God hears your prayers. You can trust him with them.

Prayer is mutual heart-pouring between us and God

We now have a weekly prayer meeting at the Olive Tree Branch ( formerly St Margaret’s Methodist Church, Montrose Avenue, near the Biscot Mill roundabout) every Thursday at 7:30pm to 8.30pm. Please join us as we explore how to pray for ourselves and others, and experience the power of God’s Spirit through prayer and more!

We, at The Olive Tree Church, Luton, (UK) aim to pray, for one another, each day at 7:00PM – (other time slots are available – just do it!) We let the Holy Spirit guide and unite us as we pray in our own time and spaces. Please try and join us; in spirit. If that time is inconvenient please allocate yourself some Prayer-time to suit. Tell a friend – they may wish to “join” you.

Please bring the Leadership Team to God; particularly Michael ,our Minister, and his family, as we embark, this Spring season, on God’s Mission for the Olive Tree Church, Luton.

In June, this year we pray particularly for:-

Brief Prayers for each Day

Monday: Dear God, I am grateful You are my loving Father who blesses me with Your love and goodness. Please help me recognise, accept, and embrace Your grace and love, which can lead me to a life beyond my wildest dreams and expectations. May I always seek you above everything else for comfort and protection and find peace in you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Tuesday: Dear Lord, please give all children an eternal perspective and purpose. Help them see life through your eyes and embrace the good news of Jesus. May they focus on heavenly things and understand your love deeply. Fill their lives with you.  Amen.

Wednesday: Father Lord, as I start today, I humbly ask for Your care. Please surround me with Your presence and grace and guide me in the right direction. Keep me safe from danger and negative thoughts, and help me to show Your love and peace to others. I trust You to watch over my loved ones and me, just like a shepherd watches over his flock, protecting us from evil. In Jesus’ name,  Amen.

Thursday: Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You seeking Your guidance and direction as I endeavour to love strangers just as You love them. Please empower me to step out of my comfort zone and love strangers, knowing that You will protect me from the schemes of the evil one. I desire to live boldly for Your glory, even if it means loving my enemies and those I do not know by Christ-like standards. Please grant me the courage to love my family and others unconditionally and to extend kindness and compassion to those I encounter, regardless of their background or circumstances. I pray all of this in Jesus’ Name,  Amen.

Friday: Dear Lord, please surround me with Your loving protection as I prepare to go out. Shield me from any worries and anxieties of the day that may interfere with my daily activities. Please safeguard my mind from troubling thoughts and grant me the peace that surpasses all understanding. I humbly ask that Your holy angels stand guard around me, my family and my loved ones, protecting us in all our ways, in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Saturday: Father God,as we approach the end of this week and look forward to celebrating your Resurrection on the Lord’s Day, tomorrow, may we bring our strivings and concerns to the foot of the Cross. Allow us to reflect on what we have thought, said and done and the things we have not said and done when we know we could have. Bring us into close encounter with your long-suffering, merciful love, In the encompassing, inclusive love of Christ.  Amen

The crisis in Gaza and Israel continues to escalate, despite a brief pause, and has already devastated tens of thousands of lives. You can use this prayer guide to call out to God in intercessory prayer, which simply means praying on behalf of someone else. Some of the the Prayers below are taken from Tearfund

Other prayers …

Pray for peace

• Pray for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the violence.
• Pray for world leaders with influence in the region to make wise decisions that lead to lasting peace.
• Pray that God’s peace would fill the hearts and minds of everyone who is suffering as a result of this conflict.
• Pray for safety
• Pray for all civilians – that God would protect them from harm, particularly the most vulnerable, including children, older people, and people with disabilities.
• Pray for humanitarian workers – for protection for those who are working to provide humanitarian assistance and medical supplies.
• Pray for safe access to food, water, sanitary items, medical supplies, fuel and electricity.
• Pray for people forced to flee their homes – pray for safe places to stay and that they will be able to return home.
• Pray for strength
• Pray for church leaders – for wisdom and strength to lead people through fear and uncertainty. Pray for bravery as they guide their communities and offer loving support.
• Pray for Christian communities and faith leaders across the region – for unity, connection and mutual understanding so that they can help bring people together and show kindness.
• Pray for humanitarian workers – that God would strengthen their resolve and ability to provide relief and humanitarian assistance.
• Pray for hope
• Pray for those who are terrified, mourning and suffering in Israel and Gaza. Ask God to save them from despair – for the trauma and violence they’ve experienced not to overshadow hope.
• Pray that people in Gaza and Israel and those in the wider region wouldn’t lose hope that peace is possible. ‘With God, all things are possible’ (Matthew 19:26).
• Pray for healing
• Pray for people who have been traumatised or injured; ask God to heal their physical and emotional wounds and bring them deep comfort.
• Pray for hospitals and medical workers who are struggling with limited resources and overwhelming needs. Ask God to provide all the resources and equipment they need to treat the sick and injured.
• ‘With God, all things are possible’ Matthew 19:26

A Prayer for Peace in troubled areas
Dear God, We cry out to you on behalf of the people seriously affected by the conflicts in Gaza and Israel, in Ukraine, in areas of Africa and elsewhere.
Our hearts break at the devastation and suffering that we see, and we know it breaks yours, too.

Amen.

How we can pray…

• Use scriptures on peace to centre your thoughts on God and his promises in the Bible. They can be easily found with (Google) internet searches.
• Pray with a map of Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, Africa – indeed the whole Earth where troubles exist: to guide your prayers.
• Light candles to help you meditate on Jesus as the light of the world.
• Set up prayer stations in your church.
• Thank you for joining us in prayer for the conflict in Gaza and Israel. Let’s continue to pray and act together on behalf of people suffering the effects of violence everywhere.

We believe that prayers are more powerful than anything else.

Pray with us

‘Creator God In bright light and dull darkness  In the energy of each day and the rest that comes with night  We remember the goodness of God  In the heavens high above our heads  In waters that run deep around the world  We remember the goodness of God  In solid land and flowing seas  In vivid flowers and fruit-laden trees  We remember the goodness of God In the rising and setting of the sun and the cycles of the seasons  In the patterns of the shining stars  We remember the goodness of God  In oceans teeming with fish  In skies filled with birds  We remember the goodness of God  In a world filled with animal life  And in ourselves as human beings  We remember the goodness of God  And God looked and saw all that he had made, and indeed it was very, very good  In rest and reflection, in wonder and worship  We remember the goodness of God  Amen’ [Taken from the Church of England Environment Program Creation Care Prayers]