs, and occult activity out of Memphis. Do a work of revival in Memphis that can only be explained by Your presence and power, and do it all for Your glory. Call Your people to fervent, united, visible, extraordinary prayer. May the latter glory of Your Kingdom in Memphis be greater than the former, and please grant Memphis Your peace. Do exceedingly and abundantly beyond all that we can ask or think. In Jesus’ name, amen!

      Pray for government officials

      We have been commanded to pray “for kings and all who are in authority” (1 Timothy 2:2).

      President of the United States:
      Joe Biden

      Vice President of the United States:
      Kamala Harris

      Supreme Court Justices:
      John G. Roberts, Chief Justice of the United States
      Clarence Thomas
      Samuel A. Alito
      Sonia Sotomayer
      Elena Kagan
      Neil M. Gorsuch
      Brett M. Kavanaugh
      Amy Coney Barrett
      Ketanji Brown Jackson

      Governor of Tennessee:
      Bill Lee

      Tennessee Senators:
      Marsha Blackburn
      Bill Hagerty

      West Tennessee Congressmen:
      Steve Cohen
      David Kustoff

      Memphis/Shelby County Elected Officials

       

      Mayor: City Court Clerk:
      Paul Young Myron Lowery
      Director of Police: Shelby County Mayor:
      Cerelyn “CJ” Davis Lee Harris
      Director of Fire Services: Shelby County Sheriff:
      Gina Y. Sweat Floyd Bonner Jr.

      City Council:

      Super District 8-1: Super District 7:
      JB Smiley Jr., Chairman Michalyn Easter-Thomas
      District 1: Super District 8-2:
      Rhonda Logan Janika White
      District 2: Super District 8-3:
      Jerri Green Yolanda Cooper-Sutton
      District 3: Super District 9-1:
      Pearl Eva Walker Chase Carlisle
      District 4: Super District 9-2:
      Jamita Swearengen-Washington J. Ford Canale, Vice Chair
      District 5: Super District 9-3:
      Philip Spinosa Dr. Jeff Warren
      District 6:
      Edmund Ford Sr.

      Shelby County Commissioners:

      District 11: District 7:
      Miska Clay-Bibbs, Chairwoman Henri E. Brooks
      District 6: District 8:
      Charlie Caswell Jr., Pro Tempore Mickell M. Lowery
      District 1: District 9:
      Amber Mills Edmund Ford Jr.
      District 2: District 10:
      David C. Bradford Britney Thornton
      District 3: District 12:
      Mick Wright Erika Sugarmon
      District 4: District 13:
      Brandon Morrison Michael Whaley
      District 5:
      Shante Avant

      Day of Prayer and Fasting

      As a church family, we set aside the third day of every month to be a day of prayer and fasting. Commit to pray and fast with us on April 3.

      April Prayer Needs

      Bellevue Loves Memphis Workday

      April 13

      Bellevue members and volunteers will go out to serve our city. Pray that practical needs will be met through each project and that above all people will realize and accept their need for a Savior.

      The Source Brunch for Single Moms

      April 21

      Single moms will come together to enjoy fellowship with each other. Pray that this will be a time of building each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11). 

      Merge Conference

      April 26–27

      Seriously dating and engaged couples will gather together for a weekend of learning about marriage. Pray that couples will have humble hearts that are open to what the Lord wants to do in their relationship.

      High School Senior Recognition

      April 28

      Graduating seniors will be recognized during worship services. Pray that these students will have wisdom and peace as they make important decisions for their future and enter a new stage of life.

      Focused Prayer: Deeper

      April 10, 17, & 24

      Throughout the month of April, we will dive deeper into our knowledge of God and His Word through three churchwide events. We’ll hear from three insightful speakers—groundbreaking researcher George Barna, Chronological Bible Teaching creators Stan and Iva May, and marriage and family consultant Josh Straub. Pray that these speakers will breathe new life into the way we view and interact with God’s Word. Pray we will be reminded that the Bible is alive and active, something to be gleaned from daily. Pray we will fully grasp that God’s Word is what we use to fight the enemy, protect our families, and view our world.

      Pray for Our Pastor

      Continue to pray that Bro. Steve will be cured of cancer and that his myasthenia gravis condition will be diminished through miracle or medicine or both.

      “The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. I will not die, but live, and tell of the works of the Lord. The Lord has disciplined me severely, but He has not given me over to death.” Psalm 118:16–18

      Pray that Bro. Steve will have physical strength to do all that God wants him to do.

      “The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will extol Him.” Exodus 15:2

      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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