Prayers against knife crime in our nation

Youth knife crime in our nation is on the rise and the violence on our streets is inciting fear. The spirit of lawlessness in our nations is destroying homes, capping lives, glorifying crime and leaving many with unanswered questions . In an Age where our streets are being defiled by the blood of our children, we are seeing a rise in postcode wars, gang violence and honour sacrifices. As these victim’s blood are crying for vengeance and the spirit of disobedience is seeking more blood, more souls and more lives. It is time for Spirit-filled Christians everywhere, to stand up against the spirit of death that is murdering misguided, vulnerable, blinded and innocent souls. It is time to stand in the gap and petition God’s mercy and his grace concerning the hearts of his people. Youth knife crime must come to an end.

Scripture Warrant

Leviticus 17:11 - For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul

Hebrews 9:14 - how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Hebrews 12:24 - and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.

Confessions

Father Lord, forgive us for our sins. We acknowledge that your people have deviated from your word and your will. They have shown hatred towards you, as they have shown hatred towards one another. As we stand in the gap in intercession, we ask that you remember the blood of Jesus and show mercy towards your people so that they may repent from their wicked ways, in Jesus name. Matthew 22:37-40

Father Lord, We acknowledge that we have failed to demonstrate the love of God to one another and for this reason we have committed sin through our emotions, our anger, greed, covetousness’ and pride. Have mercy on us, the families in our communities and the governors of our land whose laws have made room for lawlessness, in the name of Jesus. Galatians 5:19-20

Father Lord, forgive us for our communities lawlessness. I acknowledge that we have transgressed your holy commands, because the love of many has gone cold. Today, we provoke the richness of your mercies. We ask that the blood of Jesus will provoke your mercies and avert your judgement against the transgressors in the land, who the god of this world has blinded their eyes, in the name of Jesus. Matthew 24:12

Thanksgiving

Father Lord, thank you for the blood of Jesus that was shed for the remission of sins. We magnify your holy name and we give you all the glory and praise for answered prayers, in the name of Jesus. John 1:29

Father Lord, thank you for your loving kindness and tender mercies that you have revealed towards us during troubling times of uncertainty and pain. We give you all the praise and glory as we place our faith in your saving grace, in the life of Jesus. Psalm 40:11

Thank you Lord, for you have said in your word, that where two or more are gathered in your name there you are in the midst of them. Lord we thank you for your presence, as we gather in unity in prayer for the children in this nation, in Jesus name. Matthew 18:20

Thank you Lord because you are holy, and you inhabit the praises of your people. Psalms 22:3

Let us Pray.

Praying for children and youth

Father Lord, we come to you asking that you divinely intervene and arrest any lying spirit seeking to deceive the vulnerable, impressionable and the ignorant in the name of Jesus. Overturn this lying and deceptive assignment against the lives of our children in our nation, in the name of Jesus. Proverbs 12:22

Father Lord, release your fiery rebuke against the lying spirit that is empowering youth crime and gang violence in this nation. Disappoint it’s violent assignment, and cause the youth of this nation to seek non-violent solutions, instead of violent ones, in the name of Jesus. Proverbs 19:9

Father Lord, any snare that is seeking to entrap the youth of this nation, using baits such as gifts, flattery, promises and friendship in the guise of love, today, we ask you Lord to expose that snare. Open the eyes of our children so that they can escape the snare of the hunter of their souls, in the name of Jesus. Psalm 124: 7

Father Lord, convict the heart of our children who our dishonouring their parents and rebelling against their counsel and instructions. Let the Spirit of obedience, silence the leading voice of the spirit of disobedience, that is seducing our children to walk according to the dictates of the Prince of power of the air. Deliver them from under the curse of their sinful rebellion, in the name of Jesus. Exodus 20:12

Father Lord, let the blood of Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit cleanse the conscience of your children from dead works, so that they can serve you. Reveal to them that you are the only true living God, in Jesus name. Hebrews 9:14

Father Lord, we mark our children with the blood of Jesus. We declare that any mark of rejection that was on their lives permitting the spirit of rejection to present to them a perverted image of themselves, is now blotted out, in the name of Jesus.

Father Lord, intercept and avert the perverse assignment of rejection. The spirit of rejection, shall no longer deceive our children into seeking love and counsel in the wrong places and with the wrong people, such as territorial gangs, predators or drug lords, in the name of Jesus.

Any evil sound that is causing the children in our communities to act according to the beat of rebellion, let that enchanting sound be drowned out, as we release the praise sound of heaven into the atmosphere, in the name of Jesus.

Any secular music that promotes violence, revenge, sin, death and rebellion against God and his people, we come against its oppressive power in the name of Jesus. Lord as we engage the blood of Jesus, let the seducing spirit enforcing rebellion and violence through that sound be arrested. Lord according to your word, set the lawful captives free, in the name of Jesus.

Father Lord, any negative social cycle that will cause our children to live by the idiom, “live by the sword, die by the sword”, today we ask that you to set those child captives free. Raise up priests of God in every household to release the hammer of the word of God against these negative cycles, breaking their children free from the bondage of violence, hostility and anger, in the name of Jesus. Matthew 26:52

Father Lord any territorial altar, erected by witches, warlocks, sorcerers or any agent of darkness, that is calling for blood, today we ask you to answer that altar with your consuming fire. Trouble it’s priest day and night with your voice until they repent, and silence the demands of every altar by the redeeming blood of Jesus.

Father Lord, any violent threat, intimidation, peer pressure or fear of social isolation, that is holding the children of this nation bound to acts of violence. Today we ask that you judge that power of witchcraft over their lives. Invade and disrupt that oppressive assignment with the delivering power of your holy presence, in Jesus name.

Pray for schools and communities

Lord, we come to you seeking your divine protection from knife crimes. Protect every student, teacher and staff member in our schools. Lord by your delivering arm, keep all knives and violence away from our schools, colleges, universities and communities. Bring an end to the fear that seeks to invade the culture of our schools. Fill every heart present in the school with love, peace, respect and understanding, in Jesus name. 2 Timothy 1:7

Father Lord, you are the Prince of Peace. Today release your peace and replace any fear, anxiety, panic or terror that seeks to torment the hearts of the students and teaching staff in our schools. Cleanse the atmosphere of these schools with the peace of your presence, so that they will be strengthened in times when they feel afraid, in Jesus name.

Father Lord, your word says that children are taught of the Lord and great is their peace. Today we ask that new laws will be made, that will reinstate prayer and the reading of the holy scriptures in schools. It is your will that all children should live in peace and harmony with one another, in Jesus name. Isaiah 54:13

Father Lord, we pray to you asking for your peace to flood our communities. Heal the hearts of the families who are bereaved, broken hearted and afraid. Grant them comfort and safety as they learn to live life in the aftermath of the violence, in the name of Jesus.

Father Lord, we come to you asking that you bind communities together in unity with the peace of your presence. Heal every family, every block, every estate, every neighbourhood and every street. Break the cycle of fear and retaliation with your healing touch. Let your healing power birth forgiveness, respect and reconciliation in our communities, in the name of Jesus. John 14:27

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Father Lord you are the Spirit of reconciliation. Quench the disputes, the vain arguments, the envying and the pride that leads to sin and death with your peace. Mend fractured relationships and flood carnal minds with your knowledge and understanding, so that your people will repent from their violent ways and put down the knives, in the name of Jesus.

Father Lord, today we lift up our Prime minister, and all the ministers of parliament who are in the seat of power and authority in this nation . We pray that you will influence them to make laws and wise decisions that will seek to protect the lives of their citizens. We ask for the revision of current laws that deliver criminal justice in the land. Guide them Lord with your wisdom, courage and compassion, that will enable them to lead a nation out of rebellion and violence, in the name of Jesus. Proverbs 2:6

Father Lord, we lift up your law enforcement officers and we ask for your divine protection upon their lives. Grant them discernment, wisdom and courage to stand as law enforcers in your land. Protect them from lawless violent retaliation and senseless attacks, by surrounding them with your angelic hosts. Your justice shall prevail. We bless you Lord for the law enforcers who are dedicated to upholding the law of the land, in the name of Jesus. Proverbs 21:15

Pray for the families and loved ones of the victims of knife crime

Father Lord we lift up all the survivors of knife violence and we ask that you heal their minds with your word , their bodies with your presence and their souls with your peace. Be their strength to overcome the trauma they have experienced. Surround them with a support structure of people who will encourage them in dark times, and deliver them from destructive patterns that will afflict their souls, in Jesus name. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Father Lord, comfort the hearts of the survivors of knife crime. Deliver them from the bitterness of life, the trauma of their experience, and the shame, guilt and perceived social rejection that may overwhelm them. Restore peace to their souls. Let your presence be felt and if they never knew you before today, let them encounter your holy presence, in the name of Jesus.

Father Lord, I pray that you restore the broken hearted, the fragmented soul, the depressed, the despondent and dejected who have been affected by knife crime. Be their strength in their brokenness. Heal their emotional scars. Build their faith as you surround them with a community of people who will rebuild their trust and restore their faith in humanity, in Jesus name. Matthew 19:14

Father Lord, we lift up the families who are bereaved to you in prayer. We pray that you comfort them in their grief and strengthen them as they face life without their loved one. Heal their broken hearts. Deliver them from tormenting mental flashbacks and give them the courage to carry on. Send them comfort in the face of friends and loved ones, and let justice speak on their behalf, in Jesus name. Matthew 5:4

Father Lord we ask that you bring soundness to the minds of the people who are struggling with mental health due to knife crime. Let your loving kindness and tender mercies blanket them. Usher in the support they need to help them overcome the mental torment, that they are struggling with. Heal their minds with your holy word. Let your peace, which transcends all understanding, guard their hearts and their minds. Prepare an environment for your holy word to minister to their soul peace, comfort and life, in the name of Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Father Lord, we thank you because it is not your will that any shall perish but have eternal life. Today let your church arise and begin to shine the light in these dark times. Call forth your evangelists to minister the gospel of salvation to communities that have fallen victim to knife crime. Let your arm of mercy and grace be extended from the church to the youth. Open their eyes to see that you want them to draw nearer to you, in Jesus name.

Amen.