Welcome to the January 2025 Prayer Vigil! 

In this prayer time at the beginning of the New Year of 2025 it is good to remind ourselves, as God’s children, of things we should be mindful of –

• God is the God of all creation and our creator –
  “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Ps 139: 13 – 14)
  
  
• We are not only to love Him but also to fear Him –
  “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” (Luke 12: 4 – 5)
  
  
• God’s loves us individually and unconditionally and desires for us to be cleansed of our sins –
  See the Parable of the Lost Son in Luke 15: 11 – 32. “ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1: 8 – 9)
  
  
• God knows everything about us and is constantly at work in our lives –
  “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8: 27 – 28) “…. for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Phil. 2: 13) “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12: 6 – 7)
  
  
• We are not to worry or to be anxious but to seek Him and His kingdom first –
  “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. (Luke 12: 27 – 31) “…. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4: 5 – 7)
  
  
• We need to humble ourselves before God –
  “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” (Ps. 25: 9) “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” (Ps. 51: 16 – 17) “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Matt. 23: 12)
  
  
• The opportunities to help people know of God’s existence and presence –
  “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Rom. 1: 20)
  
  The Apostle Paul saw the altar “to an unknown god” and he preached: “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” (Acts 17: 24 – 28) “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3: 15)
  
  
• We are to rejoice in the Lord, pray, thanking and praising God all the time – “
  Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil. 4: 4) “Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5: 16 – 18)
  
  
  

Pray – asking God whether there are other things that you need to be mindful of from His word for the New Year, something that applies specifically to you that will transform your life – your attitude, your behavior, your relationships? Perhaps you should write down what you sense God is telling you in a journal to remind yourself throughout the year.

Let us continue in prayer – 

• That each day we remember that we are living under God’s grace and forgiveness and we are to show grace and forgiveness to others. 
• For our marriages, our family relationships, our children and offer them to the Lord; may He protect and guide so that all these relationships will bring Him honour and glory. 
• For Pastor Rob and Lori; for the deacons – John, Frederick. Kenneth, Steve and Samuel; for our ministry teams and the church staff; may the Lord give them strength and joy in their work for His kingdom. 
• For the Holy Spirit’s guidance for the ministry teams as they prepare plans and budgets for the coming year. 
• For the outreach opportunities in the New Year – prison visits for Bible study with prisoners, the Ling Oi Drug Rehab Centre, outreach to the residents of Wah Fu Estate, the street sleepers in Shamshuipo and Happy Valley, the mission trip to Thailand. Is the Lord pointing out other opportunities to you or is He asking you to join a particular outreach activity at IBC? 
• That God will protect and guide our children, especially those studying or working abroad; for them to walk closely in a love relationship with Jesus. 
• For Kaushic and Dang as they seek the Lord’s guidance for their future. 
• For those we know who need physical, emotional or spiritual healing and care: Kaushic’s mother (need knee surgery); Sarala Carlson (recovery from stroke); Michelle Niem (treatment for cancer); Samuel’s friend Henry (cognition problem after lymphoma treatment), Tony Mo (recovery in Old Age Home after a stroke), Alice Tsui (prolonged bad eczema), Alice's brother in law, Edward (a rare terminal illness), Thomas Lam (eyesight); Iris’ two sisters, Winnie and Teresa, and Alice, Jackson’s sister-in-law (God’s grace in their fight with cancer); Stephanie’s father (eyesight and hearing); Anna Chen’s niece, MeiMei (terminal illness); Scott Sapp’s mother and loved one (depression); Frank’s brother Jan (glaucoma); for God’s grace, care and strength for Beatrice, Y.M. Chen, Herald Lau and Alex’s father; 
• The Lord’s strength, wisdom and peace for caregivers for the elderly or those with health or special needs; 
• God’s salvation for non-believing friends and loved ones – Frank’s brother Jan; Kenneth’s mother and siblings; Terry’s son Joseph; Michelle Niem’s family members; Angela’s sister and brother-in-law; Pansy’s husband; Stephanie’s parents and sister; Frederick’s mother; Mona’s colleague and neighbour Lily; Ivy’s son and family; Maria Tanielu’s mother and family in Samoa; Charles’ brother William in Canada.

[This prayer guide was prepared by Charles Ip. Scripture verses are from the NIV Bible unless otherwise noted.]

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