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.
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.
| 448 | 1st | for the elderly, the frail and those vulnerable to self-harming and attempting suicide, that they will receive the appropriate level of support and care and be kept safe. |
| 449 | 2nd | for those in custody for the first time and frightened, that staff will show compassion and help them to feel safe. |
| 450 | 3rd | 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. |
| 451 | 4th | for men and women in dispute over access to, or custody of, their children. Pray for wisdom for those with the responsibility of making decisions in the best interests of the children. |
| 452 | 5th | for sex offenders, many of whom are overwhelmed with guilt, that they might come to recognise that they are not beyond God’s forgiveness. |
| 453 | 6th | for those who have recently lost contact with, or custody of, their children. Pray that they might receive emotional support and turn to God for comfort. |
| 454 | 7th | for those who are desperately lonely, without any contact from outside and feeling isolated within the prison. Pray that chaplains, officers and other inmates would make time for them. |
| 455 | 8th | for chaplains as they plan and prepare services for Good Friday and Easter Day. Pray that they will be able to allocate sufficient time to study and seek the Lord’s help. |
| 456 | 9th | for healthcare staff, that they will be enabled to care with skill, love and compassion, despite all the demands upon them. Give thanks to God for them. Pray especially for Christians, that they might display Christ’s love to those for whom they care. |
| 457 | 10th | that Easter gospel literature will get into the hands of unbelievers and will cause some to begin to investigate Christianity. |
| 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 newly recruited officers, that they will be kept safe during their early days of becoming familiar with the prison regime. Pray for the experienced officers who oversee them. |
| 462 | 15th | for those who are grieving and for those who are concerned for loved ones who are seriously, or terminally, ill, that they might to turn to God and draw strength from Him and His Word. |
| 463 | 16th | for the protection of children whose lives have been dominated by the criminal activity of one or both parents. Pray that they will be kept free from crime themselves. |
| 464 | 17th | 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. |
| 465 | 18th | this Good Friday, pray for those who will be taking time to reflect on the crucifixion of Christ, that they will be drawn to a deeper understanding of the price paid for their sin. Pray for those who have yet to commit to Christ. |
| 466 | 19th | this Easter Day, pray for chaplains as they lead services and groups in celebration of Christ’s resurrection. Pray for all believers that they will grow in their faith and be effective witnesses to other residents and staff. Pray, too, that many who do not normally attend chapel will attend a service today. |
| 467 | 20th | that more churches will commit to welcoming and supporting men and women on release from prison. |
| 468 | 21st | for partners, grandparents and others caring for children in the absence of parents in prison. |
| 469 | 22nd | for believers who have ‘backslidden’, that there will be those who will affirm afresh their commitment to Jesus and restore fellowship with Him. |
| 470 | 23rd | for families increasingly affected by the rising costs of living, that they will access the support and benefits to which they are entitled without any delay. |
| 471 | 24th | 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. |
| 472 | 25th | 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. |
| 473 | 26th | for the men and women who are fearful about the future, that they might turn to Christ and find hope, both for this life and for eternity. |
| 474 | 27th | for those vulnerable to self-harming and attempts at suicide, that they will receive the extra support and care needed and will be kept safe. |
| 475 | 28th | for believers with a strong faith, that the Lord will sustain them and use them to encourage other Christians and as a witness to other residents and to staff. |
| 476 | 29th | for the many recent victims of knife crime, for their families and especially for those grieving the loss of a loved one. Pray that many will turn to the Lord for His comfort and strength. |
| 477 | 30th | for those feeling the shame of a crime committed by a family member and consider themselves victims (and perhaps ostracised in their community); pray that they will find support from Christians and be enabled to forgive their family member. |