Lent Day 10: Prayer | Let Us Cry Out

"The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out,
and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God." - Exodus 2:23

“The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering." - Exodus 3:7

Our hearts are crushed and we feel powerless. How do we talk to God about the soul wrenching evil that is slavery in the US, Canada, and Mexico, our priority network countries in ACNA?

We know that we are reflecting on roughly over 2 million God-imaged unique expressions of his heart and craft. 2 million dear-to-God who are dehumanized and oppressed to a degree that we wonder if healing and freedom is available.

God listens when the despairing cry out. Let us cry out on their behalf.

Grab a friend or friends and shout the following prayer out loud. If we are alone in our rooms or cars, yell this prayer. Share it with our parish leadership and worship pastors, and we can pray collectively with one voice.

Our Father in Heaven, today we pray for more than 50 million men, women and child who are trapped by the bonds of slavery through exploitation and trafficking worldwide. God, we declare that slavery is an abomination in your sight and a grave injustice against a people created in your image.

Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Our Father in Heaven, we pray first for the victims of slavery and human trafficking. They are surrounded by brokenness, human greed and deception, enslaved through no fault of their own. Father, be near them and minister to them in their suffering. In these dark places, send your Light through your angels, and provide your children with heavenly comfort and love. We pray that your Holy Spirit will attend them so they will not despair, but receive your hope, healing and restoration in body and soul. Father, in the name of your Son Jesus, we ask that you deliver them from their oppressors.

Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Our Father in Heaven, we also pray for traffickers who are tempted to exploit and enslave others for their own gratification. We pray that you would change their hearts, pierce their consciences, and bring about repentance. We pray that the darkness of their actions be brought into the light so that this injustice will be stopped. Just as you, God, transformed Saul the persecutor, into Paul your servant, we pray that you also transform traffickers into guardians of the vulnerable for the glory of your great name.

Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

Our Father in Heaven, we ask for the wisdom and courage to stand in solidarity with the men, women, and children who are enslaved today. We pray for all individuals and organizations working against this injustice in our world, our nation, our state and our city, including [find out who is doing this work near you and pray for them]. Give them encouragement and perseverance in their work with the [find local stats] victims of trafficking identified right now in [your town, city, state]. Empower us through your Holy Spirit to respond to this population in love, serve with compassion, and offer your message of eternal hope and freedom. May the church, your bride, participate with you in your work of making all things new.

Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

As we wrap up this week of focus on human trafficking, we invite you to end your prayer time with the song below, offering up to the Lord all the people and issues associated with this very heavy topic, and to speak Jesus over it all.

Ultimately, we trust that He is good and He will right every wrong.