Day Five - Leaders & Nations

SoulCare exercise: Remember

In Joshua 4 – there is a great picture of the Lord leading Joshua and people through the discipline of remembrance, its purpose and its practicalities. To look forward it sometimes necessary to look back. Think about the last time someone prayed for you – what did you ask for? What did you feel? Think about the last time God spoke to you about his love – what did he say? When was it? Is it part of a bigger picture of what he is speaking to you about? When was the last time you felt you had a God dream? Did you write it down? When was the last time you experienced God in a physical way? Where were you and what were you doing? What was going through your mind?

When you ask yourself those questions – what is worth celebrating? Is there anything you learn about how God interacts with you?

Petition and Intercession: Leaders and Nations

We are called to raise pioneering leaders who will influence nations. We want to empower men and women, young and old who will lead in all sectors of society, not for personal gain but to serve God’s purposes.

• Pray that us in our environments, whatever and wherever that is, that we could lead more like Jesus.
• Pray for the local government and those in positions of influence over our city that thy would led with integrity and their actions would be filled with wisdom.
• Pray for the up and coming election, that people would vote and that the decisions made on a national level would be wise.

Day Four - Work & Civic Renewal

SoulCare exercise: Songs of Joy

In a world that tries to tell us who we are, what God says about us can just be an additional voice in the choir. Quiet your heart before the Lord, focus on your breathing, maybe close your eyes and come to a place where you feel at peace. When you’re in that place look at the following scriptures. What do they say about you and your identity? Spend some time meditating on them for the rest of the day.

John 1:12, Romans 5:1, Romans 8:35-39, Ephesians 1:1, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 4:13, Colossians 1:14, Colossians 2:10, Colossians 3:3

Petition and Intercession: Work & Civic Renewal

We are called to express God’s kingdom through our work and civic engagement. We want to see everyone thriving in their workplace calling. Not only that but we want the city to be our scorecard for how we are living out our God given mandate as a church.

• Ask God and pray into where he has placed you. What is your contribution to there and how you can be a blessing in that place?
• Pray for the economic growth of the city and for how we as a church can add to the city’s fruitfulness.
• Across the country, job creation and unemployment is a massive topic of conversation. Pray for the government in terms of job creation and spaces and places for people to thrive. 

Day Three - Youth & Children

SoulCare exercise: High and Low

Grab a pen and paper. In the 3 following areas ask yourself what the highs and lows have been over the past couple of weeks: Relationship with God, relationship with others and relationship with yourself. After looking at this, ask God what areas are there where you need God to step into? What is he asking you to celebrate

Petition and Intercession: Youth and Children

Youth and children are an integral part of our congregation. We believe that they are not only the church of tomorrow, but also the church of today as well.

• Pray for strong friendships within the youth and kids
• Pray for all those doing exams that they will study hard but know their identity isn't rooted in their results
• Pray for those who are not sure following Christ is for them and for the prodigals to come home

Day Two - Doing Life Well

SoulCare exercise: Spiritual GPS

Focus on your breathing, breathe slower and quiet your heart and thoughts. When you feel relaxed, focus on the last two weeks. Ask yourself; where have your thoughts gone? What have been your principle emotions? What have you noticed in your body i.e. stress in your body, any aches and pains? In the quiet what do you find yourself longing for? Jot down what comes to mind. As you look over your answers, ask yourself; what is the invitation of God to you right now? Write this down and pray this through.

Petition & Intercession: Doing life well

We believe we are called to be a centre of excellence in the areas of relationships, marriage, family and life skills, with capacity to serve our city one life at a time. We want to see God mend what’s broken and equip people to do life well.

• Pray over anything you feel you are not doing well or that’s not giving you life at the moment
• Pray for the education sector in our city and its key role in enabling future generations to do life well. Pray that classroom environments would be places of joy.
• Pray for us a s a church, but also the church nationally, that we would be able to fulfil our mandate to enable people to do life well

Day One - Compassion & Justice

SoulCare exercise: lay it down

What are you carrying that you need to put down? Jesus’ burden is easy and light. Spend some time focussing on the Lord, ask him if there is anything that you are carrying that at this time you need to put down. Any unforgiveness, anger, hurt or pain? Whatever it is that you feel you have to place at the foot of the cross, pick up receive elements of his character, which are freely given to you; his grace, his mercy, his forgiveness etc. It might help to place your palms down when spiritually putting things down and place them upwards when you are receiving from God as an active sign of an inward reality.

Petition & Intercession: Compassion and Justice

Compassion and Justice is an integral part of God’s heart. It is all about demonstrating mercy and bringing freedom, with the goal of seeing relief, restoration and reformation. This could be in big ways, but also in the small everyday acts of kindness. As you pray about this canvas hold both of those things in tension.

• Pray for someone in your world that you could show compassion to.
• Birmingham as a city has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the country. Spend some time praying for the council as they try to address this issue, but also for us as a church and how we can help to alleviate it.
• Our world is currently facing numerous conflicts, especially in the Middle East, often leaving people displaced. Spend some time praying for the people showing compassion in those places, either as external charities or the church itself.