Pray on the go
Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Lebanon are in the grip of winter. Getting outside to pray can help us to focus on the needs of people who have been made homeless by the earthquake and who are more vulnerable in freezing weather.
You can pray on your commute or head to your local neighbourhood or park. If you or anyone in your group struggles with walking, you may want to choose a location, such as a park, that has benches so that everyone can join in.
As you walk, focus on the needs of people in winter and how God can meet them. Think about how the earthquake has made people more vulnerable and the kind of support they will need. You can use our prayer pointers to help you.
While out, keep your eyes open for what’s around you and let the Holy Spirit use them to guide you in prayers. For example, snowdrops and the coming of spring might inspire you to pray for hope and courage amid the challenges.
Pray by fasting
Fasting involves purposefully giving up something that you’ll miss in order to shape your focus. Many Christians choose to do this for Lent, which begins soon. Maybe you could start early or incorporate this into your prayer time this Lent?
- First, choose what to fast from. Food is the most common choice, but you could also fast from TV or social media. Make sure you consider your health and consult a doctor if needed.
- Then, decide how long you want to fast for. Challenge yourself but don’t be unrealistic. You could start with missing just one or two meals on a particular day, then repeat that on the same day each week.
- Use the time that you would have spent preparing and eating food, or scrolling through social media, to focus on God. When you notice that you’re longing for whatever it is you’re fasting from, use it as a reminder to focus on one of the areas of prayer listed above.
- If you’re doing this as a church or a small group, think of ways you can encourage each other throughout the day. This could be by sending each other Bible verses or sharing what God has been speaking to you.
Pray while sharing a meal
As you sit down to a meal – either with yourself, your family, or your church group – set aside a few minutes to pray for those affected by the earthquake.
Reflect on the needs people might have. Pray that they will be fed and nourished. If there is a traditional prayer of grace that you say, think about how you could adapt this.
You could also host a prayer and fundraising event and cook or provide a meal inspired by Turkish or Syrian cuisine, and use our prayer guide to pray for the crisis and encourage people, as they feel led, to donate to the earthquake appeal.
Thank you…
Your prayers are making a difference. Thank you for standing with people affected by the earthquake.