With so many men and women in our prisons wanting to be free from the life of crime in which they feel trapped, there are enormous opportunities for the gospel. And, of course, there are many pastoral needs, too, not only amongst those serving a prison sentence but also within their families.
Those who wish to pray daily through the month may like to follow the monthly plan below and perhaps also pray specifically for one or two prisons.
| 448 | 1st | for those in prison for the first time and feeling anxious, that they will receive appropriate support from officers and chaplains. |
| 449 | 2nd | for victims of abuse, now in prison for their own crimes, that the Lord will heal them and enable them to forgive their abusers |
| 450 | 3rd | for the men and women recently released and now in a rehab, that they will commit to the regime and the programme and gain freedom from their addiction. |
| 451 | 4th | for those who feel no remorse for the hurt and pain they have caused. Pray that they would begin to recognise the impact of their crimes upon their victims and upon their own families – and will choose to turn away from crime. |
| 452 | 5th | for sex offenders, many of whom are overwhelmed with guilt, that they might come to recognise that they are not beyond God’s forgiveness. |
| 453 | 6th | for those who have been rejected by their family or have cut themselves off from their family, that they might receive emotional support. Pray for the Lord’s help to those who are longing to restore their relationships. |
| 454 | 7th | for those who are grieving and for those who are concerned for loved ones who are facing death, that they might draw comfort and strength from God and His Word. |
| 455 | 8th | for all Christians – staff and volunteers - working in our prisons, that the Lord will enable them to bring glory to God as they serve Him and seek to be ‘salt and light’. |
| 456 | 9th | that the Lord will speak, through His Word, to every man and woman who will be attending a Bible study group today. Pray that lives will be changed. |
| 457 | 10th | for chaplains, other staff and volunteers who provide bereavement support; pray for the men and women they will counsel this month. |
| 458 | 11th | for all officers who have been victims of a serious assault recently. Pray for their healing. |
| 459 | 12th | for healthcare staff, that they will be enabled to care with skill, love and compassion, despite all the demands upon them. Give thanks to God for them. Pray especially for Christians, that they might display Christ’s love to those for whom they care. |
| 460 | 13th | for the newly recruited officers, that they will be kept safe during their early days of becoming familiar with the prison regime. Pray for the experienced officers who oversee them. |
| 461 | 14th | for chaplains, that they will seek the help of the Holy Spirit as they prepare and deliver teaching. Pray that they will be bold in teaching God’s Word faithfully. |
| 462 | 15th | for families impacted financially by imprisonment and for organisations such as Christians Against Poverty who support them through practical care and advice. |
| 463 | 16th | for families deeply concerned for a family member in prison who is seriously or critically ill or very frail. |
| 464 | 17th | for community groups, charities, schools, youth workers and others who counsel young people against the carrying of knives and other weapons. |
| 465 | 18th | for children with a parent in prison that, wherever possible and appropriate, they will be able to maintain contact with their parent. Pray for the protection of those children who are at risk of turning to crime themselves. |
| 466 | 19th | for the protection of children whose lives have been dominated by the criminal activity of one or both parents. Pray that they will be kept free from crime themselves. |
| 467 | 20th | for agencies working to protect children and young people from alcohol and drug abuse. |
| 468 | 21st | for probation staff, community chaplains and all who support men and women on release from prison. Pray that the vulnerable will get the help they need to prevent them from reoffending. |
| 469 | 22nd | for those overcome with guilt and shame for their crimes, that they might turn to Christ and know that they are forgiven and cleansed by His sacrificial death. |
| 470 | 23rd | that Christian literature will get into the hands of unbelievers and that the Lord will use it to draw many to faith in Christ. |
| 471 | 24th | for those who have recently lost contact with, or custody of, their children. Pray that they might receive emotional support and turn to God for comfort. |
| 472 | 25th | for those who have come to faith while in prison: give thanks to God and pray that they will grow in their faith with support from other Christians. |
| 473 | 26th | for the men and women who once followed Christ, that, now in prison, they will turn back to God, experience His welcoming embrace and become firmly rooted in His love. |
| 474 | 27th | for those who spend extended periods in segregation for their own protection, that their isolation will not harm them mentally or emotionally. |
| 475 | 28th | for the protection and safe resettlement of those being released this month. |
| 476 | 29th | for those who have lost loved ones through crime, that they will find healing through their grief. |
| 477 | 30th | for victims whose lives have been seriously impacted by injuries and trauma; pray for their healing and that they will be enabled to live fulfilled lives. |
| 478 | 31st | With so many celebrating halloween today and with prison being such a dark place, pray that many in prison will turn from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, choosing to follow the One who reigns over the kingdom of light – the One who Himself declared that He is the Light of the World, our Saviour, Jesus. |