Heavenly Father,
We cry out to you for justice. It
hurts to see weak people oppressed by the strong and careless. It hurts
to see the poor downtrodden and taken advantage of because they are
struggling to make ends meet. It hurts to see children abused because
they have no voice. It hurts to see people marginalised and
discriminated against because of political opinions, lifestyle choices,
sexual preferences and even their gender. It hurts to see people locked
up and mistreated because of their race, and because they are fleeing
war and persecution. It hurts, and we feel powerless to do anything
against it. We cry to you, God of heaven and earth, for justice.
And
we thank you that you are the God of gods, the Lord of lords, mighty
and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. You are
just. You hear the cries of the oppressed, the weak and the vulnerable.
You put yourself in their corner - you are their champion. You love
foreigners, and you welcome all people to come to you and share in your
love and salvation through Jesus Christ. We believe your promise to hear
our prayers for the sick, the suffering and those crushed by other
people's wickedness.
So we pray. We pray for the millions
of refugees displaced around the world. Please give the people of the
world your love, grace and mercy for them, and let them be welcomed with
open arms into places of safety. We pray for the women, ethnicities and
minorities who feel a real fear of persecution after the victory of
Donald Trump in the United States. Assure them you will show no
partiality and take no bribes. We pray for the people living on
unemployment benefits, disability benefits and pensions here in
Australia, who feel unfairly targetted by a cost-cutting government.
Defend their cause, O God. We pray for those whose suffering is
marginalised and silenced by our society: women suffering domestic
violence, the disabled and the mentally ill.
We pray
especially tonight for our sister Stacey and her family, suffering at
this time due to a systemic failure in justice. Please heal Stacey's
mother Heather, take away her pain, and provide her with housing. Please
give the whole family comfort and strength in this great time of
uncertainty and heartbreak. And please let this be an opportunity for
her brother Craig to receive the treatment and care be had needed for so
long.
Hear the cries for justice of all these peoples, and let them be assured that they will get justice, and quickly.
We
pray with the psalmist, "Declare your enemies guilty, O God! Let their
intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they
have rebelled against you."
"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." We take heart knowing that you will avenge the suffering of the weak and the oppressed. Help us to show your love to them; to seek to offer them your great refuge. Give us patience as we wait for your swift and terrible justice on the wicked; and give us strength to show you love while we wait.
Amen
"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." We take heart knowing that you will avenge the suffering of the weak and the oppressed. Help us to show your love to them; to seek to offer them your great refuge. Give us patience as we wait for your swift and terrible justice on the wicked; and give us strength to show you love while we wait.
