Encountering the King in Our Joy
In March 2022, we are looking at how the Psalms speak overflow with joy. Below, you will find week-by-week guides to help you use the Psalms to pray for the church in China to experience this abundant joy.
Week 1: Psalm 16
A Miktam of David
1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”
3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.
4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.
5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Prayer Requests
March 6 – This month, we are praying prayers of joy alongside Chinese believers. Pray that they would know the joy of Christ!
March 7 – Even in persecution and suffering, pray that Chinese believers would remember that they have a “beautiful inheritance” (Ps. 16).
March 8 – Pray for suffering and humiliated women in China, that the Lord would preserve them and be their refuge.
March 9 – Pray that the church in China would not “run after other gods” of worldly kingdoms, pleasure, or self-righteousness (Ps. 16), but would trust in Christ.
March 10 – Pray for an upcoming intensive prayer training in China, for smooth logistics and for refreshment in the Lord.
March 11 – Pray that in the presence of the Lord Chinese believers would taste the “fullness of joy” and “pleasures forevermore” (Ps. 16).
March 12 – Pray that Chinese believers would be examples of abundant joy to the joyless.
Rejoice in Our God
Read a reflection on Psalm 16 from a Chinese Christian.
Week 2: Psalm 66
To the choirmaster. A Song. A Psalm.
1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
2 sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!
3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
4 All the earth worships you
and sings praises to you;
they sing praises to your name.” Selah
5 Come and see what God has done:
he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
6 He turned the sea into dry land;
they passed through the river on foot.
There did we rejoice in him,
7 who rules by his might forever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations—
let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah
8 Bless our God, O peoples;
let the sound of his praise be heard,
9 who has kept our soul among the living
and has not let our feet slip.
10 For you, O God, have tested us;
you have tried us as silver is tried.
11 You brought us into the net;
you laid a crushing burden on our backs;
12 you let men ride over our heads;
we went through fire and through water;
yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.
13 I will come into your house with burnt offerings;
I will perform my vows to you,
14 that which my lips uttered
and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.
15 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals,
with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;
I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
17 I cried to him with my mouth,
and high praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
19 But truly God has listened;
he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God,
because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me!
Prayer Requests
March 13 – Pray for the Chinese church to love and minister to Chinese women and daughters who have been rejected or discriminated against.
March 14 – Today, pray for Chinese Christians to rejoice in God’s steadfast, unmoving love to them. (Ps. 66)
March 15 – Pray with the church in China that she may keep her eyes on God’s triumphant kingdom, not external circumstances.
March 16 – Pray for online security and smooth connections, as new Internet regulations go into effect this month.
March 17 – Pray for believers to “rejoice in him who rules by his might forever” in the midst of tumultuous times. (Ps. 66)
March 18 – Pray for God to raise up new believers to go through leadership training within China.
March 19 – Pray for God to prepare, humble, and encourage those he is calling to leadership roles within the Chinese church.
From Where Does Your Hope Come?
Read a reflection on Psalm 66 from a Chinese believer.
Week 3: Psalm 126
A Song of Ascents
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
4 Restore our fortunes, Lord,
like streams in the Negev.
5 Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them.
Prayer Requests
March 20 – This week pray for Chinese Christians to exult and say: “The Lord has done great things for us.” (Ps. 126)
March 21 – Pray for ongoing preaching trainings in China to result in more and more Christ-centered sermons and messages.
March 22 – Pray for Chinese believers to plant more churches across their country and the whole world.
March 23 – Pray that this very day Chinese Christians who “sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!”
March 24 – Pray for ongoing trainings to serve and equip pastor’s wives and women in ministry in China.
March 25 – Pray for Chinese women caught up in human trafficking and sexual subjugation.
March 26 – Pray for believers to find ways to serve and rescue victims of human trafficking. Pray for God’s truth and freedom.
Reaping with Songs of Joy
Read a reflection on Psalm 126 from a Chinese believer.
Week 4: Psalm 30
A Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of the temple.
1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.
4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
6 As for me, I said in my prosperity,
“I shall never be moved.”
7 By your favor, O Lord,
you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
I was dismayed.
8 To you, O Lord, I cry,
and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
9 “What profit is there in my death,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
O Lord, be my helper!”
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
Prayer Requests
March 27 – Today, may God bless Chinese believers with knowledge that he answers cries for help and healing. (Ps. 30)
March 28 – Pray today for Chinese orphans, foster children, and left-behind children in the countryside.
March 29 – Continue in prayer for imprisoned Chinese Christians and their families. Pray for God’s presence, comfort and joy.
March 30 – Pray especially for the children of Chinese believers in jail for their faith. Pray they will experience God as protector and father.
March 31 – Pray for attorneys representing clients imprisoned for their faith in China. Pray for God to protect those seeking to serve others.
April 1 – Pray that today the Lord will turn “mourning into dancing” for many Chinese. May his name be glorified!
April 2 – Pray today for counseling training and equipping among Chinese ministry leaders.
Turn Toward Joy
Read a reflection on Psalm 30 from a Chinese believer.
In 2022, we are using the Psalms to guide our prayers for China.
When you join our prayer team, you will receive a weekly prayer email with the Psalm for the week and a prayer request for each day. You will also receive a monthly newsletter. Additionally, you can text Text “pray4china” to 33222 to receive the prayer requests by daily text.
