Their plight is in the news–let’s pray for them
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A temporary ban on refugees being admitted to the U.S. has put the spotlight on their plight. Few of us know what it is to lose our homes, our friends, our land, our belongings, and any sense of security. To lose identity, and dignity. Let us pray for the refugees—men and women, boys and girls—wandering the earth…
A PRAYER FOR THE POOR AND DOWNTRODDEN (from Prayers for Our Lives: 95 Lifelines to God)
[download a PDF of this prayer here]
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Luke 4:18-19
Gracious Lord in heaven,
When we consider the misery and suffering of so many millions of people in the world today, we are overwhelmed
May we not turn away.
Help us to see these realities. Open our ears to the cries of the multitudes. Give us the courage to know the pain of others.
And so we pray, though with a great sense of our limitations.
We pray for the poor. May the battle against extreme poverty go on without pause.
We pray for the oppressed. Help them to survive the corruptions of governments and the evil of criminals who prey on them.
We pray for the enslaved. Bring them rescuers who will break them out of their bondage. Give them the hope for spiritual freedom.
We pray for those who suffer the indignity of discrimination in any form. Help them find justice, and protect their hearts from bitterness.
We pray for the courageous people who are bringing release and relief to the poor and downtrodden in our world. We pray they would have resources to do the job and that they would sense your wisdom to know what may be done.
We are overwhelmed by the needs of a suffering world, dear God. Protect us from paralysis. Help us to proclaim the liberating gospel of the Lord Jesus, and to live out that gospel.
In Christ’s name, Amen.
Source: http://www.thebrooknetwork.org/
