100 days of Prayer
Day 78
Yet
this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope... Lamentations 3:1-24 (NIV)
WHERE DOES MY HOPE COME FROM?
My
family was caught up in the partition struggle between India and Pakistan 70
years ago during which more than a million people died and 14 million were
displaced. My aunt took a terrifying train journey at the time: a young lady
wearing six sets of clothes, carrying one suitcase with all her belongings.
Many didn’t arrive.
We see
world conflicts today which are deeply established, between strong minded
opponents, resourced by powerful nations, that affect millions of innocent
people. Many of us wonder how these situations can change. But wars do end;
conflicts do cease.
In the
Bible, the author of Lamentations – traditionally thought to be Jeremiah –
describes a person who faced God’s anger. It was a hopeless situation. There
was nothing he could do. Yet he called to mind God’s love, and so had hope. Picture
Jesus facing God’s anger on our behalf.
We may
not understand why God allows great conflicts in our world. There are no easy
answers. But we can choose to focus on God’s mercy and love, and have hope.
My aunt
died a few years ago, living in her own home, having enjoyed many years with
her children as well as four grandchildren. Starting that train journey 70
years earlier she wouldn’t have imagined that one day she’d enjoy summer
afternoons with her grandchildren. And yet in time she did.
PRAYER
Heavenly
Father, in ourselves we are not able to bring peace or hope to this world. But
thank you that you have not forgotten us. We pray for your mercy on our world,
our cities and our towns. Give us peace we pray. In Jesus’ name.
ACTION
Visit
older neighbours or relations and ask them to share memories where they’ve been
caught up in conflict situations. If appropriate, offer to pray with them,
asking Jesus to give them peace, and sooth any painful memories. Remember to
pray for them afterwards.
[Suneel
Shivdasani the International Coordinator for Christian Vision for Men (CVM)]
Please pray and share with
your intercessors, Bible Study Groups, Prayer Groups, Church Prayers, Men &
Women’s Groups. Thank you.
Las & Arlene Ratnayake
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