Prayer Guide

Pray we will live in the reality of the "reason for the season."

It is so easy to get caught up in the hectic pace of the holidays: parties to go to, presents to buy, and people to remember, and I won’t even mention the busy church calendars! Pray Christians will make time to reflect on and live in light of Jesus’ birth, life, death, burial, resurrection, and return. In other words, pray that we focus on the eternal, not the temporal.

• Pray we will truly Worship. “After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11
• Pray we will unashamedly share the good news. “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” Luke 2:10–11
• Pray we will live holy lives in light of the price He paid. “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation, Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” Luke 2:29–32
  

Pray Singing Christmas Tree will be anointed by God.

• Pray those who need to be saved will hear the Gospel, repent, believe, and receive Jesus. 
• Pray those who need encouragement will receive a touch from God.
• Pray those who need hope will be filled. 
• Pray those who need strength will receive.
• Pray, most of all, the words of Jesus, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Myself.” John 12:32

Pray we will be a catalyst for spiritual awakening in Memphis and beyond.

Our Vision is to be a catalyst for spiritual awakening in Memphis and beyond. It is also the greatest need in Memphis and beyond. Every battle we fight is a spiritual battle! Paul tells us, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Our greatest need is to be the people of God experiencing the power of God flowing through us. 

• Pray God will revive His people. “Will You not Yourself revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” Psalm 85:6
• Pray we will walk in both the fear of God and faith that He will respond to believing prayers. “LORD, I have heard the report about You and I fear. O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years, In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy.” Habakkuk 3:2
• Pray God will both revive present leaders and raise up new spiritual leaders, men and women who know that the living God is the only answer. “Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself. Then we shall not turn back from You; Revive us, and we will call upon Your name. O LORD God of hosts, restore us; Cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.” Psalm 80:17–19

Pray spiritual strongholds will be broken

In the prayer for Memphis, which we include every month, we specifically pray these words: 

Demolish every stronghold of pride, violence, racism, poverty, crime, sexual immorality, drug abuse, sickness, religious formalism, fanaticism, legalism, liberalism, and traditionalism.

Strongholds are developed in lives, families, churches, and the culture where the truth of God is ignored or rebelled against, and sin is not forsaken. 

• Pray we will realize that problems and the solutions to what we face are spiritual. Drugs, violence, poverty, pornography, and intolerance all have their root in rebelling against God. “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:4 ESV
• Pray we will engage in spiritual warfare. Resist does not mean to ignore. Resist means to stand against. “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:7–8
• Pray we will clothe ourselves with the armor of God. “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:13–17

Pray that Memphis Prayer 365 would see Memphis covered in prayer 24/7/365

The prophet Isaiah challenged God’s people to build a spiritual wall around Jerusalem through prayer, “On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; All day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind the Lord, take no rest for yourselves; And give Him no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth” (Isaiah 62:6–7). We believe He wants to see the same for Memphis. At this point, 18 days of the month are covered 24 hours a day. Every day of the month, at least one church has embraced the calling of praying for Memphis.

• Pray God calls other churches to this mission until Memphis is covered 24/7/365.
• Pray churches experience the presence and power of God as they are stand in the gap. “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.” Ezekiel 22:30

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 them 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 occultic 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 exceeding and abundantly beyond all that we can ask or think. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Pray for political leaders

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

• Pray those who are saved will lead with righteous values and will share the Gospel of Christ with other political leaders.
• Pray the pressures of leading will cause lost politicians and judges to call on Jesus to be saved.
  

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
• Stephen G. Breyer
• Samuel A. Alito
• Sonia Sotomayer
• Elena Kagan
• Neil M. Gorsuch
• Brett M. Kavanaugh
• Amy Coney Barrett‍

Governor of Tennessee: Bill Lee

Tennessee Senators:

• ‍Marsha Blackburn
• Bill Hagerty
  

West Tennessee Congressmen:

• ‍Steve Cohen
• David Kustoff

Memphis/Shelby County Elected Officials:

City Council:

Shelby County Commissioners: