Gracious Father,
You care for the poor and the needy for they are close to Your heart. You uphold the justice of the poor and fight for those who are oppressed. You are also concerned with their needs and satisfy them with food. You are a refuge for the poor. Praise the Lord who is merciful!
Now I lift the poor among my people and those living in abject poverty around the world before You. May You cause the world, especially the church, to take note of the plight of the poor and have compassion on them. May Your concerns for the poor be our concerns too. To open our hands to the poor and needy and satisfy them with food, and deny them not justice nor their rights.
You bless those who are kind to the poor but curses fall on those who close their eyes to their needs. So Father, we want to be generous and help them when it is within our power. As the early church was concerned about the needs of the poor, may Your church today be concerned too, especially towards those in the family of the believers; to give and share generously.
Father, beside meeting their physical needs, give them Jesus the true Bread from heaven. For whoever eats of this Bread from heaven will not die. May they know Jesus Christ, who came to give them life and a refuge for their souls.
Lord of the harvest, I pray thee send more workers and missionaries among them with the Good News. Let the Gospel continue to be preached to the poor so that they may rejoice exceedingly!
Father, may You also send good shepherds to feed and care for them.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen