Praying for the Police

 

June Freudenberg

How do you pray for the Police?

June Freudenberg shares how to pray for the Police who have the task of keeping the peace.

It was a Friday night and the faithful had gathered for the Night of Prayer. Suddenly a ripple of concern spread through the gathering. A policeman in full uniform was in the foyer and asking for me. He had come by invitation and with the agreement of his captain to join us in prayer.

Based at the local police station, I had met him by chance and discovered that he was a Christian. Not only that, he told me how God had called him to be a policeman. Later, as he gave his testimony, there was a breathless hush in the congregation which spoke of the power of his testimony regarding how God had led him to join the police force.

Obviously, not every member of the police force has been called by God to take up that calling. Sadly, there have been occasions when members of the police force have let down the desired reputation of the force. For all their faults and failings we cannot do without our police.

Every member of the force is also a person. What temptations come their way? What are the personal problems with which they have to contend? How do they cope with attacks on their person in a riot situation or other times of personal danger? How do they deal with the situation when they are considered ‘the enemy’ by some people?

The police virtually stand between the public and those with wrong or evil intent. If we lose our way, we will ask a friendly policeman to help us. If something is stolen from us, we call the police. When there is an accident, or a fraud is perpetrated, or there is a burglary, we call the police. More particularly, when there are large gatherings, the police are there to keep order. We have seen this at the Notting Hill Carnival, on marches and other similar events.

In recent years, there has been an escalation of violence. Stabbings, murders, or terror situations occur too frequently. How can we make a difference in these situations? Perhaps we think that the police must learn how to deal with what is happening. Yes, they have a role to play. But prayer can make a difference.

In May 2000, I read with great interest a Ceefax report which said in essence:-

Police use prayer power to tackle crime.
A police inspector said the power of prayer led to a dramatic fall in crime. An Inspector who was an area commander, said crime in the area for which he was responsible was reduced overnight after he sent out a prayer request to 19 churches in the area. Youth crime fell by 40%, crime went from 35 to one or two incidents a week and overall crime fell by 10% in two years.

Here is proof positive of the power of prayer. The power of prayer is the same today as it was in 2000. We can pray that the Lord will bring to the attention and warn the police of plans for evil.

Pray that..

God will reveal sources of violence.
Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; But you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. Isaiah 60:18 (NKJV)

God will unveil evil purposes.
Do they not go astray who devise evil? But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good. Prov 14:22 (NKJV)

The safety and well-being of the people of the land does not only rest with the police. We have our part to play as we pray. You may never know just how much you can affect your area, your city or your nation as you pray. For ourselves and for the police, let us pray that we will all have -

  • Protection: Psalm 91:3-7
  • No fear: Deut 31:8
  • Wisdom: Prov 1:2-7
  • Safety: Ps 121:7 & 8

As we pray for those in authority, intercede, and give thanks for them, the Lord will honour His word and cause us to live a quiet and peaceable life in all holiness and godliness.

Together we can do it, so let us pray.