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 those vulnerable to self-harming and attempts at suicide, that they will receive the extra support and care needed and will be kept safe. |
| 449 | 2nd | 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. |
| 450 | 3rd | for those for whom this month will be especially painful, triggering, for example, the memory of the loss of a loved one or the loss of contact with a child or family. |
| 451 | 4th | 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. |
| 452 | 5th | 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. |
| 453 | 6th | for those who spend extended periods in segregation because they are a threat to others. Pray for healing of the causes of their aggressive and threatening behaviour. Pray that, in their isolation, they might cry out to the Lord. |
| 454 | 7th | for those who are not believers and don’t normally attend chapel but did so over Easter. Pray that they will begin to attend regularly and come to accept the truth of Christ’s sacrificial death and His resurrection. |
| 455 | 8th | for all officers who have been victims of a serious assault recently. Pray for their healing. |
| 456 | 9th | for chaplains, that the Lord will sustain them and encourage them as they provide pastoral and spiritual support to the residents. |
| 457 | 10th | 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. |
| 458 | 11th | 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. |
| 459 | 12th | for all Christians working in our prisons, that the Lord will enable them to bring glory to God as they serve Him and seek to be ‘salt and light’. |
| 460 | 13th | for chaplains and volunteers who are leading Bible study groups; pray that the men and women will be responsive to God’s Word. |
| 461 | 14th | for those preparing messages for chapel services, that the Holy Spirit will give them the words to speak; pray that the gospel will be proclaimed boldly. |
| 462 | 15th | 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. |
| 463 | 16th | for families impacted financially by imprisonment and for organisations such as Christians Against Poverty who support them through practical care and advice. |
| 464 | 17th | for partners, grandparents and others caring for children in the absence of parents in prison. |
| 465 | 18th | for communities troubled by an increase in violent crime, that effective policing will reverse the trend. |
| 466 | 19th | that more churches will commit to welcoming and supporting men and women on release from prison. |
| 467 | 20th | for community groups, charities, schools, youth workers and others who counsel young people against the carrying of knives and other weapons. |
| 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. |
| 469 | 22nd | for backslidden believers, that there will be those who will affirm afresh their commitment to Jesus and restore fellowship with Him. |
| 470 | 23rd | for men and women who are violent towards staff, that they will receive specialist support and treatment if needed. Pray that God will intervene in their life, convicting them about their behaviour and of their need of Jesus. |
| 471 | 24th | for all believers who are witnessing to Christ, that the Lord will grant them wisdom and boldness. |
| 472 | 25th | 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. |
| 473 | 26th | 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. |
| 474 | 27th | for those overcome with guilt and shame for their crimes, that they might turn to Christ and know that they are forgiven and cleansed by His sacrificial death. |
| 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 victims who cannot forgive, that they would be enabled to put aside their anger and their bitterness and move on with their life. |
| 477 | 30th | 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. |