Like Paul, let us pray for our Christian brothers and sisters around the world in the spirit of Ephesians 3:14-21

“I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Abba, Father, take this day into your everlasting arms those who have no mother to hold them and no father to feed them. Extend the resources and the compassion of your people to open hearts and hearths. Indeed, dear Lord, lead us all to live more simply that others might simply live.

Great God, our Father, we know that the Kingdom of heaven belongs to “such as these,” little children who clamor their way into your presence through Jesus Christ, your son. We ask, O God, on their behalf, change our hearts that we might see you through their eyes, love you with reckless abandon, laugh and play in your presence, and come to see ourselves as no more than little orphans in need of adoption into your eternal family. Indeed, change the way we see the world – and ourselves.

O God, you have exposed the reality of our spiritual poverty in the midst of economic abundance! Forgive us, Lord. Forgive us for taking your goodness and your mercy and your blessings for granted. Forgive us for acting as if the material world matters more than the spiritual; forgive us for laying claim to the things of the world as if they were our own when in reality, everything we have and everything we are we owe to you. Open our eyes to the spiritual bankruptcy we are facing and change our hearts.

Amen and Amen