"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." - Romans 12:12
On February 25, the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act was defeated in the Senate. The Act aimed to prohibit abortions after 20 weeks, except in cases when the mother’s life would be genuinely threatened by the continuation of the pregnancy or when the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. A second bill, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, was also defeated which would have guaranteed medical care for babies who survive failed abortions.
Lord, during the season of Lent, we thank you for your walk through a rebellious city, Jerusalem.
Thank you for walking past the eyes of selfish ambition, deceitful hearts, and murderous fists, to the cross.
Thank you for your walk through a rebellious city in forgiveness, calling people once again to yourself.
Thank you for your walk through a rebellious city and into our hearts.
We too are a rebellious city. Our sorrow over the suffering of victims of abortion is but a shadow of yours, death and destruction lie in our wake. Lord, we need a Savior!
We too are a rebellious city. We jeer and condemn, casting false judgement. We take death and life in our own hands. Lord, we need a Savior!
We too are a rebellious city. Our will coils at your commands and denies dependence on you. Lord, we need a Savior!
We humbly ask for your forgiving walk through our city. Lord, show us your mercy and teach us to walk in your ways, ending the supply and demand for abortion.
We wait for your healing walk through our city. Lord, work in the hearts of fathers and mothers who’ve chosen abortion and those working in the systems which sustain it. We ask for your healing gift of repentance in Jesus’ strong name.
We long for your redeeming walk through our city. Lord, lead us to care for all your children in systems which value life because you’ve created and sustained it.
Thank you for your walk through our world, Lord. Mold us to walk in your ways through it too.
On March 10, 2020, the UN High Commission on Refugees reported more than 100,000 people in Nicaragua have sought asylum after nearly 2 years of political turmoil. Nearly 4,000 people flee persecution and human rights abuses each month. In September, the UN Human Rights Council heard reports that dialogue beginning in 2019 worked to reduce cases of rights violations. Recently, agreements with neighboring countries have streamlined refugee status determination for the most vulnerable, giving them access to needed medical care.
Lord, we thank you for the progress of peaceful dialogue in Nicaragua. We thank you for the 6,000 refugees who were given access to medical care in Costa Rica, an act of neighborly love. We thank you for Panama, Mexico, and countries in Europe which also host Nicaraguan asylum seekers.
We pray for peaceful resolution to the political turmoil and an end to abuse over differences. We pray that the students, farmers, and journalists, and all who have fled, may return to their homes and communities peacefully. We pray for a blessing on the relief agencies in Nicaragua and ask that they be surrounded by your heavenly host. We pray for your sustaining provision.
We thank you for the people of Nicaragua and the blessing they bring to your worldwide table. Be near them Lord, comfort them and draw your people closer to you and one another.
On March 10, the UN High Commissioner, Michelle Bachelet urged governments to act to protect society’s most vulnerable citizens from both the health threat posed by COVID-19 and the negative impacts of infection containment measures. She urged member states to carry out containment measures “in strict accordance with human rights standards and in a way that is necessary and proportionate to the evaluated risk”.
Lord, we thank you for the systems we have in place to test, monitor, and respond to the COVID-19 virus. We give you glory for the multitude of governmental, social service, and health agencies engaged in responding to the growth in cases. We thank you for the growing numbers of those being healed from the disease and we thank you for the comfort you provide the suffering.
We pray for listening ears, that you would guide authorities in systemic responses and citizens in their individual measures and protect against distortions and confusion.
We pray for eyes to see, that suffering would be mitigated and that we would recognize those in need of healing and lift them in care and prayer before you.
We pray for hands to work in love, that our actions are not borne out of fear but of a surety of your heavenly authority and power. Shield us from isolation and draw us to work for one another.
We pray for willing hearts that neither deny the need to act nor believe that our lives are ours to protect. Lord, you are our only comfort in this season, and we rest and work in your loving assurances.
The NO BAN Act comes to the House Floor Thursday. Call your Representative to support this bill that would terminate current travel and refugee bans and prohibit future discriminatory bans.
Read this update from the interium Director of the Office of Social Justice Mark Stephenson.
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