Widows and Orphans

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Deuteronomy 14:29 …and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

Psalm 68:5-6 A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families; …

PRAYER:
Lord, help us to identify with humanity when we are far removed. It’s hard to imagine the circumstances of many of these people. It’s difficult to ascertain the uncertainties, difficulties, and hardships they face every day, or the loneliness they feel. Many are vulnerable. Father, we pray for widows and orphans throughout the world. We ask that You, in your great mercy and grace, would meet and heal their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs in a powerful, evident way. We pray for their salvation, if they don’t know You, as Jesus prayed that, “they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.”

Father, we ask that you bring godly believers into their lives to be ministers of love and good works, full of humility, compassion, and encouragement, to teach them about You, to bless their lives in practical, needed ways. And that these laborers would not grow weary in doing good but would sense Your favor and equipping. Draw widows and orphans close to You in deep and trusting ways. Replace despair with hope. Replace fears with assurance. Give them physical strength, food, shelter, emotional support and spiritual sustenance. Keep them in your perfect peace. Let them clearly see and acknowledge You at work in their lives. Fill their hearts with reverence, repentance, hope, and trust in You. Help them to turn to You, to petition You in all of their ways. Fill them with Your wisdom. Give them an eternal perspective. Give them a stronger faith, belief and trust in You and a deep assurance of knowing that You are always with them. Lord, we lift up the agencies that minister to populations of widows and orphans and ask for favor from the host countries to let helping agencies in. Help them to find the people who need help most. Lord, we pray that children who need homes and protection would be placed with loving, safe families. We lift up the children who are sold into slavery or human trafficking to be delivered sovereignly into protection. We pray for their healing.

*Lord, open my eyes to see what I, where I am, can do for them. And now, I lift up widows , children who may be in foster care, children of single parents who may need my love and support. Remind me Lord to actually DO to others as I would want done for me. What can I do that might ease the burden? Lord, do You have someone in mind? _________I am listening. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.