Prayer Topic #5:
A Prayer for those Returning from Prison
Scripture Reading:
1 John 1:9, John 3:16
Reflections of the Heart:
Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
Lamentations 3:21-23
Scriptural Prayer:
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by Your great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation. Thank You for hearing us when we call to You for help. With all our heart we will praise You, O Lord our God. We will give glory to your name forever, for Your love for us is very great. You have rescued us from the depths of death. We will sing of Your unfailing love forever. Young and old will hear of Your faithfulness. Your unfailing love will last forever; Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.
Merciful Father, You did not send Your Son Jesus into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. You are not slow about Your promise, as some people think. No, You are being patient for our sake. You do not want anyone to be destroyed, but everyone to repent. You are a God of many chances, when we confess our sins, You are faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Father God, we pray for those being released from prison. We pray that if they don’t know You, they will openly declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead, so they will be saved. We ask You to give these men and women a desire to spend time daily in prayer and Bible study to experience the Holy Spirit working through them, giving them the desire and the power to do what pleases You. May they seek fellowship with other Christians and not neglect meeting together, as some people do, as the day of Your return is drawing near. Thank You Father for being a God of reconciliation. Help these men and women commit to restoring damaged relationships with their children and families. We pray that those returning from prison will respect and submit to governing authorities including police, and officers of the court. Lord, Your Word promises that You will supply all our needs according to Your glorious riches. We ask You to guide these men and women to accessible community resources to obtain food, clothing, housing, skills for employment, quality healthcare, and mentorship for accountability. Help them to recognize any temptation and resist the tricks and snares of the evil one as they seek to become productive and contributing members of society.
Holy Spirit, forgive all sinfulness. Forgive us for harboring any resentment, unforgiveness, or bitterness in our hearts towards family or friends who have been incarcerated. Forgive us for our judgmental and self-righteous attitudes towards those who have been imprisoned.
Holy Spirit, help us all not to yield to temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
Triumphant King, You are greater than any other god. You do whatever pleases You throughout all heaven and earth, and on the seas and in their depths. You cause the clouds to rise over the whole earth. You send the lightning with the rain and release the winds from Your storehouses. Your name, O Lord, endures forever; Your fame, O Lord, is known to every generation. Yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scripture References for the Written: 1 Peter 1:3, Psalm 34:17, Psalm 86:12-13, Psalm 89:1-2, John 3:17, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 John 1:9, Romans 10:9, Philippians 2:13, Hebrews 10:25, 2 Corinthians 5:18, John 3:17, Romans 13:1, Matthews 6:13, Psalm 135:5-7,13
Today I will trust God to:
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. ©2022 Caldwell Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved — No reproduction of the material is permitted without the expressed permission of CMI
