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 chaplains as they finalise the arrangements for the Carol Services and draw up the lists of the men and women wishing to attend. Pray that many who do not regularly attend chapel may decide to attend. |
| 449 | 2nd | for those for whom this month will be especially painful, triggering, for example, the memory of the loss of a loved one or the loss of contact with a child or family. |
| 450 | 3rd | for the men and women who will be released over the next few weeks, especially those without a family to support them, that they will get suitable accommodation and support from agencies. |
| 451 | 4th | for those who spend extended periods in segregation because they are a threat to others. Pray for healing of the causes of their aggressive and threatening behaviour. Pray that, in their isolation, they might cry out to the Lord. |
| 452 | 5th | for those who are desperately lonely, without any contact from outside and feeling isolated within the prison. Pray that chaplains, officers and other inmates would make time for them. |
| 453 | 6th | for all who will have some part in the Carol Services. Pray especially for those preparing messages, that they will take time to allow the Holy Spirit to guide their thoughts. |
| 454 | 7th | for the men and women grieving the loss of custody of their children – and perhaps feeling guilty for failing them – that they might turn to God for comfort. Pray for the children. |
| 455 | 8th | for Governors, for wisdom, stamina and emotional strength for all the heavy demands upon them. |
| 456 | 9th | that all the Carol Services – many this week – will run smoothly and be well attended, and that many man and women will receive Christ as Saviour. |
| 457 | 10th | for the Lord’s wisdom for chaplains as they provide pastoral support to the residents, especially those who are deeply troubled, e.g., by anxiety, guilt, shame and grief. |
| 458 | 11th | for the Lord’s help to volunteers engaged in letter writing, that their letters will bring comfort and encouragement to the men and women who receive them. |
| 459 | 12th | for chaplains, that the Lord will sustain them and encourage them as they provide pastoral and spiritual support to the residents. |
| 460 | 13th | for security staff, as they work to make their prison more secure, especially by preventing drugs and other illegal substances and items getting into the prison. |
| 461 | 14th | 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. |
| 462 | 15th | for men and women for whom this is their first Christmas in prison and are struggling to cope, that others will encourage and support them. |
| 463 | 16th | for ‘rehabs’ (and especially for the Christian ministries), that, through their programmes, many men and women will overcome their addiction and that many will also commit to follow Christ. |
| 464 | 17th | for partners, grandparents and others caring for children in the absence of parents in prison. |
| 465 | 18th | for men and women who are currently mentoring, and supporting, someone recently released. |
| 466 | 19th | for the Christian chaplains for whom Christmas is always an especially busy time. Pray that the Lord will sustain them and they will be encouraged in their ministry. |
| 467 | 20th | for children taken into care as a result of one or both parents being in prison, that they will be healed from the emotional damage of losing their parents. |
| 468 | 21st | for parents who have lost custody of their children and who will feel the pain and guilt more acutely at Christmas, that they will turn to the Lord for comfort. |
| 469 | 22nd | for prisoners’ families saddened by the absence of loved ones this Christmas. Pray especially for partners, children and parents. |
| 470 | 23rd | for vulnerable women due for release shortly, that they will receive effective support for as long as it is needed. |
| 471 | 24th | for all prison staff, that they will enjoy some time celebrating at home with family and friends. Give thanks to God for all who serve in our prisons. |
| 472 | 25th | that peace will prevail throughout all prisons, as the birth of the Prince of Peace is celebrated today. |
| 473 | 26th | that many men and women will recognise that Jesus truly was born to save them from their sins and will find salvation in Him. |
| 474 | 27th | for all prison staff as they support and care for the men and women for whom this is a particularly painful season. |
| 475 | 28th | during this post-Christmas and New Year period there will be an even higher risk of self-harm. Pray that the vulnerable will be kept safe and staff will be especially alert to their needs. |
| 476 | 29th | for families (and communities) grieving the loss of a young person through knife crime. Pray for church leaders as they provide support. |
| 477 | 30th | for those feeling the shame of a crime committed by a family member and consider themselves victims (and perhaps ostracised in their community); pray that they will find support from Christians and be enabled to forgive their family member. |
| 478 | 31st | for victims of crime and their families, particularly for those who have been badly injured, and for those who have lost loved ones, as a result of violent crime this year. |