Prayer for December

Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. Jeremiah 29:7

Dear Lord, thank you for 49 years of UAE as a nation. I thank you for the progress they have made in the health and prosperity of their country over the past 5 decades. I pray that as they celebrate their 50th year (throughout 2021) that it will be a time of peace and unity both within the country and beyond its borders.

Father I thank you for the blessing of living in a country that is so safe. That we don’t have to fear walking down the street or coming home to our houses at night. I thank you that we don’t fear being hijacked when stopping on the road (unlike the stories my friends tell of South Africa). I thank you for the leadership of this country. I pray that you would give them wisdom to rule wisely and with the interest of all residents in mind, not just of its citizens. I pray that the leaders of the 7 emirates would come together this next year and cooperate with one another to create policies and rules that are of benefit to all.

I thank you that the mosques have reopened for worship. I pray that they will be able to stay open and that there will be no increased cases of covid as a result. I pray that the ability of churches to meet would expand and that restrictions would be reduced. I thank you that our reliance on technology during this time has shown that there is no substitute for face to face meeting. In your wisdom you instructed us from the beginning: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,  not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Heb 24-25

I thank you that the leaders of UAE allow us to worship you freely. That we can declare that you are our God. I’m thankful for the coming Abrahamic House — bringing together Christian, Muslim and Jewish people. I pray that through these expressions of faith, that all would come to know you as the one true God. I pray that our spirits would act as a witness even when we can’t speak it ourselves.

I pray for the future leaders of Abu Dhabi. As the current generation ages, Father, lift up new ones to take their place. Ones that will do your will, will care for your people, and be guided by you. I pray that as they respond to your guidance that they would be blessed beyond measure. That UAE would prosper as a result of their religious freedom and that you would bless UAE through the Christians who live here.

Please bring economic revival to this nation and to the region. Lord, there are so many people out of work, so many who were sent home and are waiting to come back. I pray for John and his team. That you would provide for them while they wait for restrictions to be lifted that will allow them to open their business again. I thank you for the announcement today that promises to bring all economic activity back to UAE within the next two weeks. I pray it will come to pass and that it includes all those who have been waiting.

I pray for the end to the tracker watches. I ask that all of them would be rendered useless. Whatever it takes — whether an act of the government deciding they are no longer needed, or they all suddenly malfunction, I pray that no one else will have to be quarantined via house arrest.

I pray for wisdom for UAE’s leaders as they make decisions on how to handle the coronavirus. Please give them peace and knowledge so they make decisions from a rational place and not from fear. I pray that their efforts would be successful and that we’d be able to have restrictions lifted in the near future. I pray that we’d be able to have people over to our house legally. That our doors would be opened to have even small groups of people meet together once again.

Please be with those who are developing and testing the vaccines. I pray that there would be one or more developed that works well and is effective, with no side effects. That distribution and cost to those in need would not be an issue. That it would stop the spread and that the virus would be wiped out in our community.

Lord, please make the UAE an example of love, justice, and mercy in the region. I pray that as things change here and as freedoms are introduced, that it won’t diminish the safety and security that we have come to enjoy. Amen.