heatwaves
Pray the News – June 23rd, 2024
I noticed a news article this week reporting the extreme heat affecting millions of people around the world, with record-breaking temperatures thought to be the warmest in the last 2000 years. Sadly, just in the last couple of days, these heatwaves have already caused the deaths of thousands of people, with hundreds of thousands of others experiencing heat-related illnesses. One of the reasons this has grabbed my attention is because some of our immediate family and their extended family members live in two of the three most affected areas: Serbia (and the entire Balkan region down to the Mediterranean), India, and Saudi Arabia. In addition to heat-related health conditions, fires, extreme storms and the resultant flash flooding, health authorities are advising people to avoid going outdoors. As is always the case, the poor are the ones who suffer the most. Psalm 140:12 (NRSV) says, “I know that the Lord maintains the cause of the needy, and executes justice for the poor.” Let’s pray.
Lord God, Creator of all that there is, we cry out to you on behalf of all those in the regions affected most by heatwaves, in Serbia, India, and Saudi Arabia. We don’t know the cause of these things, but we do know that these prolonged periods of excessively hot weather are causing much pain and suffering. We especially cry out to you on behalf of the most vulnerable – the very old, the very young, those with other health conditions, the poor, those whose jobs entail engaging in physical labor outside. We pray for doctors, nurses, and all medical staff in these regions, knowing that this is placing a strain on already strained healthcare systems.
Lord God, we know that you see the suffering of the poor, hear the hearts of the vulnerable, and are present with those in pain. Would you stretch out your hand to heal, to save, to restore, and to revive? Turn the hearts of each precious person to you through the proclamation and demonstration of the good news of Jesus Christ, through our brothers and sisters in Christ in your church in each place, through dreams and visions, through circumstances, through whatever you want to use, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We ask all these things in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord,
Amen.
