A Ten-Day Prayer Guide

Global Day of Prayer 2009

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Brothers and sisters in Christ,

The Global Day of Prayer has seen millions of Christians unite in a day of repentance and united prayer. On 11 May 2008, believers from 214 nations once again united all over the globe. The echoes of desperate prayers for transformation sounded from stadiums, open fields, community centers and private houses. These prayers have the power to transform our world and to fill the nations with the glory of God.

On 31 May 2009, God is again calling the nations from the North, South, East and West to embark on this prayer journey with Him. God is moving in His awesome power and He is challenging us to be part of this journey. It is a journey that is not about us, but about a world in desperate need for His glory and compassionate love.
It is a call to respond to His invitation in 2 Chronicles 7:14 to humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways.
May He hear our prayers, forgive our sin and heal our land.

I humbly invite you to join hundreds of millions of Christians as we seek God’s face, and trust that people from the 220 countries of the globe will see willing believers standing in the gap for the nations.

May we see His glory.

Graham Power,

Chairman, Global Day of Prayer

“And I...am about to come and gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory.”

– Isaiah 66:18

Please the Global Day of Prayer website at www.globaldayofprayer.com to learn about translations which may be available in other languages or contact Global Day of Prayer at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV),
Copyright ©1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scriptures identified as NASB are from the New American Standard Bible Update, Copyright ©1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

A Global Day of Prayer – 31 May 2009

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.” – Acts 2:1

A Call for Repentance and Prayer: At the turn of the millennium, believers in South Africa sensed God calling them to seek Him in repentance and prayer and to call people across their country to assemble in united prayer for their cities and nations.

Soon gatherings like it—all meeting on the same day of the year—multiplied across Africa, and in the years that followed, all over the world. The result was the first Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday in 2005.

Across the face of the earth: Many millions from almost every stream of Christian faith have gathered to answer the same call for repentance and prayer in the years that followed. The movement continues to spread and to deepen, packing large stadiums, filling homes with small groups, spilling out to the open squares of small villages, surging around the clock and uniting many churches in prayer for Christ’s greater glory and the blessing of all nations.

Strengthening ongoing movements of prayer: On 31 May 2009, Christians will again gather to pray and to repent with sincere hearts and united hopes. Yet another Global Day of Prayer is being planned for 23 May 2010.

TEN leading up to ONE followed by NINETY

The Global Day of Prayer follows the three parts of the beginning of the Church: ten days of constant prayer leading to Pentecost, one day of prayer witnessed by the whole city and days of blessing that followed. For these reasons, the Global Day of Prayer has three parts.

Ten days of constant prayer: 21-30 May 2009. Beginning on Ascension Day,
21 May, millions of Christians will find ways to pray night and day throughout the ten days leading to Pentecost.

The Global Day of Prayer: 31 May 2009. On Pentecost Sunday, Christians in almost every country will assemble to pray. Many will gather in small groups
in homes. Many will assemble in large stadiums and other public venues.

Ninety days of blessing: 1 June - 29 August 2009. As in the first Pentecost,
transformed Christians transform their communities as they offer themselves
to God as instruments through which their prayers can be answered.
The Global Day of Prayer anticipates the forming or furthering of local
alliances among pastors, churches, missions and business leaders to bring practical, transformational blessing to their communities.

A Call to Pray Great Things

For the Glory of Christ and the Blessing of the Nations

Answer God’s Call.

The Global Day of Prayer is a call from God to meet with Him along with many others so that He can change us and bring forth all He desires among the nations.

If you are reading this, you have probably heard God calling you, too. And He’s put some hope in your heart, a kind of yearning that He’s not going to leave things as they are. Instead, He’s going to make us like Jesus. Despite the gloom of mounting evil, He’s going to heal so many families, lands and peoples that the earth will be covered with the sparkle and laughter of glory, right in the face of darkness.

Praying great things:

We’re gathering to pray for God to fulfill the great things that He has promised: His transforming blessing in every people, and the life-giving glory of Christ’s Lordship in every community.

Concerning deepest needs:

As we stretch our hearts in hope for what God has purposed, He will help us to pray with confident clarity for the urgent needs of our families, cities and nations.

The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

— Habakkuk 2:14

Get ready to encounter God.

Seeking God from 2 Chronicles 7:14-16: In each of the ten days you’ll find a way to pray from this familiar passage. Pray it with all the sincerity that you have, as if you were answering a summons from God.

Repentance is a gift. Let’s ask our Lord to grant us times of turning from darkness so that we can walk in light as we never have before. Break out of your routines by fasting or connecting with others to pray with you.

It’s time. Let’s get ready to meet God.

If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

— 2 Chronicles 7:14

Ten Days of Constant Prayer – 21 - 30 May

Gather in creative ways. Many are forming prayer chains to build bonfires of 24-hours-a-day prayer. Others will meet for an hour or two of focused prayer. Some will be fasting. Look for how the Holy Spirit may give you fresh ways to pray with family and friends.

Children are praying! Let’s involve children as equal partners in our praying. A special version of this prayer guide has been prepared for children. It will help many families pray together and find creative ways to help children lift their voices along with others. Find it at www.globaldayofprayer.com/children.

Young adults will be praying around the clock. Young people have been seeking God with an intensity that has rarely been seen in history. In many countries they’ll be rallying in non-stop prayer throughout the ten days. Young people have prepared a special rendition of this prayer guide designed to catalyze and concentrate the prayers of young people of any age. Find this companion version at www.globaldayofprayer.com/youth.

Pray with different languages. This guide is being translated into about 50 languages so that many millions of Christians the world over will be praying these prayers. See www.globaldayofprayer.com to find available translations. Pray globally. Gather locally.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer

To focus our praying: The prayer of our Lord. To help us pray with united hearts and minds during the ten days to Pentecost, we’ll follow the prayer that our Lord taught us to pray.

To unite our praying: A prayer for the world. Across the globe on 31 May we’ll lift our voices as one with the Prayer For The World on pages 12-14. Why not pray through this daily during these special days?

DAY ONE

Thursday 21 May

REVIVE

Our Father who is in heaven...

• for God to revive and unite His people as one family before Him.
• for wayward Christians to repent and return to God as Father, learning to obey and trust Him.
• for fresh movements of prayer, seeking the throne of grace with persistence.

“If My people...” — 2 Chronicles 7:14

Prepare to encounter God as His people: Present yourself to God as His beloved servant, purchased by Christ’s death. Answer His call to serve Him with others. Pray for many others to gather before Him as families, churches and as one people of all nations.

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DAY TWO

Friday 22 May

REVEAL
...sanctify Your name...

• for the truth of God’s character to be exalted and honoured.
• for God to distinguish Himself from every false god and to expose every false thing spoken
• about Him.
• for the word of God to be proclaimed in every people and place across the earth.
• for the scriptures to be translated and made available in every language.

“...who are called by My name...” — 2 Chronicles 7:14

Preparing to live for His glory: Confess ways that we may have brought shame to our God. Renounce foolish jealousies and small ambitions. Yearn afresh for His glory
to be great in our lands.

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DAY THREE

Saturday 23 May

RULE

...May Your kingdom come...

• for many to be drawn by the power of the gospel to submit their lives to Jesus Christ, in order to love and follow Him as King.
• for Christ’s followers to walk in the fullness of God’s Spirit so that they can live in the likeness of Christ.
• for the Lordship of Christ to influence every part of our cities and societies.

“...will humble themselves...” — 2 Chronicles 7:14

Preparing to meet God in brokenness: Invite God to soften our hardened hearts.
Admit your own brokenness. Adore the excellence of Jesus with fresh awe and wonder. Practice humility by seeking for others to be honoured.

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DAY FOUR

Sunday 24 May

TRANSFORM

...and may Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven...

• for God’s people to bring the influence and blessing of Christ into every aspect of commerce, arts, education and governance in ways that bring lasting transformation.
• for God’s wisdom to be upon our government leaders, bringing changes that increase righteousness and justice.
• for the righteousness, peace and joy of Christ’s kingdom to be a reality by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“...and pray...” — 2 Chronicles 7:14

Preparing to pray beyond ourselves: Pour out your heart before God.
Thank Him for what He has already done. Lift the burdens of others, allowing your heart to be moved to cry out for the tremendous needs of your community and country.

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DAY FIVE

Monday 25 May

PROVIDE

...Give us this day our daily bread...

• for the basic needs of food, water and health care for the poor, for the sick, for refugees and for children.
• that God’s people would become, by His Spirit’s help, agents of healing and change, bringing forth the abundance, justice and peace that God desires.
• for God’s people to break patterns of poverty in their communities, fulfilling God’s promise of blessing amidst all peoples.
• for Christians to act with compassion and persistence to eradicate diseases and to serve well in the aftermath of epidemics such as HIV/AIDS.

“...and seek My face...” — 2 Chronicles 7:14

Preparing to seek God’s face: Set the desires of your heart beyond your own needs. Come near to God in order to know Him and to be known by Him. Be still before Him. Speak to Him confidently and listen carefully, as if face to face with Jesus.

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DAY SIX

Tuesday 26 May

FORGIVE
...Forgive us our sins...

• for the Spirit of God to move on the hearts of men and women so that they will be able to see how God is grieved and how their lives are being destroyed by sin.
• for the Spirit of God to empower people to abandon patterns of sin and find grace to renounce allegiance to powers of darkness.
• for recognition of and repentance from sins that bring about war, poverty and injustice.

“...and turn from their wicked ways...” — 2 Chronicles 7:14

Preparing to repent: Seek more than mere wordy confessions. Instead, ask God to give you power to turn from any hint of evil and to abandon any hurtful way. Let God lift your heart with hope that He will bring lasting change throughout your community and relationships.

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DAY SEVEN

Wednesday 27 May

RECONCILE

...as we forgive those who sin against us...

• to break the cycles of resentment, revenge and racism so that relationships are restored.
• for signs of Christ’s reconciling power in the midst of militarized conflict, revealing God’s desire to end all wars.
• to restore relationships between women and men, to bring reconciliation in marriages and to renew relationships of children with their parents.
• for those who suffer for the name of Christ to endure persecution in the Spirit and grace of Christ.

“...then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin...” — 2 Chronicles 7:14

Preparing to confess: Open your life to Christ. Admit your sin before an open heaven. Confess your wrongdoing to those you may have harmed. Ask God to free you and others from the burden of sin’s guilt and the bondage of sin’s power.

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DAY EIGHT

Thursday 28 May

LEAD

...And lead us not into temptation...

• for Christians to be filled with such love and zeal to please God that they are unmoved by enticements of materialism and sexual perversity.
• for God’s people to continue walking in the light of His ways and wisdom in order to fulfill His purposes throughout the earth.
• that Christ would guide leaders of business, education and government so that the curse of corruption would be overcome throughout cities and entire economies.

“...and will heal their land...” — 2 Chronicles 7:14

Preparing to be transformed: Expect God to bring great changes throughout your community and country, some coming slowly and others suddenly. Renew your hope for the earth to be restored, sick societies lifted and relationships healed.

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DAY NINE

Friday 29 May

OVERCOME

...but deliver us from evil...

• that God would restrain Satanic powers, revealing the truth of the Gospel, liberating many people to follow Christ.
• that people would be delivered from idolatry, witchcraft, demonic oppression and depression.
• for Christ to break powers of darkness which corrupt and dominate businesses, governments and cities.

“...Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive...” — 2 Chronicles 7:15

Preparing to meet God’s gaze: Turn your heart toward God in expectancy. Allow your heart to be moved in awe that He will listen to your every word and gaze upon us all with life-giving love.

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DAY TEN

Saturday 30 May

GLORIFY

...for Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

• that signs of Christ’s kingdom will so fill the earth that many will be moved to celebrate the hope of His coming.
• that Christ’s power will be seen in the humility and compassionate service of His people.
• that Jesus would be honoured openly, worshiped extravagantly
  and glorified globally.

“...I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that My Name may be there forever.
My eyes and My heart will always be there.” — 2 Chronicles 7:16

Preparing to consecrate ourselves as His dwelling: Welcome His Spirit to fill you and your family and friends. Invite Christ to make His dwelling among His people, so that His heart will overflow our hearts with His magnificent love, in order to bring His glory to all the earth.

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The Global Day of Prayer

Pentecost Sunday, 31 May

• Pray with your church on Pentecost morning.
• Devote portions of your Pentecost Sunday morning service to united prayer.
• Help everyone realize that on this day we are all praying with the world as we pray for the world. Among proven ideas:

• Announce the fact that millions across the world are gathering to pray for the glory of Christ and the blessing of the nations.
• Read the “Prayer for the World” aloud as a congregation.
• Share reports of prayer during the ten days.

• Gather in homes or assemble in public places.
• On the afternoon and evening of Pentecost, all over the world, Christians from many diverse streams will gather in their homes, or where appropriate, assemble in stadiums, public auditoriums and open squares. Some meetings will be small. Others will be large, but each one will be praying with the same vision of repentance and hope. As at the first Pentecost, we’ll worship God openly in Christ’s name and pray for the healing and blessing of the nations. As much as possible, we are seeking to gather in places beyond the walls of our church buildings.
• Help organise a gathering in your city. Confer with your pastor and other trusted local leaders. Find practical ideas to organise gatherings at www.globaldayofprayer.com.
• Not all gatherings will be large. Many are uniting in small groups in homes or public settings in their communities.
  If large gatherings aren’t planned near you, why not host
  a prayer gathering in your home?

Pray with One Voice:

A Prayer for the World

On the following pages you will find “A Prayer for the World.” This prayer will be read in unison at every Global Day of Prayer gathering on 31 May. It was prepared by members of the International Prayer Council. It has been translated into many languages, many of them available at www.globaldayofprayer.com.

A Prayer for the World

“They lifted their voices to God with one accord...” —Acts 4:24

Almighty God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

Together with believers all over the world,

we gather today to glorify Your Name.

You are the Creator of heaven and earth.

There is no one like You, holy and righteous in all Your ways.

We submit to Your authority as the King of the universe.

We pray with one voice to enthrone You in our hearts

and to honour You before the world.

Lord God, You alone are worthy of our praise and adoration.

Our Father in heaven,

Thank You for loving the world so greatly.

You gave Your only Son, Jesus Christ,

to die on the cross for our sins

so that we could be reconciled to You.

We are grateful to call You Father and to be called Your children.

Nothing can separate us from Your love.

Thank You Father, for adopting us into Your family

because of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Lord Jesus Christ,

You alone are worthy to open the scrolls of history,

for You were slain and have redeemed us to the Father by Your blood.

We confess that You are Head of the Church

and Lord of all heaven and earth.

May people from every tribe and language become Your followers

so that Your blessing brings transformation among all peoples.

Let Your kingdom be established in every nation of the world

so that governments will rule with righteousness and justice.

And may Your Name be great, from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Jesus Christ, You are the Saviour of the world and the Lord of all.

Father of mercy and grace,

We acknowledge that we have sinned

and that our world is gripped by the power of sin.

Our hearts are grieved by injustice, hatred and violence.

We are shamed by oppression, racism and bloodshed in our land.

We mourn all loss of life in murder, war and terrorism.

Our homes are broken and our churches are divided by rebellion and pride.

Our lives are polluted by selfishness, greed, idolatry and sexual sin.

We have grieved Your heart and brought shame to Your Name.

Have mercy on us as we repent with all our hearts.

God of mercy, forgive our sins.
Pour out Your grace and heal our land.

Spirit of the living God,

Apart from You, we can do nothing.

Transform Your Church into the image of Jesus Christ.

Release Your power to bring healing to the sick,

freedom to the oppressed and comfort to those who mourn.

Pour Your love into our hearts and fill us with compassion

to answer the call of the homeless and the hungry

and to enfold orphans, widows and the elderly in Your care.

Give us wisdom and insight for the complex problems we face today.

Help us to use the resources of the earth for the well-being of all.

Holy Spirit, we need Your comfort

and guidance. Transform our hearts.

Lord Jesus Christ,

Because You were dead, but are now risen,

and the Father has given You a Name above all names,

You will defeat all powers of evil.

Tear down strongholds and ideologies that resist the knowledge of God.

Remove the veil of darkness that covers the peoples.

Restrain the evil that promotes violence and death.

Bring deliverance from demonic oppression.

Break the hold of slavery, tyranny and disease.

Fill us with courage to preach Your word fearlessly,

and to intercede for the lost faithfully.

Almighty God, deliver us from evil.

King of Glory,

Come and finish Your work in our cities, our peoples and our nations.

We lift our voices in unison with believers from Africa and Asia,

from the Middle East and Europe, from North and South America,

and from Australia and the Pacific Islands—together we cry:

Lift up your heads, O you gates!

Be lifted up ancient doors

so that the King of glory may come in!

As Your deeds increase throughout the earth,

and as Your blessings abound to all the nations,

they will seek You, asking, “Who is this King of glory?”

Together we will answer:

He is the Lord Almighty!

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

Come fill the earth with Your glory as the waters cover the sea.

The Spirit and the Bride say:

Amen! Come Lord Jesus!

Ninety Days of Blessing

1 June - 29 August

Becoming the Blessing of Christ

The Global Day of Prayer can become a catalytic moment.
Those who pray together can become those who serve
together, bringing practical, transformational blessing to their
communities. To help you dream and plan about how you
might become part of the answer to your prayers, check out
“90 Days of Blessing” at www.globaldayofprayer.com.

Keep on praying!

To help you keep growing in prayer during the ninety days, make use of the excellent resources available at www.globaldayofprayer.com:

• The 90-Day Prayer Guide. A daily guide to pray toward transformational blessing.
• Seek His Face. Learn to devote yourself to God daily with an hour of prayer.
• 24/7 Prayer watch. Many are launching 24/7 prayer in many styles and ways.

Global Day of Prayer planned through 2010

Watch www.globaldayofprayer.com for announcements about the Global Day of Prayer events. Another GDOP event is planned for Pentecost Sunday, 23 May 2010.

“If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

— 2 Chronicles 7:14