Prayer for the Bahamas after Hurricane Matthew

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article106798497.html   Photo credit: Tim Aylen, AP

Lord, today we pray for the Bahamas as its people continue to recover from Hurricane Matthew. We pray for the thousands without power, that they will be able to creatively meet their needs as they wait for the power to be restored. We pray for those working to repair power and communication lines, etc., to be safe and efficient, despite being short on rest. We pray for the people who need basic emergency assistance – food, shelter, clean water. Help those with enough be generous with those who do not have enough. Help people be willing to go outside of their comfort zones to reach out to those in need. Lord, we pray for those who grieve over the loss of homes, that they will continue to rejoice in spared lives, and that they would be patient as they seek their homes to be repaired or to find new homes. May people show sympathy and also point the way toward hope. We pray for the economy, as the nation will be dealing with loss of tourist income for a long time as they seek to rebuild their communities. In the midst of chaos and destruction, please bring peace and glorify yourself. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. 

Prayer for Haiti in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-37560228  Photo credit: AFP 

This prayer was edited as more information became available.

Lord, today we pray for Haiti in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin. Lord, first, we think of the hundreds upon hundreds of lives lost. It is overwhelming: people of all ages, killed in frightening ways by such a powerful storm. Each life lost is a tragedy and leaves families and friends reeling for decades. Please be with those who have lost loved ones. And, Lord, thousands of people have lost their homes and businesses; crops and livestock have been devastated. The rebuilding will take many years. Lord, please comfort the people of Haiti. May your children in Haiti be lights in the midst of this dark time, even though they are hurting and facing loss themselves. Lord, thank you that relief workers were finally able to reach the part of the country that had been cut off. Please continue to give them determination, resourcefulness and strength as they continue to uncover the loss, recover bodies and deal with the most urgent crises. We pray for not only hospitals that are without fresh water, but for the hundreds of family without fresh water. We pray against cholera and other diseases that may increase under these circumstances. Lord, may the best in people come out as people help, serve and show generosity toward one another. May those who are able to help do so quickly, safely and effectively. We pray against the looting and theft. Lord, convict the hearts of those who are tempted to steal from others as they deal with their pain. Help them to recognize that everyone is suffering during this time. Lord, we also pray for the non-governmental organizations that have representatives on the ground in Haiti right now, such as Reciprocal Ministries International. Thank you for their long-term presence in serving and loving and living among—being part of—the people of Haiti. Help them do what they do best in the midst of this devastation: assisting those around them, being present, sharing your love, meeting needs. Show us how we may help. May people around the world rise up to help the people of this small island nation. And may we not forget to pray as we go about our days. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

For updates from Haiti and a chance to help in practical ways, visit https://www.facebook.com/reciprocalministries/?pnref=story.unseen-section. If desired, click on the “donate” link on their Facebook page, or visit here: http://www.rmibridge.org/.

Here is the original version:

Lord, today we pray for Haiti in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin. Lord, thank you that loss of life appears to be minimal, despite major devastation. We are especially thankful for this, considering the nation was hit harder than anyone had expected. Lord, even though loss of life was “minimal,” each life lost is a tragedy and leaves families and friends reeling for decades. Please be with those who have lost loved ones. And, Lord, thousands of people have lost their homes and businesses; crops and livestock have been devastated. The rebuilding will take many years. Lord, please comfort the people of Haiti. May your children in Haiti be lights in the midst of this dark time, even though they are hurting and facing loss themselves. Lord, we pray for relief workers and others who are trying to creatively gain access to the part of the country that has been cut off by damage. We pray for people to have peace and ingenuity as they deal with not only lack of access, but lack of phone communication. We pray for those hospitals that are without fresh water. Lord, may the best in people come out as people help, serve and show generosity toward one another. May those who are able to help do so quickly, safely and effectively. Lord, we also pray for the non-governmental organizations that have representatives on the ground in Haiti right now, such as Reciprocal Ministries International. Thank you for their long-term presence in serving and loving and living among—being part of—the people of Haiti. Help them do what they do best in the midst of this devastation: assisting those around them, being present, sharing your love, meeting needs. Show us how we may help. May we not forget to pray as we go about our days. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. 

Prayer about Hurricane Matthew

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/10/03/496383354/caribbean-nations-brace-for-hurricane-matthews-lash
Photo credit: Collin Reid/AP

Lord, today we pray about Hurricane Matthew, which is heading toward multiple Caribbean islands this very moment. Lord, thank you for helping us create technology that provides forewarning as storms approach. Thank you that we have adopted practices to prepare for large storms. We do pray for Jamaica, Haiti, Turks and Caicos, Cuba, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and any others who are preparing for this storm. May people exercise caution and diligence in their preparations. May others show courage when and if needed when the storm actually arrives. Please protect people. Help those who are in danger know when it is time to find shelter elsewhere. We are especially concerned about potential flash flooding and mudslides, when people are caught unaware. Again, we ask for protection from Hurricane Matthew, Lord. Ideally, may the storm not be as strong as anticipated, or may it veer off to a place where it will not cause damage. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Prayer about the Srebrenica genocide

For more information, visit here: https://iwpr.net/global-voices/srebrenica-anniversary.

Lord, 20 years ago Bosnian Serb forces attacked the town of Srebrenica and killed over 7,000 Muslims that were supposedly under the care of United Nations peacekeepers. You saw this travesty. You grieved over this tragedy. Lord, in some ways it seems so long ago. Yet people still grieve for many reasons. They still miss their loved ones. They desire justice. They would like the world to acknowledge their pain, rather than deny that this event happened. Lord, we pray with them about these concerns. And we pray for those legal trials that are still occurring. May truth come to light. May people be compelled to speak honestly. May those who have harbored dark secrets for decades confess. And, Lord, we pray about the 1,000+ dead who have not yet been identified. Heavenly Father, may scientists, law enforcement and anyone else involved have efficiency, resources and determination as they seek to bring closure for these families. Lord, most of all, please work in the hearts and lives of those who grieve. We live in a fallen world. We deal with tragedy every day. We do not always receive justice. We do not always find closure. Lord, we still ask for these things--justice and closure--but we also ask for your peace that passes understanding--your peace that guards hearts and minds even when it doesn't seem peace should be possible. Bless those who grieve in and around Srebrenica with this kind of peace in you. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Prayer against counterfeit anti-malarial drugs

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-37470667  Photo: Getty Images

Lord, today we grieve with parents who have watched their children die of malaria. Not only have they watched their children die from this disease, but they expected the children to get better, because they knew they had administered appropriate medication. However, they didn’t know the medication was counterfeit. Lord, it is absolutely astounding that people would continue to mass-produce and distribute fake medications that will cause people to die—unnecessarily—every single day. Lord, please don’t just prick the consciences of the perpetrators…sear their consciences! Lord, may they be deeply convicted of their direct role in the deaths of others. We pray the same for the officials and inspectors who accept bribes to turn a blind eye to this lethal practice. We pray for success for those organizations and companies that are working hard to defeat this deadly counterfeit industry. May they educate, reach, multiply and succeed. May parents who seek lifesaving medication for their children be able to confidently find the correct products. We pray in Jesus’ powerful name, amen.

Prayer about food shortage in Venezuela

Photo credit: John Moore/Getty Images. http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2016/09/26/venezuelan-children-fainting-in-school-because-are-hungry/

Lord, today we pray again about the food shortage in Venezuela. Most of us cannot fathom having to begin waiting in line at 3 AM to receive basic food staples. We cannot imagine feeding our children only once per day, or taking them out of school because we cannot afford transportation or school supplies. Lord, we pray for the children of Venezuela. We know this is not just a short-term problem. We know it’s not just about them not getting enough to eat now. It’s about their long-term health. It’s about their long-term education. And the children’s long-term health and education affect the future of the nation. Lord, please give the leaders of this nation wisdom, creativity and a willingness to sacrifice in order to care for and guide their people. We pray for Venezuelans to show the best of their character in the midst of this desperation, rather than the worst. We pray for determination and creativity as parents seek to provide for their children. And we pray for strength for the children, even when they aren’t getting enough to eat. Please sustain them, Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Prayer for Christians in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan

Lord, today our thoughts and prayers turn toward those Christians living in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan. Lord, we grieve that the Nuba people are so gravely mistreated by their government because of their faith. It is always sad when people lose their homes, jobs, freedom and even their lives because they choose to follow you. Thank you that our citizenship is in heaven. Thank you that our rewards are in heaven. Thank you for hearing the cries of the martyrs. You promise all these things in your Word. Please sustain those who are being persecuted for their faith in Sudan. Please help the truth to come out about what is happening so that the international community will put pressure on the right leaders. We pray against Sudan having success in implementing Shariah law. Lord, be glorified today in Sudan. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.