40 Days of Prayer

Day 34 – Your Relationship with Jesus

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30

God is the light in the darkness and in the pain that we experience. He is our hope. Thank God for the ways that He has been faithful to you. Ask Him to expose the broken and painful areas in your life that He wants to heal and redeem. In preparation for Holy Week, take time to prepare your heart for what Christ’s death and resurrection means for you, as His chosen child.

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Day 33 – Someone you know

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. – Revelations 21:4

Today we invite you to spend time praying for someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus and is in desperate need of His love. Pray for the words of Revelations 21:4 to speak into their lives. Ask God to reveal Himself to this person, and pray that they will experience His healing. Pray that they will develop a personal relationship with Christ, the hope of the world.

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Day 32 – Relationship Groups

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. – Galatians 5:1

There is power in knowing that you are not alone in the challenges that you face. Relationship Groups are a safe space where the Care Workers, Primary Caregivers and children can share their challenges, hear from God’s word and pray together. For many people, these groups will be the first time that they have shared their story. Ask God to give each person a spirit of openness, vulnerability and courage. Pray that they will grow in their relationships with one another, and where there is bitterness between people, pray that they will experience freedom and healing.

“Relationship Groups have changed my life! I used to struggle with bitterness and anger but now I am able to share freely with the other Care Workers about what is challenging me at home and it has helped me to move past those feelings. They have also helped me grow spiritually.”

- Venomigue, a Care Worker in Kambove Community, Democratic Republic of the Congo

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Day 31 - Community Living

…. I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

Across Africa, Hands at Work volunteers live in multi-cultural communities, reflective of our Father’s vision for interdependence and Kingdom Culture. We believe that for us to serve the most vulnerable in the poorest communities in Africa, we must first serve the people we live and work with every day. Pray for our communities to be ones of love, grace, generosity and vulnerability, with Christ at the foundation.

Day 29 - Holy Home Visits

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. – James 1:27

At the core of a Holy Home Visit is what Christ has done for us. We visit because Christ visited us first, and in our state of brokenness and pain accepted us as His children. Pray for each Holy Home Visit to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Ask God to give each person the spiritual eyes to see what is happening beneath the surface. Through these visits, pray that each child and their family will see Christ at work in their lives. Pray for our Care Workers to be bold in sharing the hope of the gospel.

Holy Home Visits are an opportunity for Care Workers to connect and build strong and loving relationships with whole families, as can be seen with Elizabeth’s family.

Having been identified as one of the most vulnerable families in the community of Mwaiseni, Zambia, Elizabeth’s children now attend the Care Point there.

One of Elizabeth's children, Ezra*, was in poor health, but since receiving a hot and nutritious meal daily, his health has started to improve. Ezra still requires regular medical attention, something the Care Workers are committed to providing.

The family are visited in their home by Care Worker Rebecca, who brings support and encouragement. Elizabeth shares, “Rebecca is like a little sister to me in how she cares for Ezra”.

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