GMC prayer room

06/01/2026

“In God, whose word I praise — in God I trust, and I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” — Psalm 56:4

One of the powerful things about having a Bible as a repository of God's words is that its age and influence across diverse countries and cultures remind us how enduring God's truth is. Still, we remember that it is God in whom we put our trust! His enduring presence across cultures, centuries, and countries reminds us that eternity is beyond our grasp. Still, the Eternal One holds us in his hands as we journey toward the destination he has for us. Our lives, with our future secured, are hidden with Christ in God and are destined for his glory (Colossians 3:1-4). Our worst days, months, and years of suffering, hardship, difficulty, and challenges cannot compare to the glory that is yet to be revealed in us (Romans 8:18-21). Our trust is in our eternal Savior, so let's keep our eyes focused and our hopes centered on him and the glory that awaits us (Colossians 3:2; Hebrews 12:1-2). In God I trust, and I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me if God is my God!

🙏 O Great and Eternal God, thank you that you are more stable than the ground on which I stand, more enduring than the mountain peaks I admire, and more constant than the waves upon the oceans that I love. I trust my life, future, and soul with you. I want to please you in the way I live. I want my life to be marked by consistent faithfulness to you, for in you I trust. In the name of Jesus, I ask for the Spirit's help to keep my focus on you. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to [email protected].

05/31/2026

Number 12 on the Open Doors World Watch list 2026 is India.

Religious nationalists believe that being Hindu is an important part of being Indian, and to them Indian Christians are seen as outsiders at best. Those who leave Hinduism to follow Jesus can be seen as traitors.

Christians can face violent attacks and the destruction of their homes and churches.

Christians can also face discrimination, such as being denied medical care.

Another weapon increasingly used to target Christians (and other religious minorities) is anti-conversion laws, currently implemented in 12 states. In theory, the laws are meant to protect all religions, but the reality is very different. Even a constitutionally approved activity, like a prayer meeting, can lead to an accusation, arrest and interrogation. Kaveri* was hosting a prayer meeting when police arrested her after complaints were made that she was forcibly converting women to Christianity. Amazingly, she says, “Many others face even worse persecution for Christ – so why shouldn’t I endure this? I am honoured to suffer for His name.”

In Manipur, scene of horrific ethnoreligious clashes in 2023, Christians are among those who continue to suffer, with many still displaced and vulnerable to attack.

🙏 Lord Jesus, we rejoice that countless people in India are encountering You, often through healings and miracles. As the church’s presence and growth brings opposition, uphold our family with Your unfailing love. Meet every need and bring them through with an even stronger faith. We pray against the spread and misuse of anti-conversion laws, and a stop to other legal impediments to religious freedom. Locally and nationally, bring greater protection of minorities. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

05/31/2026

Father of Creation,

We will one day see our Saviour face to face. Tears will be wiped away, Death will be no more.

And there will be a tree for the healing of the nations.

Until that day,

Turn your face to us,

Strengthen us so that

We will face what we will face

With a firm heart, Focused mind, And resolute will.

Extract from prayer 19, Jon Swales,

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05/29/2026

Tearfund’s weekly prayers

1 Restoration and peace in Ukraine

Pray for all those in Ukraine who have lost loved ones, homes, jobs and everything they once knew as their daily lives. Ask God to give them comfort and to bring peace and healing to their minds where there have been deep psychological and emotional impacts from trauma. Pray for Tearfund’s partners who are mentoring church leaders struggling with their faith in the face of prolonged suffering. Pray for the peace negotiations to continue and to bear fruit, bringing lasting peace.

2 Peace and healing in the Middle East

Pray for peace to reign across the region. Pray for our staff and our partner staff across the region. As they deliver much-needed aid and support for the communities, let’s not forget that they are also members of the communities that they’re trying to help. Pray that God protects them, keeps their hearts, and gives them much-needed support in their minds, hearts, and souls to find that peace in order to give that peace to others as well. Pray for peacemakers and church leaders in the various communities to continue to be architects of enduring life, and pray for political leaders – that God moves their hearts away from injustice and towards peace and reconciliation.

3 Church and community transformation in Asia

Join us in thanksgiving and praise for an impactful event where 60 rural church leaders from Sri Lanka visited our Transforming Communities work, hosted by Tearfund Bangladesh and our local partners. Let's pray that these leaders return home to their congregations inspired and enriched, with the will and dedication to carry all that they learnt back to their home churches to bring about positive change within their communities.

05/28/2026

Zaid encouraged by your prayers amidst persecution in Yemen

“God, if you exist, tell me: where are You?” asked Zaid* from Yemen as he began exploring Christianity. That night and for many after, Zaid had the same dream. “A voice said, ‘I left the 99 and came for you.’” Zaid gave his life to Jesus. “I felt a joy unspeakable,” he shares.

However, persecution followed when his father saw a Bible on his bed. He was abused and thrown out. “When you return to a sane mind, come back. What a disgrace,” his parents yelled at him. In Yemen, and across the Middle East, the rejection of converts by their own families is sadly common.

Nevertheless, like so many courageous believers in the region, Zaid holds onto his faith. “If I had stopped leaning on God’s Word, I would have died,” he says. He’s since established a discipleship house with the help of Open Doors local partners. “We are very encouraged when we know that we have brothers and sisters who are praying for us. The strongest thing we own is our prayers.”

Please pray:

🙏 Zaid asks, “Pray for peace. We want Jesus to reign over Yemen. May God open the eyes of the people to see Him”
🙏 That Yemeni believers would be bold in sharing their faith with those around them
🙏 For Zaid’s family to come to know true life in Jesus.

05/27/2026

Author of life divine,
whose song unleashes beauty,
creating wonder and inspiring awe.
You call our voices out,
join them in a renewing melody which
is older than time.
You lead us, then move us,
in a dance lost in wonder, love
and praise.
In such moments, our humanity
reverberates with grace
and we know ourselves beloved. Amen.

Kerry Tankard, Chair,
Yorkshire West District

Methodist Prayer handbook 2025-6

05/26/2026

Number 11 on the Open Doors World Watch list 2026 is Afghanistan.

Afghanistan remains a place of extreme persecution for anyone who dares to follow Jesus under the brutally oppressive rule of the Taliban.
Christians keep their faith completely secret. Those who are discovered are likely to be beaten, tortured and possibly killed.
Almost all believers are converts from Islam – and apostasy is considered punishable by death under Islamic law.
To preserve their ‘honour’, families, clans and tribes feel obliged to deal harshly with those known to have turned to Christianity. Mere suspicion of conversion – such as avoiding mosque attendance – can trigger catastrophic consequences.
Given the immense risk of meeting with other believers, the church exists only in increasingly fragmented, secretive gatherings.

🙏 Lord Jesus, we marvel at the brave faith of our family in Afghanistan, but our hearts also ache at their suffering. Continue to fill Your children with the bright light of Christ, refreshing their hope and empowering their witness. Watch over Your people, keep them from harm, and provide avenues for them to flourish. We pray against further deportations, and soften the hearts of the Taliban, and those in neighbouring countries, towards women and vulnerable minorities. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

05/25/2026

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”— James 1:19

Let's just put this in cornbread English: "We must pump the brake on our speech and hit the throttle for our ears." When possible, we should let our emotional temperature cool for a few days before responding, pray to determine whether we need to respond, craft a response (written or verbal) with care, and then carefully edit and filter it before delivering our message - especially when we've had a zinger come our way. We keep our mouths shut, our hearts pure, and our ears open. Now, if we would all obey what James 1:19-21 teaches in this whole passage, we'd all be more blessed:

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

🙏 Mighty and Holy God, you are incredible - beyond my comprehension. How you put up with all the drivel, senseless verbal barbs, gossip, and hurtful speech that your other children spew out is beyond my understanding. I ask you, dear Father, to release the Holy Spirit to convict my heart and guard my lips from any form of hurtful speech. So, dear Father, we ask that you develop the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and a genuine Christ-likeness in us (2 Corinthians 3:18) so that our words and hearts reflect you and bless others in the ways you desire. We pray this to treat others more as Jesus did. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to [email protected].

05/24/2026

Father of Creation,

Your Son set his face towards Jerusalem,

With self-giving sacrificial love,

So too, let us set our face towards injustice.

Let us not look away from the world’s most vulnerable. Let us not look away from sober scientific analysis. Let us not look away from evil’s empires of exploitation.

Extract from prayer 19, Jon Swales,

Home › Articles › Lament & Hope: Prayers for the Climate and Ecological EmergencyLament & Hope: Prayers for the Climate and Ecological Emergency It’s hard to face the state of the world at the moment, isn’t it? We think prayer must be our first response and we are proud to host a downloadabl...

05/24/2026

On the Day of Pentecost

🙏 Hallelujah Father in heaven, you love to give the Holy Spirit to your children when we ask! (Luke 11:13)
Hallelujah, Lord Jesus Christ, you have sent us the Helper who will never leave! (John 14:16)
Hallelujah Holy Spirit, I welcome you here with me now! (1 Thess. 1:4–6)

🙏 Jesus, you promised that I would “receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon [me]” to be a witness to your resurrection (Acts 1:8). Please give me an opportunity today, here where I am, to do just that, pointing someone to you. Come, Holy Spirit!

🙏 I pray today for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon your Church, particularly remembering all those being baptised today in water and in the power of the Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit!

Lectio 365