Praying for our prisons

With so many men and women in our prisons wanting to be free from the life of crime in which they feel trapped, there are enormous opportunities for the gospel. And, of course, there are many pastoral needs, too, not only amongst those serving a prison sentence but also within their families.

May we encourage you to pray for our prisons?

Those who wish to pray daily through the month may like to follow the monthly plan below and perhaps also pray specifically for one or two prisons.

 

November 2024

Week 1 - for those in prison
448 1st

for those in prison on licence recall, that they would overcome any sense of shame and failure, and work towards re-establishing a positive life for themselves in the community.

449 2nd

for those desperate to be free from drug and alcohol addictions, that they will receive appropriate support both in prison and on release, especially through ‘rehabs’.

450 3rd

for those who have been rejected by their family or have cut themselves off from their family, that they might receive emotional support.  Pray for the Lord’s help to those who are longing to restore their relationships.

451 4th

for those who feel no remorse for the hurt and pain they have caused. Pray that they would begin to recognise the impact of their crimes upon their victims and upon their own families – and will choose to turn away from crime.

452 5th

for the men and women recently released and with a history of reoffending, that they will have the support they need to break that cycle.

453 6th

for those who have come to faith while in prison: give thanks to God and pray that they will grow in their faith with support from other Christians.

454 7th

for those falsely accused of sex offences, that their convictions will be overturned on appeal. Pray for their lawyers and others working on their behalf.

Week 2 - for those who work in prison
455 8th

for the recruitment of officers and staff where needed; pray for the staff in those prisons who are working under considerable pressures.

456 9th

for chaplains and volunteers who are leading Bible study groups; pray that the men and women will be responsive to God’s Word.

457 10th

for Governors, as they manage their establishments to  provide as full a programme of classes, groups and activities as it is safe and secure to do.

458 11th

for the Lord’s help to volunteers engaged in letter writing, that their letters will bring comfort and encouragement to the men and women who receive them.

459 12th

for the Lord’s wisdom for chaplains as they provide pastoral support to the residents, especially those who are deeply troubled, e.g., by anxiety, guilt, shame and grief.

460 13th

for security staff, as they work to make their prison more secure, especially by preventing drugs and other illegal substances and items getting into the prison.

461 14th

for the protection of officers working on the landings. Pray for healing for officers currently off sick as a result of injury or stress-related illness.

Week 3 - for families and communities
462 15th

for community groups, charities, schools, youth workers and others who counsel young people against the carrying of knives and other weapons.

463 16th

for churches, youth workers and agencies working with children and young people who are offending or at risk of offending.

464 17th

for children with a parent in prison that, wherever possible and appropriate, they will be able to maintain contact with their parent. Pray for the protection of those children who are at risk of turning to crime themselves.

465 18th

that more churches will commit to welcoming and supporting men and women on release from prison.

466 19th

for churches which have a dedicated ministry to ‘ex-offenders’, that they will have sufficient volunteers to give time to mentoring and supporting the men and women referred to them.

467 20th

for children taken into care as a result of one or both parents being in prison, that they will be healed from the emotional damage of losing their parents.

468 21st

for probation staff, community chaplains and all who support men and women on release from prison. Pray that the vulnerable will get the help they need to prevent them from reoffending.

Week 4 - for those in prison
469 22nd

for Christians, struggling with their faith since going to prison, that the Lord will strengthen their faith and sustain them.

470 23rd

for believers who have ‘backslidden’, that there will be those who will affirm afresh their commitment to Jesus and restore fellowship with Him.

471 24th

for all believers who are witnessing to Christ, that the Lord will grant them wisdom and boldness.

472 25th

for Christians as they are released, especially those with no church connection, that they will be linked to a supportive church.

473 26th

for the men and women who have contacted BeaconLight this month, that the Lord will speak to them through the gospel literature they have been sent

474 27th

that many might come to faith in Christ whilst in prison. Pray that the Lord will use the teaching and preaching, the personal and group Bible studies, the gospel literature and the witness of believers, all for this purpose of drawing unbelievers to Christ.

475 28th

for the men and women who will be released over the next few weeks, especially those without a family to support them, that they will get suitable accommodation and support from agencies.

Week 5 - for victims of crime
476 29th

for those who have lost loved ones through crime, that they will find healing through their grief.

477 30th

for victims who cannot forgive, that they would be enabled to put aside their anger and their bitterness and move on with their life.