displaced persons
Pray the News – June 20th, 2021
This week, the news item that caught my attention is that the UN’s refugee agency has reported the tragedy that there are currently a record 82 million displaced persons in the world who were forced to leave their homes, more than double the number from 10 years ago. This means that more than 1% of the world’s population is displaced, due to many factors, including persecution, conflict, violence, and human rights violations.
Because of travel restrictions concerning international borders, the vast majority have been internally displaced. Of the 82 million, in the last year, only 250,000 refugees were able to return to their countries of origin and only 34,000 were able to be settled in third countries. It’s hard for us to imagine the innumerable difficulties associated with not having a home, not having a homeland, not having a safe place for yourself and your family, not having stability in residence, community, or work.
The Lord tells us in Leviticus 19 – “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.”
And in Matthew 25 Jesus said – “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”
Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father, it’s so easy for us to be numb when we read statistics like 82 million – that is a number beyond our comprehension. Would you soften our hearts so that we can love like you love – unconditionally, generously, sacrificially? Would you break our hearts for this huge portion of humanity that have no home, no homeland, no safe place, little if any stability? Would you bring justice where there is injustice, peace where there is terror, provision where there is lack, healing where there is infirmity, wholeness where there is brokenness. May Your Kingdom come in all over the earth, as it is in heaven, for Your glory. We pray for all of the blessings of Your Kingdom through the power of the Holy Spirit – salvation, healing, hope, deliverance, forgiveness, compassion, justice, and love. We again lay our lives down at Your feet and offer ourselves to You to send us to whomever You will. In the precious name of Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen!
