Prayer for wife of Thai Navy SEAL who died during cave rescue

https://www.news.com.au/world/asia/wife-of-saman-kunan-the-navy-seal-who-died-in-the-thai-cave-rescue-asks-who-will-i-kiss-now/news-story/26d6b3d5122c9c7bf06a6b4dac4cc0b8

Heavenly Father, today we pray for Valeepoan Kunan, the widow of the retired Thai Navy SEAL who died rescuing 12 boys and their coach from a cave in northern Thailand. We rejoice that Saman Kunan, aged 38, was the only casualty, but one casualty was too many. We know his widow’s life will never be the same. Please be with Valeepoan during her time of loss and severe grief. We pray people will not quickly forget her after the cave story fades away, but that she would continue to have a healthy support network for years to come. Grant her peace in her heart and a purposeful life. We also pray for the boys, who recently learned of Saman’s death. Please help them process this tragedy and live lives that honor Saman's sacrifice. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Prayer for Pakistan in the midst of election-related terrorism

https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/13/asia/pakistan-suicide-attack-balochistan-intl/index.html

Lord, we are sickened by what is happening in Pakistan prior to its July 25 general election. We are so weary of terror, so tired of people destroying innocent lives in order to make a political point. We pray for the people of Pakistan today as they recover from at least three bombings this week alone—with more than 150 people killed and over 300 people injured. We know that these are not just numbers. These are real people who leave behind grieving loved ones. The injured will need immediate and long-term medical care, they will miss work, their lives will be changed. Heavenly Father, we pray against terrorism in this nation as the election approaches. May those who are tempted to destroy see the vileness of this tactic. May they choose healthier ways of expressing themselves. And may men and women of integrity not fear to stand up and speak. Protect those who would bring good to Pakistan and this world through their election to public office. May this election move forward with minimal violence. May the best people be elected to office in Pakistan for such a time as this. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Prayer for Cafe Momentum's work with juvenile offenders

https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/29/us/cnnheroes-chad-houser-cafe-momentum/index.html

Lord, today we pray for the Dallas non-profit Café Momentum, which gives young people coming out of juvenile detention a new start in life. We are thankful for the visionary, caring leadership of Chad Houser, who decided to use his skills and credentials to help others, rather than focusing solely on his own professional success. Continue to give Houser wisdom and perseverance as he trains struggling young people year after year. Bless him with an excellent staff that shares the vision of changing the trajectory of young people’s lives. We pray for the interns at Café Momentum, that they will find success at each level as they work their way through the Café Momentum program. Bless them for their choice to get involved. May they continue making healthy choices after they graduate from the program, and may these young adults meet needs within the culinary industry, rather than returning to any bad habits. Give them a strong desire to “pay forward” the good they have received, so this good work can be exponentially multiplied. Bring additional positive people into their lives to be lights for you. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Prayer during Chiang Rai cave rescue operation

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rescue-operation-for-a-thai-soccer-team-trapped-in-a-cave-to-begin-sunday/2018/07/07/f255d00c-825a-11e8-b658-4f4d2a1aeef1_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.0ea34bc14df8
HANDOUT/AFP PHOTO/ROYAL THAI NAVY/GETTY IMAGES

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the rescue operation happening in the Chiang Rai province of Thailand. We are deeply concerned for the 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped in the cave for more than two weeks. We are also anxious for the safety of all those involved in the rescue operation, particularly after the selfless death of a retired Thai Navy SEAL Friday. Lord, we pray for every detail of this rescue operation to go as smoothly as possible. We first think of the boys. Please keep them supernaturally calm under all circumstances. It is difficult to imagine diving for hours through murky, dark, cold water—particularly when one does not even know how to swim! Be with these boys throughout their entire journey. Guide them. Protect them. Grant their rescuers heightened awareness in a beneficial sense, helping them discern and address every possible obstacle before problems arise. We pray for bolstered energy and strength for all who are weak. We pray for medical assessments to be accurate, and for a wise order of extraction to be implemented. We ask that oxygen levels remain more than adequate, and that the rains hold off while the water is at its lowest level in two weeks. Be with loved ones as they anxiously await news during the rescue operation. And, Lord, we take time to thank you again for leading searchers to the right place in this network of caves. We celebrate the global resources, efforts and prayers surrounding these 13 young men. We are thankful the boys have survived this long under difficult circumstances. May they make it back to their loved ones. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Prayer for children whose father died protecting them from a polar bear

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/05/canada-nunavut-aaron-gibbons-mauled-polar-bear-kids

Heavenly Father, today we pray for Aaron Gibbons' two children, who witnessed their father being killed by a polar bear as he protected them. Lord, we thank you that the children were able to escape. We also rejoice in a father willing to lay down his life for his children without hesitation, even as we grieve the loss of this man. May Gibbons’ children always know how deeply their father loved them—even unto death. May that sacrifice provide them with a picture of how very much you love them. And, Lord, we ask that you fill the hole in these children's hearts after this loss. We pray that they will be able to process what happened and recover from what they witnessed. We ask you to work in the hearts of godly, loving adults to get involved in these children’s lives, providing them with support and encouragement in the wake of this tragedy, as well as in the years to come. Please work in Gibbons’ community as people grieve his passing. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Prayer about investigation of baby killings in Chester, England

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-44709766 Photo: SWNS

Heavenly Father, today we pray about the probe into the deaths of 17 infants at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester, England. We are thankful someone noticed the higher-than-average infant death rates at this hospital and chose to thoroughly investigate. We are also thankful for the clues that led to the arrest of 28-year-old nurse Lucy Letby. We are asking now for truth to come out. We pray for Miss Letby to fully cooperate with the authorities. We pray for investigators to find all information needed to solve these crimes and prevent any other unnatural baby deaths at Countess of Chester Hospital. Lord, we also ask for comfort for the many families who lost their precious newborns. Please give them the peace that passes understanding. May the investigation and legal process bring some closure for these families. And we ask that you walk closely with these families as they process the killing of their innocent children. Allow them to move forward in life with hope, despite experiencing such a terrible injustice. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Prayer about rioting in Alcacuz prison in northeast Brazil

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/alcacuz-brazil-prison-police-enter-natal-riot-military-prisoners-gangs-a7539801.html Photo: Reuters

Lord, today we pray for Alcacuz prison in northeast Brazil, where inmates have rioted for a week. We are disgusted to hear of not only the violence, but the level of violence, which led to 26 deaths. We are thankful that the complex is now under control, but know this is tentative, especially since so many inmates acquired weapons in the chaos. We ask your protection for the police and prison staff as they seek to maintain control in this place. We also pray for those prisoners who do not want to participate in the gang violence and disruption. Bless their efforts as peacemakers and peacekeepers, and keep them from harm. Lord, we pray for the larger issue of overcrowding and understaffing in Brazilian prisons. We pray for this nation to improve its penal system so these types of riots will become rarer as the months and years pass. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.