(For our internet guests, the following text is taken from the printed version of the Prayer Guide we are using for the 50 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Feel free to interact by leaving comments on this page!)

Behind the badge of Hanover’s police force are men and women who have taken the oath to serve and protect. They have been trained and continue to train to handle all sorts of different crisis’s that may occur but nevertheless they still feel, they are still impacted by what they encounter. Police officers face many more critical incidents in the course of doing their duty then the average person does. Did you know that within the first three hours of a critical incident the brain experiences 37 chemical changes and in the next 24 hours it experiences 256 changes? The amount of stress our “keepers of the peace” endure is tremendous. But not only do the ones serving face this stress – but think also of their families at home. Yes, we need to pray for the men and women behind the badge!

From the Word:

Psalm 91:1-16

Think about it…

As you read what the Psalmist writes, think it from the perspective of a police officer. How might they perceive these words? Let your prayer be shaped by the words of this Psalm. 

Prayer Points:

• Pray for protection in the work they do.
• Pray for the officers who aren’t believers that they will receive Jesus as their Lord.
• Pray for Peter Gibbins who is the Police Chaplain
• Pray for the families of the officers that God will strengthen them and give them His peace (especially when their loved one is attending an emergency)
• Pray that God will give the police success in upholding the law.

Take Action!

Whenever you see a police car, or drive by the police station, or see a uniformed officer or hear a siren lift up a silent prayer for them.

For Parents…

Spend some time with your children asking them what a police officer does. Ask them what they think our town would be like if we didn’t have the police. Point out that God has blessed our community with the police officers to do the things they listed. Have your children draw a picture or write a thank-you note to the police officers and then mail it/drop it off at the police station.