O Lord Our God:
We come to you in the only name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved—Jesus Christ. How we thank you that we are saved through his name, by his righteous life, his atoning death, and his powerful resurrection from the dead.
Lord, we live in a broken and needy world—a place of great suffering. There are millions of people who were created by you and are loved by you, but find it difficult to maintain their own lives. They do not have the material resources to provide for their basic needs of food, clean water, clothing, shelter and medical care. Our prayer is that you would show your mercy to them. Help us to share the mercy that we have received from you.
Lord Jesus, you lived a life of poverty and suffering. You understand those who suffer and have yourself suffered greatly with patience and love for your people. Give us your understanding and help us to use what you give to love those in need for the glory of your name.
For your church we pray:
- For listening ears as we engage with those who are poor
- For wisdom to know how best to share and help
- For skill in leading people to lives of grace-empowered self-reliance
- For humility as we walk side-by-side with fellow sinners in need of gospel grace
- For penitence for the critical spirit that seems so easily to grow in our souls
- For hearts of praise to you for all that you have provided and for the promise of better things
For our friends in need we pray:
- For your kind provision of their material needs
- For your deep wisdom to know how to use your gifts to the best effect
- For power for those who are able to work but lack conviction to do so
- For those in the majority world who face drought
- For churches in the majority world—especially their leaders—that are themselves populated with people afflicted with poverty
- For the salvation of those who receive help from your people
These things we pray in the name of the one who, though he was rich, yet for our sake became poor, so that we by his poverty might become rich.
Amen.
