First Thing
The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so that we can be quietly about our business of living simply in humble contemplation. This is the way our Saviour God wants us to live. 1 Timothy 1:1-3
Here are 5 items for your prayer consideration:
- Tenth refugee support human resources (Settlement Worker, Conversational English Lead Volunteer, and faithful volunteers). The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Mattew 9:37-38
- Refugees claimants in Vancouver - Each and every asylum seeker in Canada has unique physical, emotional, and mental health needs. All miss their loved ones in their home country and all have significant barriers while settling in Canada.
- Lebanon - FEAL partner in Lebanon. Our team was increasingly burdened for Lebanon after a recent Zoom prayer update from Dany. A few challenges are rampant covid cases, 50% unemployment, food insecurity, 80% currency devaluation in the past year, refugee crisis. Pray for the FEAL team to continue bringing hope to the widespread despair. Learn more about Dany.
- Journey Home Community - Our main local partner is Journey Home who has been guiding us with our ministry with refugees. Pray for their staff team of 8 to continue meeting the needs of newly arriving refugees.
- Hope for refugees - by Aaron White, 24-7 Canada's National Director
Of course, you are welcome to also pray as you feel directed by God. Should you have any prayer insights, please let me know at patrick@tenth.ca.
If you would like to participate in a prayer Zoom meeting with one of the global missionaries or partners, please email Wanda at wanda@tenth.ca
Prayer for Refugees - 24/7 Prayer
We pray to the God Who Hears...
Hagar, driven from her home and safety, is told that the Lord has heard her misery. Her child should be named Ishmael, a word that evokes “hearing”. (Gen 16:7-11)
God, you still hear the cries of your people.
You attend to the tears, the gasps, the fears, and the hopes of those who have been driven from home and safety.
You receive the whispered and shouted prayers from people on boats lost at sea, from families carrying all they have, from men and women hoping the refugee settlement is safe.
You are blessed by the songs of praise and thanks that resound when people arrive safely in new homes, cities and countries, and when people are able to return home to the lands they love.
You overhear the words spoken by those receiving displaced people, sometimes words of blessing and thanks, sometimes words of burden and curse. (Tune our hearts to blessing.)
God, You hear. Please let the displaced people of the world know that they are heard. And help us to hear them.
We pray to the God Who Sees...
Hagar, desperate in the wilderness, fearful of her child dying, encounters You and calls You “the God who sees.” (Gen 16:13-14)
God, You still see the painful realities of this world.
You are entirely aware of each family that has had to flee their home for safety.
You are witness to each person who has been driven from their neighbourhood, city, or country.
You watch as people try to cross borders, enter and leave refugee settlements, and make long and uncertain journeys.
You take note of people and places who offer welcome and hospitality. And of those who do not. (Tune our hearts to hospitality)
God, You see. Please let the displaced people of the world know that they are seen. And help us to see them.
We pray to the God Who Knows...
In Jesus, You came to experience and know our every suffering, our every struggle, our every temptation, and our every joy. Because of this, we know You can help us. (Heb 2:17-18)
Jesus, You still know the suffering and joy of Your people.
You are familiar with sorrow, betrayal, and the need to flee your homeland for safety.
You know the sacrifice of each mother and father as they try to protect and provide for their children.
You know what it is like to be accused, to be mistrusted, to be unwanted.
Yet You love even your enemies and offer hope and home even to those who killed you. (Tune our hearts to receive Your forgiveness).
Jesus, you know. Please let the displaced people of the world know that they are known. And help us to be known, to know You, and to know our brothers and sisters in this world.
Amen.
Picture credit: "prayer" by Glenna Barlow