ICF - Prayer Focus

Those who are unemployed

The unemployed on account of lack of jobs, lack of physical, mental or emotional health, lack of motivation, lack of skills; those whose retirement has removed their zest for life, alienated school students, and those caught in benefit traps which make it too costly to work if they are to provide for their families.

Loving God So much of our identity and lifestyle is founded on access to meaningful employment, so we pray for those who for various reasons find themselves unable to work. Forgive us if we have created a world where worth and status is measured more by the salary we can attract than the person we are. Help us to reclaim work as the means by which we all share in the harnassing, sustaining and renewing of Your creation; and where the need to work has become a means of exploitation, injustice and division, may we never tire in our endeavour to build Your Kingdom. AMEN

Regular prayer for the world of work can be a significant feature in Sunday services. ICF seeks to provide a variety of resources to help those who prepare these. Prayer of this nature is important because:

• It encourages Christians to see their working lives as part of their Christian Identity
  
  
• It helps those involved in the world of work, particularly when their job makes it difficult to participate in church activities, to feel affirmed and valued.
  
  
• It is a vital part of our intercessory responsibility to the community around us.
  
  
• It communicates a faith that is relevant to real issues to those who visit our churches
  

Each week, we highhlight different groups of workers and encourage our members and followers to particularly pray for people who work in that sector. We also encourage local churches to include regular prayers for the world of work

As you pray, Consider what might be said in the context of thanksgiving, confession and intercession, both for the workers concerned and for those present.