The stark statistics which spell out the poverty of Afghanistan can be found on the web pages of UNICEF and the World Health Organisation:
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/afghanistan_statistics.html
http://www.who.int/countries/afg/en/
Long years of war have impacted particularly on women and children, as is always the case, and a staggeringly high proportion of women die in childbirth. The proportion of children who are malnourished and stunted is also frighteningly high.
Dear Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer for Afghanistan. May the people of Afghanistan be able to achieve a lasting peace. May they be able to send all their children to school for a good and complete education - girls as well as boys, and may they be helped to develop effective health services. Lord, I pray especially for the children of Afghanistan, that they may receive adequate nutrition to grow strong and healthy.
Father, I pray also for our forces in Afghanistan. My they carry out their role with integrity. May their situation be properly understood by the government and people of the UK, and may they all come safely home.
Monday, 31 December 2007
Saturday, 29 December 2007
Trafficking
Trafficking is the modern version of the slave trade. Instead of picking cotton, most trafficked human beings nowadays are conned and coerced into the sex industry. 120,000 women and children are trafficked into Western Europe every year. Many of these are bought and sold into forced prostitution, beaten, imprisoned, raped and sometimes killed.
Lord, for everyone who is taken against their will to somewhere they don't want to be, who is forced into labour that is not of their choosing, I pray for your command to be honoured:
Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice and let the oppressed go free. (Isaiah 58:6)
As you used the evil done to Joseph for the good of many, and set Joseph in a place of honour, I pray you would lift your mighty arm to save the slaves of today and bring them to a better destiny.
A relevant web page is:
http://www.unfpa.org/swp/2005/english/ch7/index.htm
Lord, for everyone who is taken against their will to somewhere they don't want to be, who is forced into labour that is not of their choosing, I pray for your command to be honoured:
Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice and let the oppressed go free. (Isaiah 58:6)
As you used the evil done to Joseph for the good of many, and set Joseph in a place of honour, I pray you would lift your mighty arm to save the slaves of today and bring them to a better destiny.
A relevant web page is:
http://www.unfpa.org/swp/2005/english/ch7/index.htm
Monday, 10 December 2007
Starvation
Dear Lord,
How your heart must grieve to see not only the suffering of the hungry, but the complacency of those who have enough to eat. Father I pray that you would disturb all the world on this subject of starvation and malnutrition, until poverty, hunger and ignorance really are history. But Lord, where there are the resources now to feed all the people adequately, I pray that you in your righteousness and mercy will move hearts and minds so that inequality of any kind does not keep women and children hungry.
Thank you for the abundance that I enjoy. I pray that more and more people in our world will come to enjoy such abundance. I pray for farmers everywhere that they may learn how to cultivate their fields without stripping their fertility. I pray especially for subsistence farmers to be able to grow the food they need and to have a surplus to sell. I pray for fair distribution of food globally and locally. And I pray that you would forgive me the little I do to address the huge problem of hunger in our world, and show me how I could make more of a contribution.
God's justice asks:
When I was hungry, did you feed me?
More than 800 million people in the world are malnourished.
2 billion lack essential vitamins and minerals in their diet
Women and small children are disproportionately affected.
For detailed information, he following web sites are relevant:
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/education/resources/making_a_meal_of_it/
(See "Background information about food and hunger)
www.care.org/campaigns/world-hunger/facts.asp
www.thp.org/women/asianenigma.htm
How your heart must grieve to see not only the suffering of the hungry, but the complacency of those who have enough to eat. Father I pray that you would disturb all the world on this subject of starvation and malnutrition, until poverty, hunger and ignorance really are history. But Lord, where there are the resources now to feed all the people adequately, I pray that you in your righteousness and mercy will move hearts and minds so that inequality of any kind does not keep women and children hungry.
Thank you for the abundance that I enjoy. I pray that more and more people in our world will come to enjoy such abundance. I pray for farmers everywhere that they may learn how to cultivate their fields without stripping their fertility. I pray especially for subsistence farmers to be able to grow the food they need and to have a surplus to sell. I pray for fair distribution of food globally and locally. And I pray that you would forgive me the little I do to address the huge problem of hunger in our world, and show me how I could make more of a contribution.
God's justice asks:
When I was hungry, did you feed me?
More than 800 million people in the world are malnourished.
2 billion lack essential vitamins and minerals in their diet
Women and small children are disproportionately affected.
For detailed information, he following web sites are relevant:
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/education/resources/making_a_meal_of_it/
(See "Background information about food and hunger)
www.care.org/campaigns/world-hunger/facts.asp
www.thp.org/women/asianenigma.htm
Saturday, 1 December 2007
Female suicide bombers
Heavenly Father, I pray for any and all young women who may be at risk this very day of becoming suicide bombers. I pray that you would minister to their angry and despairing spirits, and help them to see that all history and all justice are in your hands. Turn their hearts to prayer, Lord, rather than to murder and suicide. Give their families wisdom and love enough, Lord, to see their daughters' despair, and to comfort them.
Father, we feel so helpless to bring peace and justice to a world riven by hatred, fear and violence. Truly, mankind has created a very hell on earth. Forgive us, Father, whenever we allow injustice and oppression because we are too complacent or apathetic to stand against it. Give us widsom, I pray, to see how each one of us, no matter what our faith or culture, may become a part of the solution, rather than a part of the problem.
And finally, Father, I pray for the families of all the young people who have died as suicide bombers. Please comfort them in their bereavement and give them courage to stand against the forces that would claim for death the young lives that you created for creativity and joy.
Father, we feel so helpless to bring peace and justice to a world riven by hatred, fear and violence. Truly, mankind has created a very hell on earth. Forgive us, Father, whenever we allow injustice and oppression because we are too complacent or apathetic to stand against it. Give us widsom, I pray, to see how each one of us, no matter what our faith or culture, may become a part of the solution, rather than a part of the problem.
And finally, Father, I pray for the families of all the young people who have died as suicide bombers. Please comfort them in their bereavement and give them courage to stand against the forces that would claim for death the young lives that you created for creativity and joy.
Saturday, 24 November 2007
If your eye causes you to sin....
Prayer Day 13 of ""30 Days of Prayer for the Voiceless" requires us to reflect on the way that women and even children are exploited, harmed and depersonalised by pornography. We might also reflect on how it leads the purchaser into a degrading addiction, and puts families at risk of a perverted set of values and desires.
Holy Lord, you created men and women to be companions for one another and to find delight in one another. I pray that you would recall us to our true status as loving partners and mutual supporters, and help us to defend our communities, our families and especially our children from the evil lusts that are formed and perpetuated by pornography.
I pray that your church, as the Bride of Christ, would take a lead in seeking to eliminate this evil trade. I pray for the lawmakers, who seek to eliminate pornography from the internet, that you would guide them with the gift of wisdom. I pray especially, Lord, for the law enforcement agencies as they seek to break paedophile rings. May they develop ever greater professionalism and skill. May they be successful in gaining convictions, and may they, their families and their communities be blessed and encouraged by their success.
Holy Lord, you created men and women to be companions for one another and to find delight in one another. I pray that you would recall us to our true status as loving partners and mutual supporters, and help us to defend our communities, our families and especially our children from the evil lusts that are formed and perpetuated by pornography.
I pray that your church, as the Bride of Christ, would take a lead in seeking to eliminate this evil trade. I pray for the lawmakers, who seek to eliminate pornography from the internet, that you would guide them with the gift of wisdom. I pray especially, Lord, for the law enforcement agencies as they seek to break paedophile rings. May they develop ever greater professionalism and skill. May they be successful in gaining convictions, and may they, their families and their communities be blessed and encouraged by their success.
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Infertile couples and childless women
The title of Day 12 of "30 Days of Prayer for the Voiceless" has so offended me that it has taken me some time to get round to this day's prayer. I have now retitled it entirely for this entry.
Lord, I pray that you would comfort and heal all couples who long for children, but who have not yet conceived. The stories of Hannah and Sarah teach us that, with you, anything is possible. Please bless these couples who have love in their hearts for their as-yet -unborn children. May they at last receive your greatest gift of new life.
Father, I also pray for all those women who have not had children because they have not yet found a life partner, and who enter their menopause with the sad realisation that they never will know the joy of motherhood. Surround them and affirm them with your love, Father, and lead them to the places and roles where they are able to rejoice in having a significant and honoured role in nurturing others who so need the love they have to give. May they also be affirmed and loved by your people, the Body of Christ on earth.
Lord, I pray that you would comfort and heal all couples who long for children, but who have not yet conceived. The stories of Hannah and Sarah teach us that, with you, anything is possible. Please bless these couples who have love in their hearts for their as-yet -unborn children. May they at last receive your greatest gift of new life.
Father, I also pray for all those women who have not had children because they have not yet found a life partner, and who enter their menopause with the sad realisation that they never will know the joy of motherhood. Surround them and affirm them with your love, Father, and lead them to the places and roles where they are able to rejoice in having a significant and honoured role in nurturing others who so need the love they have to give. May they also be affirmed and loved by your people, the Body of Christ on earth.
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
The Tamars of Today
Absalom was not just an ambitious son who couldn't wait for his father to hand the kingdom over to him. He was also a brother with a terrible wrong to avenge. The main part of Tamar's story is told in 2 Samuel 13, although the repercussions can be seen to spread like a stain over the following chapters also.
Father, I pray for all girls and women who find themselves in Tamar's situation. Be their shelter and comfort as they come under threat, Lord. Be healing streams for them as they seek to recover.
And Father, I pray with Absalom that justice will be done, and that those who have power and authority will protect and treasure these defenceless little ones, and cause them to lift up their heads again. May they know that the shame and the blame does not belong to them.
Father, I pray for all girls and women who find themselves in Tamar's situation. Be their shelter and comfort as they come under threat, Lord. Be healing streams for them as they seek to recover.
And Father, I pray with Absalom that justice will be done, and that those who have power and authority will protect and treasure these defenceless little ones, and cause them to lift up their heads again. May they know that the shame and the blame does not belong to them.
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