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Global Singleness Project Lenten Fast

Christian fasts historically give up one thing for a time to create space for something else: prayer, more time with God and so on.

Since I visited 40 countries outside the United States for my research on singleness, I hope to pray for each of them throughout Lent. Recent headlines like the coronavirus, East African locust plague, violence, floods and fires will certainly factor in, but I hope to structure my prayers around the Lord’s prayer.

Prayer postures

Some days, I’m sure I may manage only a line or two before I fall asleep. But what I’m aiming for draws on the prayer postures John Smed and the team at Prayer Current draw out in their many resources:

  1. “Our Father who is in heaven”: Sonship/daughtership

  2. “Hallowed be your name”: Worship

  3. “Your kingdom come”: Evangelism and tangible expressions (e.g., city renewal)

  4. “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”: Mercy and justice

  5. “Give us this day our daily bread”: Generosity and contentment

  6. “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”: Unity and reconciliation

  7. “Deliver us from evil” or “Save us from the time of trial”: Guidance and protection

2020 Prayer Schedule

Countries listed in the order I visited them.

  • Asterisk (*) reflects stopovers or countries not visited for research.

  • Repeat visits not indicated below, hence some of the peculiar-looking hops (if you’re reading that closely).

Update, April 15: I ran behind on this schedule, for several reasons, but will continue to pray through the list during Easter and, if necessary, into Pentecost.

Once I resume blogging my country stops, I’ll come back and link to each post below. Yeah, I’m a year-plus behind. Sigh.

  1. Feb. 26 - Albania*

  2. Feb. 27 - Switzerland

  3. Feb. 28 - Germany*

  4. Feb. 29 - Austria*

  5. March 1 - Romania

  6. March 2 - Turkey*

  7. March 3 - Ukraine

  8. March 4 - Russia

  9. March 5 - Finland

  10. March 6 - Sweden

  11. March 7 - United Kingdom (England)

  12. March 8 - Spain

  13. March 9 - North Africa (country not disclosed for source protection)

  14. March 10 - Nigeria

  15. March 11 - Ethiopia

  16. March 12 - South Africa

  17. March 13 - Kenya

  18. March 14 - Tanzania

  19. March 15 - Egypt

  20. March 16 - Lebanon

  21. March 17 - Israel

  22. March 18 - Palestinian Territories

  23. March 19 - China

  24. March 20 - South Korea

  25. March 21 - Japan

  26. March 22 - Taiwan*

  27. March 23 - Italy

  28. March 24 - India

  29. March 25 - Singapore

  30. March 26 - Philippines

  31. March 27 - Australia

  32. March 28 - Ghana

  33. March 29 - Brazil

  34. March 30 - Argentina

  35. March 31 - Peru

  36. April 1 - Colombia

  37. April 2 - Panama

  38. April 3 - Cuba

  39. April 4 - Mexico

  40. April 5 - Canada

Once I catch up on countries, I’ll also pray for the U.S. cities I visited:

  1. San Antonio

  2. Nashville

  3. Atlanta

  4. Dover, Del.

  5. New York City

  6. Des Moines

  7. Anchorage

  8. Los Angeles

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