“Pray the News” – March 11^th, 2012

Of the 7 billion people in the world today, approximately 2.5 billion are children!  Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.”  Jesus, Paul, John, and others gave a special term of endearment to disciples – “dear children.”  Children are precious and it is our privilege and responsibility to love them, care for them, and invest in them!  Father God, we thank you and receive from you each child in our families, our church, our community, our nation, and our world as a gift and a reward from you!  Help us to be faithful in caring for the children you’ve entrusted to our care in this generation.

UNICEF lists 7 basic categories concerning children, so let’s pray through each of these.  I will mention a few points about each category then pray Scripture – let’s pool our prayers and our faith together and expect great things of God today!

1. Child Survival and Health

A staggering 20,000 children under the age of 5 die every day, half of whom live in India, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan, and China.  The four major causes of death in these children are pneumonia, diarrhoeal diseases, preterm birth complications, and birth asphyxia.

Jesus, you said to your disciples in Matthew 9 – “What a huge harvest . . . How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!”  Lord, we pray today for harvest hands to go into the huge harvest of your Kingdom.  Would you send parents, grandparents, teachers, health care workers, and compassionate Christians to each place where children are in need.  Here we are, send us, Lord!  There’s so much to do but we aren’t discouraged – we keep our eyes on you and ask you to speak to each one of us about how you want us to get involved with children!

2. Child Nutrition

Almost 150 million children under the age of 5 are underweight, most of whom are in South Asia.  Countless millions of children suffer from iodine or vitamin A deficiency, resulting in many developmental and health issues.

God, according to Philippians 4:19, we stand in the gap on behalf of children everywhere and pray that “this same God who takes care of [us] will supply all children’s needs, especially for food and vitamins, from your glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”  Thank you that we can ask big because you are a big, great, and awesome God!

3. Water and Sanitation

About 300 million children do not have access to clean drinking water.  Millions of other children who do have access to clean drinking water spend more than an hour each day collecting water.  About 800 million children do not have access to improved sanitation.

Lord, you provided water in the desert for your people, in a place where no water even existed.  We ask that you would work on behalf of children today in providing water for those who lack.  We pray along with the psalmist in Psalm 105 – “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always . . . He opened the rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed in the desert.”  We ask you for provision, wisdom, and opportunity for clean water and sanitation to be provided to every child.

4. Education

130 million school-aged boys and girls are growing up without access to basic education.  Millions of others languish in substandard schools where little learning takes place.  Without education, the cycle of poverty and poor health often continues.

Jesus, you said in Matthew 19 to “let the children come to [you]. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And [you] placed [your] hands on their heads and blessed them . . .”  Thank you, Jesus, that you love children and that you have a wonderful plan for each one.  Help us to make disciples, learners, of all nations, in obedience to you and for Your glory!

5. Child Protection

Children with disabilities are among the neediest people in the world, facing social isolation, poverty, and discrimination.  They are at risk for neglect, abuse and exploitation.  One in ten children lives with a significant disabling condition.  160 million children are subjected to child labor, 60 million children are forced to marry before adulthood, and 70 million girls have undergone female mutilation.

We pray along with the psalmist in Psalm 71 – “O Lord, [we] have come to you for protection” . . . we bring children to you for protection . . . “don’t let [them] be disgraced. Save [them] and rescue [them], for you do what is right. Turn your ear to listen to [us], and set [them] free. Be [their] rock of safety where [they] can always hide. Give the order to save [them], for you are [their] rock and [their] fortress. My God, rescue [them] from the power of the wicked, from the clutches of cruel oppressors.”

6. Maternal Health

About ½ million women die during pregnancy or childbirth each year, 99% of whom are in developing countries.

We continue praying Psalm 71 on behalf of children – “O Lord, you alone are [children’s] hope. Lord, draw children to trust you from childhood.  Thank you that you care for each one even in their mother’s womb.  May the lives of children be examples to many because you are their strength and protection. We can never stop praising you; we declare your glory all day long.”

7. HIV / AIDS

An estimated 4 – 5 children are HIV-positive.  Each year, approximately 1.5 million pregnant women are HIV-positive.

Let’s close our prayer time by praying the opening verses from Hosea 6 – “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds. In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence. Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”  We trust you, Lord – may your kingdom come and your will be done on earth, among children, as it is in heaven, for your glory!