Here’s
a prayer of intercession inspired by 1 Timothy 2: 1-7. It comes from the Christian Aid website.
Prayer for Others
(inspired by 1
Timothy 2:1-7)
Loving
God, who desires everyone to be healed
and
come to know the truth.
You
ask us to pray for those in positions of power
that
we may all come to live together,
quietly
and
in peace
and
in dignity.
Yet
how should we pray for those
who
have misused that power over others?
Should
we be honest in our anger
and
ask that their logging trucks break down,
their
fishing nets tangle
and
their drills go blunt?
Will
that bring the peace you desire?
Will
that lead to dignity for everyone?
Or
would economic hardship just redouble
their
efforts?
How
should we pray for them Lord?
Should
we be pious in our prayer
and
ask that they find peace in Christ,
a
deep respect for the land,
care
for the poor who live upon it?
Will
that do Lord?
Will
these prayers lead to the godliness you desire?
Or
is this the godliness we desire?
A
quick fix,
an
easy solution,
all
provided by you
and
little required from us.
So
how should we pray for them Lord?
How
shall we hold the actions of an abuser,
an
oppressor,
or
a bully,
in
our hearts?
It
is no easy thing Lord.
And
to hold in our hearts the abuser themselves,
is
perhaps even harder.
It
seems much to ask from us Lord,
especially
from the victim,
the
oppressed,
the
bullied.
It
may be more than our spirits can bear.
So,
we ask again Lord God,
how
should we pray for those
who
have misused their power over others?
How
should we pray?
Silence
Come
Lord Jesus.
Maranatha.
Come
Lord, come.
Silence
When
our words seem inadequate,
hear
the yearnings in our hearts.
For
you alone are the mediator
between
us and God.
And
as you hear our complaints about those in power,
loosen
our hands around these stones we would throw.
And
as you hear us call for justice,
prepare
our hands to work for change.
Be
present in all of the negotiations we pray.
Where
local people sit down to tell their story,
where
company owners and lawyers listen and respond,
when
mediators and advocates intervene,
where
the support of aid workers is present.
May
the words shared among them
be
inspired by the Word that makes all things new.
Words
of truth.
Words
of dignity.
Words
of peace.
Words
of life.
Amen
~
adapted from Ideas for Harvest: Worship
and Prayer, posted on the Christian
Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/Images/Harvest-2013-prayers_tcm15-69840.pdf
