Heavenly Father, 

We are bombarded by a thousand messages a day from a multitude of voices, and we feel overwhelmed as our world becomes fractured and polarised, 

So, we pray… God, your word encourages us to pray for those in positions of power and influence, so today we bring to you New Zealand’s media industry. Guide them in their decision making - grant them wisdom.   

Your example teaches us not to grasp for influence, but - in humility - to bless, love and serve.

Father, it’s easy to despair when we hear loud voices - with an inflated capacity to shape the values of our culture. They have a megaphone - and power to corrupt and tear down, or to inspire hope and build up…

So, we pray… Holy Spirit, may those working in our media rise to the challenge of setting a positive tone for our national conversations and framing our stories - seeking understanding, justice & compassion.

Lord, it’s so easy to criticise the media when we don’t like what we see… when we perceive bias in our journalism, or encounter values we don’t agree with in our entertainment.

So, we pray… Father, change our hearts, so our first instinct is to come before you - and remember that those who we criticise are your children too - made in your image, loved by you.

Lord Jesus, the media environment is changing so fast. With an explosion of digital platforms bombarding our brains, and the influence of AI on the rise, we think of our children who don’t yet have the discernment to protect their own minds and hearts.

So, we pray… Lord, bestow a sense of responsibility in content creators and influencers, and give courage and wisdom to those who need to be the filter - to protect our young ones.

And grant us wisdom as consumers, that we would discern truth from falsehood, and choose a media diet that is healthy for our souls.

So, we pray… Lord, by Your grace, raise our media to its highest purpose; to be a vehicle for good, for enlightenment and truth, and the flourishing of all people.

Make our media a blessing in this nation.

We pray all this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ

Amen