Prayer Request 3/20 - 3/26

Tuesday
More and more Chinese​ are getting hooked on nicotine despite the repeated efforts of the government to control it, the public outcries, and the many campaigns to promote awareness of it. We pray for believers to be powerfully delivered from addiction even though their family members smoke, and especially for those who have teens who smoke. May the Lord set them free from all addictions to smoking, gambling and pornography.
Wednesday
Nearly seventy percent of Chinese smokers started between the ages of fourteen and twenty-two. Men smokers outnumber ​women who smoke by two to one. They learn to smoke though curiosity, rebellion, or peer pressure. Many Christian parents are deeply pained knowing that their children or other family members smoke. Let us join them in praying for God's deliverance from this harmful habit and that the Lord will open their hearts to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Thursday
More than half of the smokers in China started to smoke in their adolescent years and find it very difficult to quit, no matter their educational background. Those who are more highly educated are less likely to quit than those with less education.​ ​It is difficult for parents to teach their children not to smoke when a spouse smokes. We pray for believers who have unbelieving spouses but want their children to know Jesus​. May the Lord strengthen their resolve and give them patience.
Friday
During the last thirty years, the phenomenal economic growth and improvement of lifestyle in China have contributed to the spike in incidences of cardiovascular disease and stroke.​ ​There are many stroke patients in China and it is​ the responsibility of the families in the churches to care for these patients. We pray for patience, grace, and the joy of the Lord for them, especially in times of frustration and helplessness.
Saturday
China's embracing Western foods such as red meat and soda pop has exacerbated the obesity problem there. Fast food restaurants are very popular in many provinces, especially among rural children.​ ​Rural churches have millions of youth and children who grew up with some Bible ​knowledge but few of them have solid spiritual roots so they quickly abandon their faith when they go to work in the cities. We pray for the grace of God for them and His protection from temptation for the young ones in rural churches.
Sunday
Obesity is an alarming problem in China because many families move from villages to the cities and their physical activities are limited there. Smoking is also a widespread problem with more than half of the men who smoke in spite of the repeated efforts of the government to curb it.​ Young people in the rural churches will eventually move to cities to work so we pray that they will be spiritually equipped, have the habit of daily Bible reading and prayer before their leave their homes for work. We pray that like Daniel in the Bible, who refused to defile himself with the king's food, they will be able to resist temptation.
Monday
China is the world's largest market for tobacco with more than 300 million smokers--a whopping 33% of its adult population. Central and western China (including Yunnan province) have the highest percentage of smokers, with nearly half smoking more than half a pack daily. Since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit purchased with a great price, we pray that all believers will take good care of that with which the Lord has entrusted to us and flee from all kinds of sin that defile us.


星期二
中國控煙，公眾支持，媒體呼籲，政府也捨得花錢。然而，過去種種控煙努力似乎都打了水漂，在上百個國家吸煙率都在下降的時候，中國煙民數量和煙草消費卻節節上升。我們為信徒家中有人抽煙的，尤其是已經吸煙的青少年禱告，求主幫助人看見這些不健康的嗜好所帶來的禍害。我們也記念仍受著嫖、賭、色情網、電玩等各種癖瘾捆綁的信徒禱告，求主加力給他們，順著聖靈而不是順著肉體得著真正的自由。
星期三
中國七成煙民吸煙始於十四至二十二歲，而十四歲以下開始吸煙的男生數量是女生的兩倍。這個時期的青少年對新事物好奇又自我，便容易在追求同輩認同的心態下嘗試吸煙。許多基督徒父母因自己的孩子及家人抽煙而擔憂痛心，求主垂聽他們的禱告，幫助煙民脫離這罪的轄制，又感動那些頑固的心靈，早日接受耶穌基督為救主，過一個健康平安的生活。
星期四
中國煙民有五成左右都在未成年時期開始吸煙。一個人無論學歷高低，戒掉一個成癮的毛病都是艱難的。隨著學歷的升高，嘗試戒菸的人數反而降低。當父母其中一方抽煙，就很難阻止孩子不吸煙。我們為那些想引領孩子認識主耶穌，從小給孩子基督教教養，但配偶卻是不信的信徒禱告，願主加添他們信心及忍耐，靠著恒久的愛心盼望將一切交托主。
星期五
過去三十年，中國經濟快速增長，生活方式逐漸富裕，這反成了心肌梗死和腦猝中等心血管疾病發病率急劇上升的原因之一。教會中也有不少中風的信徒或是需要長期照顧的家人，求主賜給他們有耐心，在煩躁無奈中仍有神賜的恩慈，更是有主的喜樂。也求主在教會充足預備支持鼓勵他們的屬靈伙伴，在代禱與關懷方面給予他們強而有力的扶助。
星期六
中國對紅肉和汽水等西方食品的欣然接納導致健康問題加劇。快餐店在中國很多省份大受歡迎，肥胖症的問題也日益嚴重，特別是在農村孩子當中。百萬農村青少年，雖然在家鄉的教會認識信仰，但真正在靈命和屬靈操練上有扎實根基的卻寥寥無幾。。他們一旦到了城市工作，往往無法持守信仰來抵擋引誘，也停止聚會。求主堅固農村教會的年輕人和孩青少年子的信心，親自吸引他們渴慕追求認識主更深。
星期日
隨著從鄉村遷至城鎮的中國家庭增加，體力活動水平普遍降低，也是中國肥胖症增多的因素。此外，吸煙癖好廣為盛行也是社衛問題之一，縱然政府採取了多項措施打擊吸煙，但依有超過一半的男性是煙民。農村教會的年輕信徒大都進城找工作，求主感動農村教會能在年輕人離鄉之前，教導他們效法但以理在王宮不玷污自己，有讀經禱告親近神的恒常屬靈操練，以致靈命能繼持續成長。
星期一
中國的煙民超過三億(將近三份之一的成人人口)，是全世界最大的香煙市場。中西部地區以及雲南是煙民比例最高的地方，近一半的吸煙者平均每天會抽香煙十根到一盒。願主提醒我們保養顧惜好自己的身體，更是不被罪玷污自己。因為神教導我們：身體是聖靈的殿，是神用重價贖回來的，一定要自潔自重，為神珍重。