Prayer - For the Poor

 We can't get away from the poor.  Even Jesus said, 

"...the poor will always be with you" (Matthew 26:11; mark 14:7).  

The poor will also likely always be oppressed and exploited.

The psalm master David, lamented about how the poor were treated.  He wrote in Psalm 12,

"...the poor are plundered and the needy groan" (vs 5).

Praise the LORD though, Father God, You are their Protector.  You 

"protect them from those who malign them" (vs 5).

At times You use Your children to come to their rescue and for others, no doubt, the angels intervene.  The verse from  Proverbs suddenly comes to mind.

"To humans belong the plans of the heart but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue" (Proverbs 16:1 NIV)

and

"In the LORD's hand the king's heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please Him" (Proverbs 21:1 NIV). 

So the ungodly may lie and deceive; flatter and boast; oppress and malign and have plans to do more nefarious deeds but, we praise You Heavenly Father, for Your care and protection over them. Do give the wicked perpetrators Your decisive reply and direct their thoughts and actions to righteous actions instead, as You did on behalf of Israel, to Balaam and his donkey (Numbers 22:21-39).   

 His donkey sure gave him a run for his money and some cuff to boot.  It's rather amusing to read that every time Balaam tried to curse Israel, out came a blessing instead!  I love Your sense of humor, Father (Numbers 23-24).

Do it again.

Do it on behalf of the underprivileged around the world.  May the organizations of integrity such as:  Samaritan's Purse, Barnabas Fund, World Vison, etc. gain access to these peoples and dispense the needed goods respectively.  Don't let it get into the wrong hands or sit idly in some warehouse somewhere due to political or greedy man's reasons.

Raise up others who will "GO" with blessing on their lips and willing to lend a helping hand.  Send your children who are lawyers, and judges who will exonerate the plight of those who are treated unjustly.  I suppose those who aren't such mitigatory persons but who have Your great wisdom and Your type of unconditional love for their fellow man in their hearts, may they too, be activated to go and assist.

Pour a double-portion of wisdom upon them and may they be sensitive to Your Holy Spirit's leading to discern those in legitimate need of advocacy and basic essentials of life.  May such people succeed with Your helping hand assisting, clearing and smoothing the way ahead of them.

Father, those of us who "stay home", may we have willing hearts to help "SEND" and equip those who "GO".  Give us also the sensitivity to know what you want us to do for the "GOERS".

Show us those poor and needy in our own "hoods," especially at this time of world-wide economic distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Is there someone in dire straits, whom we can help within our very reach?

Show us.

Teach us Your ways.

May we be Your heart and hands of protection for the poor.

Father, 

"May we be be fit by Your grace and Holy Spirit" (William Milne)*

Give us Your grace, mercy and compassion.  It is a heady thing, Father.

By Your grace we can pray and praise, in the precious Name of Jesus who,

"though He was rich yet for our sakes, became poor, that through His poverty we might be made rich" (2 Corinthians 2:8).

Amen. 

                                                    ~ERC  October 2020~

Based on Psalm 12:1-8 NIV

*William Milne was a missionary to China and Melaka, Malaysia (1842)