Prayer for Israel's recovery after Orthodox Jewish festival deaths

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56943755

Lord God, we ask you to deeply comfort the Orthodox Jewish brothers and sisters who were involved in the disaster at Thursday’s Lag B'Omer festival. It is overwhelming to consider that at least 45 men and boys were crushed to death while participating in a religious festival. Lord, please bless the investigation. Reveal whether anything improper took place and whether the police need to do anything differently in the future (either in preventing or responding to such tragedies). We pray for the quick and accurate identification of those victims who remain unknown, that their loved ones may have closure and proceed to burial. We pray for excellent medical care for the injured, as well as therapy and whatever else may be needed by those who witnessed this traumatic event, including emergency responders. Yahweh, we ask for healing and hope for all those impacted by this disaster—one of the worst peacetime disasters Israel has ever known. Glorify yourself among your people. May the national day of mourning, to be held Sunday, be a powerful day for Israel and her allies. Amen.

 

  

Prayer for India amid second wave of COVID-19

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-coronavirus-infections-cross-18-million-2021-04-29/ PC: REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Heavenly Father, we mourn over the devastation caused by India’s second wave of COVID-19. We grieve over the 379,257 new infections and 3,645 new deaths reported Thursday alone--which indicate the highest number of fatalities in a single day since the start of the pandemic. We are sorrowful about the overwhelmed hospitals and morgues, the gravediggers working around the clock to bury the dead, and the makeshift pyres set up to burn the deceased in parks and parking lots. What a desperate and crushing situation! Yet you are bigger than all of these things. You are more powerful. You love the people of India. We are thankful for the resourcefulness of hotels and railways in setting up makeshift hospitals. We are thankful for the healthcare workers, ambulance drivers, gravediggers, and so many more who are working beyond their endurance in order to help others. We are glad the military is working hard on behalf of its people, including opening its hospital to civilians. We pray, Lord, for the vaccines to reach as many people as possible as quickly as possible. We pray against technical difficulties and shortages. We pray for the supplies donated by other nations to be put to effective use immediately. Please bless Bangladesh, Germany, Russia and the United States for the critical supplies they are donating. Lord, we pray for Indians to rally together to defeat this pandemic. Draw them close to you during this time. May they lean into you as they persevere. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

 

 

Prayer about the mistreatment of journalists in Somalia

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-somalia-media/in-further-bid-to-silence-media-somalia-harassing-journalists-online-amnesty-idUSKBN2071WD PC: Somali Journalists Syndicate

Lord God, we are greatly concerned about the Somali government’s treatment of journalists. We know freedom of the press is a crucial accountability and informational tool. When governments bully journalists, they tend to have something to hide. We are thankful that Amnesty International has brought this concern to light and shared specific research supporting their claim. May the release of this information compel the government to back off on harassing and arresting journalists. The government set a record last year for arresting the most journalists yet. We pray they will improve this year, allowing greater transparency with their people. Lord, we also pray for journalistic integrity in Somalia. May journalists create excellent, accurate work that truly helps their readers. May their work promote change when needed. We humbly pray, amen.

 

 

Prayer for evacuation of St. Vincent after volcanic eruptions

 

https://www.foxnews.com/world/royal-caribbean-st-vincent-evacuations-soufriere-eruption (AP Photo/Orvil Samuel)

Lord God, we pray for the evacuation of the island of St. Vincent after its two volcanic eruptions Friday. We are thankful so many people have already been successfully evacuated and that Royal Caribbean cruise ships have been helping with the process. We pray that everyone necessary will be evacuated before anyone gets hurt and that the process will be calm, smooth and efficient. We pray for evacuees to find safe housing and healthy environments in their new locations. Lord, we also pray for the 20,000 people who fled to the northern part of the island. May they treat each other with kindness and consideration. May they be hospitably welcomed by the residents of this part of the island. May they be gracious guests. Finally, we ask your blessing on all those who are assisting amid this situation, including Royal Caribbean for transporting evacuees and delivering much-needed relief supplies to St. Vincent. Bless kindness and generosity amid this challenging time for this island. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.  

Prayer celebrating growth of Christianity in Iran

 

https://www.foxnews.com/faith-values/worlds-fastest-growing-church-women-documentary-film

Lord God, we are delighted to hear that Christianity is growing in Iran! We are thankful a secular research group based in the Netherlands confirmed this trend. We pray, Lord God, for the estimated million Christ-followers in Iran. We are thankful that Iran allows Christianity, but we share our concerns about the serious persecution that still takes place there. May your children find ways to grow and ways to practice their faith freely in their daily lives. May they be a positive influence in their communities and nation, helping with concerns such as the high poverty level, opium addiction and prostitution. May they have easy access to your Word and make use of that. May they shine brightly in their part of the world. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

 

 

Prayer for manhunt happening in Paris

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56724037 PC: Getty Images

Almighty God, please direct and protect police officers as they carry out a manhunt in and around Paris. We pray they will safely apprehend the man who executed another man and shot a woman just outside a hospital Monday. Lord, we are thankful no one else was hurt and that there were witnesses. We pray that the witnesses will recall to mind any and all details that will help police find the shooter. We also pray for civilians to be on the alert for anything suspicious in their communities and quick to reach out to law enforcement if they see or hear something helpful. Lord, we pray for the perpetrator of this crime. We pray he will not feel the need to resort to any more violence and that he will submit to law enforcement when found. We pray for the woman who was seriously injured in this incident. May she receive excellent care at the hospital and fully recover from her injuries. We pray for those who grieve the death of the targeted man. Please grant them peace and hope in this dark time. In Jesus’ powerful name we pray, amen.

Prayer as Beirut evaluates plans to rebuild after devastating explosion

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lebanon-crisis-port/let-us-rebuild-beiruts-port-in-less-than-three-years-says-frances-cma-cgm-idUSKBN2BX0BK PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES

Heavenly Father, we ask for your wisdom on how and when to rebuild Beirut’s port, which is still recovering from August’s massive explosion. The city is still grieving the loss of 200 lives and entire neighborhoods. The economy is still staggering under not only the losses to the explosion, but the inefficiency of the damaged port. Lord, as French and German companies submit proposals for rebuilding the port, may Lebanese authorities agree upon the plan that will be best for their city and nation. May proposals be accurate or even come in under cost in the end. May the process of rebuilding the port help in the healing journey for those who grieve. May motives be as pure as possible, with those who gain the contract always keeping the best for the Lebanese people at the forefront of their minds as they move forward with their plans. Finally, Lord, we ask that you glorify yourself in Beirut and spread your perfect peace among those who live and work there. We humbly pray, amen.