Prayers For Justice - A Prayer GuideSample

Pray For Those On The Front Lines Of Poverty  

More than 60 years ago, a preacher from Chicago flew to South Korea to minister to American troops fighting in the Korean War. One morning during his trip, he observed city workers scoop up what looked like piles of rags and toss them into the back of a truck. He was horrified to realize that the scraps of cloth were not rags, but the frozen bodies of orphans who had died overnight in the streets. Pastor Everett Swanson vowed to find a way to help these children.

In 1954, Swanson’s relief work transformed into sponsorship programs which provided long-term Bible teaching, medical support, food, clothing and shelter for the children of post-war Korea. His initial efforts evolved over the years into a global, program-based, holistic child development program called Compassion International.

Those who minister on the front lines of poverty often serve as the best advocates for these children in need. So when you feel called to pray for those around the world, it’s helpful to seek guidance from the experts.

Over the next four days, we’ll present stories from the front lines and share ways you can pray specifically for these children. Sometimes, it’s hard to know how to pray. We’ll study how sex trafficking, slave labor, results of war, and child marriage are impacting the world. These are heavy topics and sometimes it’s hard to know how to pray, so we’ll share some prayer ideas and give you examples of how God is working through these atrocities.

God, my heart aches for people around the world who are trapped in difficult situations against their will. Use this time to open my mind and understand their plight. Remind me to pray for the heroes on the front lines who are fighting the battle for justice. Give me a passion to be their advocate—a force on my knees—for each adult and child fighting large battles. I pray our scripture verse for today for those Christian workers laboring on the front lines around the world. “Ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:15-21). Teach me, Lord. In Your holy name, amen.

Learn more information about Compassion.