Prayer 070914 (Daniel 1)

Heavenly Father,

You created the whole world and everything and everyone in it. You are the father of the world, and we are your children through Christ. Yet you tell us that not everyone shows you the love you deserve, and the spirit of humanity is  against you, not giving you the glory you demand. We only need to open our eyes and look around to see that's the case. We live in a world racked by war, famine, poverty and suffering of all kinds, brought about by human desire, and our sinful inclination to seek what we want, and not what you want. We see sickness and struggles all around us, and we take a moment now to silently pray for those we know who are struck with these difficulties in their lives.  Give us open doors and open arms to welcome, comfort and love those in our communities who are suffering.

We pray for your people, persecuted for standing by their faith in you. We pray for Iraqi Christians pushed from their homes and their homelands, threatened with death, and then executed when they stand up for you. Give them strength, supply their needs, and be their comfort and their hope. We pray for Christians in Iran who are charged with enmity against Allah, which is punishable by death. We pray that you will let them know your peace, and that these charges will be dropped, and they will be set free. We pray for those Christians living in areas of India, Nigeria, and Uganda, where violent attacks have continued against your church, and many have been injured, terrorised, and even killed. Be with those who mourn the loss of loved ones, and bring justice to these suffering saints by overturning the powers that are set against them, and set against you.

Here in Australia, we find ourselves in the midst of the same human spirit that works against you. We pray for our nation, and for the distrust of your church, sometimes with good reason. We pray that those who have been harmed by members of the church will be comforted, and that you will show them love and compassion, and help them not to lose touch with you. We pray you will turn the tide against the rising swell of anti-god and anti-Christian sentiment that seems to pour out from our media, our scientists, our academics and our politics. We pray that your people will stand against the hatred and fear that drives our immigration and refugee policy, and that you will shift public opinion towards love and compassion, so that our politicians will have no choice but to pursue policies clothed in you righteousness and goodness. 

We pray for our own church and the many churches of Christ in Australia. Help us all to act with love and openness. Do not let us give in to the desire to grumble against each other. Instead, help us to persevere together as we are surrounded by a non-Christian world. Don't let us fall into the trap of petty divisions, or judging others based on their sexuality, their theology, or their practices. Instead, let streams of living water flow from us into this world, blessing us, and then through us blessing the world around us. Give us faith to know that through Jesus Christ, you will work to convict people of their sin, and draw them to you and to your church. Let us welcome them with open arms when you do.

It is in Jesus' name and by his authority we ask all these things, knowing that you will powerfully work out your plan. Amen.