forcibly displaced from home
Pray the News – November 26th, 2023
This week many of us celebrated Thanksgiving by spending time with others at home or in the home of someone we love. Home describes both the place where you live and where you feel most comfortable, loved, and protected. At least, that’s what home is supposed to be. While many of us enjoyed gathering and connecting with loved ones this week, let’s remember in prayer those who have been separated from home and family and are powerless to do anything about it.
There are over 108 million people currently who have been forcibly displaced from their homes or home regions, as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, or events seriously disturbing public order. Displaced persons, both adults and children, face adverse conditions, risky travel, inhumane conditions, and are much more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Massive emergencies exist in at least eight places around the world: Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Congo, Bangladesh, Sudan, Venezuela, and the Horn of Africa. Let’s pray together for each one of these precious children of God, who knows each one by name.
Psalm 57:1 (NRSV) – “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.”
We cry out to you, oh God, for mercy on each of these precious millions who have been forced from their homes. You see and know each one personally, and you care deeply for every detail of their lives. We ask you to provide a place of refuge for each one as they travel and relocate to new and unfamiliar places. Please provide shelter for their bodies and for their souls. We cry out to you to heal the hearts, minds, and bodies of each one who has endured unimaginable tragedy and trauma.
We don’t know how long these disasters will last in these various places around the world. It grieves us to see these oceans of human suffering that are beyond comprehension. We ask you for mercy to transform places of persecution into oases where the good news is received with gladness. Bring an end to conflicts and wars that ruin lives and lands. Soften the hearts of those who perpetrate violence so that they will be overcome by and welcome the peace of Christ Jesus. Let kingdom justice roll down like a river, oh God! We cry out to you to protect and heal the most vulnerable, including the very old, the very young, and those with physical and mental disabilities. We ask you to renew and restore all that has been damaged or devastated. Please make a way for each child, each adult, each family to find their way home, both a physical place to live in which they can be comfortable, loved, and protected, and also to find their way home to their forever home in you, Jesus. Come, Holy Spirit!
Thank you, God of compassion and mercy, for your loving kindness which endures forever. Thank you that you are good and all that you do is good! We pray all of these things in the precious name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
