Prayer Topic #12:
A Prayer for Incarcerated Youth and Adults
Scripture Reading:
Job 36:22-33, Luke 23:32-43
Reflections of the Heart:
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1
Scriptural Prayer:
Our Father, we thank You for being a God of grace and mercy. Thank You for protecting our friends, family members and loved ones who are incarcerated. Thank You for Your faithful love which endures forever. Lord of Heaven’s Armies, You are our strength and our song; You have given us victory! You are our God and we will praise You. Lord, You are a warrior; Yahweh is Your Name. Your right hand is glorious in power and smashes the enemy. O Lord, who is like You among the gods? You are glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor and You perform great wonders.
Forgiving Father, we commit our incarcerated loved ones to You. We confess that as they trust in You and give You their lives that You will be with them and not allow them to be disgraced nor will You let their enemies rejoice in their defeat. We declare that You will show our incarcerated youth and adults the right path and point out the road for them to follow. We decree that they will be obedient and allow Your truth to lead and teach them. We confess that it is in You and You alone that they will put their hope. We declare a hedge of protection around our loved ones and that no weapon formed against them will prosper. We confess that they will not follow the advice of the wicked, nor stand around with sinners, neither will they join in with mockers. But they will delight in Your Word, Father, and meditate on it day and night. They will make You, Lord, their refuge and their place of safety. They will be rescued from every trap that is laid before them and protected from deadly disease. They will not fear the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. They will lie down and sleep at night and wake up in safety because You are watching over them.
List the youth or adults that you know who are incarcerated and commit to praying for them this month:
Holy Spirit, please encourage those who have become discouraged. Remind them that the Father is forever with them, He will never leave nor abandon them. For those youth and adults who do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, please send laborers to speak the Good News of the Gospel to them so that they will receive and confess with their mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in their hearts that You raised Christ from the dead, so that they will be saved. For those who have been wrongfully imprisoned, we ask that You would bring truth and revelation to their cases and open doors for them to be released. Please strengthen their faith in the Father and draw them closer to Him. Please comfort, strengthen and encourage the family members, especially the child whose parent is incarcerated. Heal their hearts and mend any wound that the absence of this parent has created in their life. Please protect them from the evil words and comments that society may attempt to put upon them. Please destroy every generational cycle of incarceration within our families and community.
Faithful Father, we ask You to forgive the sins of those who are incarcerated. Forgive them for making wrong choices and bad decisions. Forgive them for trusting in their ways instead of Yours. Forgive those who hold anger, bitterness and resentment. Forgive our judicial system for wrongfully imprisoning the innocent. Forgive those of us who have judged them wrongfully. Forgive those of us who have helped them make poor choices by not teaching them Your ways. Lord, forgive me for (list any sins that you have committed). Holy Spirit, remind our incarcerated youth and adults of those they need to forgive and help them to be quick to forgive. As for me, Holy Spirit, bring to my remembrance those I need to forgive. (Take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal names or faces of people that you may need to forgive. As He reveals them, say “I forgive name of person(s).” Now, trust the Lord to heal any wounds in your soul caused by unforgiveness.)
Holy Spirit, help our incarcerated youth and adults not to yield to temptation but deliver them from the evil one.
Almighty Lord, You alone are God. You are the First and the Last. It was Your hand that laid the foundations of the earth; Your right hand spread out the heavens above. When You call the stars, they all appear in order. You are holy, holy, holy, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies; the whole earth is filled with Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture References for the Written Text: Psalm 136:1, Exodus 15:2-3,6,11, Psalm 25:1-2,4-5, Job 1:10, Isaiah 54:17, Psalm 1:1-2, Psalm 91:2-3,5, Hebrews 13:5, Romans 10:9, Matthew 6:13, Isaiah 48:12-13, Isaiah 6:3
Today, I will trust God to:
