ICF - Prayer Focus

Those who work as regulators of society

Police Officers, ticket inspectors, customs and excise officials, immigration officers, traffic wardens, inland revenue staff, bailiffs, school attendance officers; health and safety inspectors, public prosecutors, planning officials, industry regulators, financial regulators, enforcers of fire precautions, building inspectors, auditors, judges and jurors.

God, Creator of order from chaos - when you called your people Israel to become a nation you gave decrees and laws to govern every aspect of life; not as an imposition to restrict and control, but as a gift of love so that all members of society might be truly free. We have become so used to the regulations that protect us that we often forget the work of those who implement them. We enter a building without a thought as to whether it is soundly built, queue for our ticket and take for granted that it will gain us admission. Be with those whose work is often unnoticed, whose intervention can often be unappreciated yet whose vigilance is often essential, as they seek to balance diverse and often conflicting expectations for the good of all.

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.