Prayer Guide – Week 28 (June 24-30)

We first direct our focus to God with praise and thanksgiving:

The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.
Psalm 97:1 (NIV)
Surely the islands look to me...
Isaiah 60:9 (NIV)
We praise God, for He is also the King and the hope of the Japanese people, the Islands of the rising sun and the risen son!

We pray for the Christians among the Japanese as our brothers and sisters:

I pray that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
John 17:21 (NIV)
We pray for growing unity among believers, leading to revival.

... then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Philippians 2:2 (NIV)
We pray for good cooperation among Japanese congregations and with foreign Christians so that the gospel can be spread in Japan.

We pray for the harvest workers working among the Japanese:

... being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.
Colossians 1:11 (NIV)

We pray for perseverance for workers in all kind of ministries, for cross cultural workers having diligence in learning the Japanese language and culture so they can effectively share the gospel.

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ.
Colossians 4:3 (NIV)
We pray that Christian businesspeople will recognize their mission and find open doors to share the gospel with the Japanese.

We pray for more harvest workers:

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Matthew 9:36-38 (NIV)
We ask God for more Christians from Japan and abroad who are willing to follow Jesus call into ministry. For disciple makers to live in the unreached rural areas, for creative ways in outreach to reach the pockets of society where Jesus is waiting. For servant hearts to make a difference in social hotspots, as well for Christian disaster relief, spreading Christian hope in all areas of the Japanese society.

We pray for the Japanese themselves:

Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD; exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea.
Isaiah 24:15 (NIV)
We call the Japanese to worship the true God and pray that they will accept the God of Israel as their own, becoming free from the idols that enslave them, become followers of Jesus the Christ and making followers.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6 (NIV)
We pray that many will recognize Jesus as the only way, the truth, and the life.

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 (NIV)
We pray that they hear and accept this invitation from Jesus, freeing them from the pressures of performance.

Because I live, you also will live.
John 14:19 (NIV)
We especially bring the younger generation before God and pray for them to have true life.

He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners.
Deuteronomy 10:18-19 (NIV)

We pray for the Japanese diaspora, that many will become hungry to hear more about Jesus and come to a living faith in HIM, sharing it with relatives and friends in Japan.