I find myself overwhelmed by the tragic situation of the world. How we need God to intervene! How every person desperately needs Him, even if they don't realize it or accept it!
Anyone reading this post is most likely in the 1 or 2% of the richest people of the world. And yet the wounds, the burdens, the sorrows, and the pain even of us and people we know personally is immense.
And then there's the rest of the world, many of whom have never heard of Jesus, the only Savior and King of all mankind. Many whose life on earth will be struggle after struggle to get just food, water, clothing, and shelter for themselves and their families. Most of my major prayer requests will never be on their radar, for they need the things I take for granted. And even those who aren't stricken by poverty (Europe, parts of Asia) may never know anyone who knows Christ. Hopeless.
Would you take a moment to join me in praying the immense needs around us and in our world?
I just used the song Come Holy Spirit to help me pray for the needs below - by no means a comprehensive list, but a start.
(Listen to Come Holy Spirit by
1. going to http://www.owm.org/music-media/music,
2. on the music player click Shine (2009)
3. click Come Holy Spirit.)
Come Holy Spirit, move in this place
Come Holy Spirit, have Your way
Reveal anything that keeps us from You
Consume any darkness, make all things new
Move in Your power within us
LET ALL THINGS GIVE WAY to JESUS
• ❑ not enough money to buy food or clothes or shelter
• ❑ no water
• ❑ sickness that can easily be prevented
• ❑ sickness that causes death
• ❑ people so hungry that they are dying
• ❑ a mom who cannot keep her child fed or safe
• ❑ a mom in Haiti or elsewhere who doesn't know if her kid is alive or dead
• ❑ a woman who aborted her baby
• ❑ anyone in a divorce or having marital problems
• ❑ anyone whose spouse has been unfaithful
• ❑ deep wounds from what were once close relationships
• ❑ one's body ceasing to work from old age
• ❑ anyone in a nursing home
• ❑ anyone suffering from alzheimers
• ❑ the lonely
• ❑ the depressed
• ❑ those with daily physical pain
• ❑ those in war
• ❑ those who can't forget war
• ❑ those who live in war zones or have been forced in a refugee camp to live for years on end
• ❑ those addicted to drugs
• ❑ girls and women being trafficked for sex
• ❑ kids being abused by their parents
• ❑ those in prison
• ❑ those for whom safety is not normal
• ❑ those getting ready for death without salvation
• ❑ anyone without salvation
Bring in a brand new day O God! By Your power and Spirit bring salvation, healing and hope to all peoples around the world.
Preach good news to the poor
Bind up the brokenhearted
Proclaim freedom for the captives
Release the prisoners from darkness
Proclaim who You are!
Comfort all who mourn
Provide for those who grieve -
so they may have beauty, not ashes
gladness, not mourning
praise, not despair. (Is 61)
For nothing is impossible with You (Luke 1:37), and though "we do not know what to do, our eyes are upon You" (2 Chron 20:12). And teach us how to live and what to do in the meantime!
Amen.
