Ezekiel 36 Prayer Guide

MONDAY

If you already have a prayer card with the names of 3 friends not yet in a Bible-believing church who live in the Philly region, make one! If you have one, spend some time praying for them. Here is an idea of how you can pray for them:

  • Ask God to give them one thing that would increase their joy.
  • Pray for opportunities to love them, introduce them to your Christian community, and speak the gospel to them.
  • What barriers are in the way of their believing? Pray for God to break them down.
  • Pray in this fashion: “God, would you give (say person’s name) a new heart, and put within him/her a new spirit? Would you remove the heart of stone from his/her flesh and give him/her a heart of flesh?” – Ezekiel 36:26

TUESDAY

Pray for the communities in Philadelphia you belong to outside of the church. This could be your neighborhood, workplace, rec sports team, gym, dog park, community garden, etc. Here are some questions to get you started:

  • What do you enjoy about it? Say these things to God and give Him thanks.
  • Where do you see evidence of the fall? How has sin broken it? Say these things to God as a way of mourning/lamenting before Him. Use “we” pronouns, e.g. “But God, we tend to keep to ourselves,” not just “they all keep to themselves” (cf. Isaiah 6:5, Nehemiah 1:6).
  • Ask God to redeem the things sin has broken, e.g. “God, bring us together in worship of you” (Ezekiel 36:24), or “God, put your Spirit within us, and cause us to walk in your statues and be careful to obey your rules” (Ezekiel 36:27). Where is God not glorified? Pray He’d vindicate His name there (Ezekiel 36:23).

WEDNESDAY

Pray for the advance of the gospel in Philadelphia. Pray that God would increase the people of Citylight and all gospel-preaching churches in Philly like a flock, and that Philly would be one of the waste cities filled with flocks of His people (Ezekiel 36:37-38). Here are some ideas, borrowed from the Redeemer Church Planting Manual:

  • That a clear and powerful proclamation of the gospel of grace would spread through the city.
  • That testimonies of changed lives would be the talk of the town.
  • That unity within and between churches would replace splintering and conflicts and cause unbelievers to marvel.
  • That a balanced outreach of word and deed would meet the needs of the city.
  • That hundreds of new churches would be planted in Philadelphia.

THURSDAY

Pray for the rebuilding of Philadelphia after the fashion of: “On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt.” – Ezekiel 36:33. While this will only be fulfilled when the heavenly city comes down, let’s ask God to break in now and give us a foretaste in Philadelphia. Here are some ideas:

  • That classes and races would experience justice and reconciliation
  • That there would be an increase in integrity, honesty and trust between landlords and tenants, management and labor, professionals and clients, merchants and customers.
  • That marriage would be held in honor while the single life is not stigmatized, that sex within marriage would be viewed as beautiful, and the sex industry would be closing down.
  • That strong schools would be provided for all the children of the city.
  • That greed and corruption would decline in both private and public sectors.
  • That those God has blessed with greater resources would repent of their detachment and get involved in the needs of their communities.

FRIDAY

Pray for God to vindicate the glory of His name in all the earth. Anywhere there are hearts of stone and desolate places, God is not glorified as He deserves. Pray that “the nations that are all around us shall know that you are the LORD. You have spoken, and you will do it” (Ezekiel 36:36). Here are some ideas:

  • For our international workers. Pray for God to sustain them with a sense of perseverance and purpose, especially in speaking the good news of Jesus.
  • For stability in the government where they serve, such that the gospel can spread (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
  • For God’s protection and sustaining grace for Christians in areas where the church is under persecution.
  • For the spread of the gospel to unreached people groups (Click here for more info).
  • For God to call more people to go (Matthew 9:37-38).