Prayer Topic #12:
A Prayer for People Who Are Homeless
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 126, Matthew 25:34-40
Reflections of the Heart:
The majority of us will never know what it is like to not have a safe, secure place to live. Unfortunately, for far too many Americans, homelessness is an everyday reality. The biggest tragedy is how many of those homeless are children and youth. Take time to thank God for the blessing of shelter that He has afforded you; but also take time and pray for those who are currently out in the elements without shelter.
Scriptural Prayer:
Righteous Father, we thank You for being a God of grace and mercy. Thank You for knowing each homeless person and family intimately. Thank You for being their protection, shelter, hope, and help. The heavens proclaim Your Glory, Lord. The skies display Your craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night You are made known. Father, Your instructions are perfect, reviving the soul. Your decrees are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Your commandments are right, bringing joy to the heart. Your commands are clear, giving insight for living. Reverencing You is pure, lasting forever. Your laws are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.
Glorious Father, we confess that Your arm is not too weak to save the homeless, neither is Your ear deaf to hear their calls. Lord, You know each of them and call them by name. You know everything about them, when they sit down and when they stand up. You know their thoughts even when they are far away. We rejoice Mighty King, because You said You will never fail nor abandon them. Lord, You said that the poor will always be among us, but You also mandated that we take care of them. You said that we are to share our food with the hungry, give shelter to the homeless, and give clothes to those who need them and to not hide from our relatives who need our help. We declare that, as believers, we will commit to feeding the hungry and helping those who are in trouble. Lord, then You will guide us continually, give us water when we are dry and restore our strength.
Holy Spirit, show me how I can be a blessing to the homeless community near me:
Holy Spirit, we ask that You would be a wall of protection and deliverance around the homeless daily. Watch over them while they sleep and protect them from violence, abuse, and theft. Lord, we cry out on behalf of the children whose families are homeless. Help them to overcome their bleak beginnings and show them how precious they are in Your sight. Help them to focus and study so that they will excel in school. Encourage them when other children say mean things about them because of their circumstances. Holy Spirit, change the hearts of the leaders of our country who continue to ignore the plight of the homeless, yet they pursue greed and avarice. Lord, for those who are homeless because of an addiction or mental illness, please help them to find the help they need so that they can get their lives back in order and begin to rebuild. Father, bless all the global and local missions and outreach ministries around the world as they serve those in need. Please continue to empower and provide for our churches financially so that we have the resources to battle this cultural atrocity.
Merciful Father, forgive those homeless persons whose poor decisions have led to their current situation. Forgive those who are homeless due to drugs, alcohol, gambling, addictions, or poor work habits. Forgive those people who would seek to take advantage of the homeless. Forgive those who look down upon the homeless. Forgive those of us who have resources to give to the homeless but refuse to give. Forgive those agencies who claim to be advocates for the homeless, but misappropriate the resources. Forgive our nation for creating systems that produce a homeless population. Lord, forgive me for (list any sins that you have committed). Holy Spirit, remind the homeless of those they need to forgive and help them to be quick to forgive. As for me, Holy Spirit, bring to my remembrance those I need to forgive. (Take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal names or faces of people that you may need to forgive. As He reveals them, say, “I forgive name of person(s).” Now, trust the Lord to heal any wounds in your soul caused by unforgiveness.)
Holy Spirit, help the homeless not to yield to temptation but deliver them from the evil one.
O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, where is there anyone as mighty as You? You are entirely faithful. You are far more awesome than all who surround Your throne. Your home reaches up to the heavens, while its foundation is on the earth. You draw water up from the oceans and pour it down as rain on the land. The Lord is Your name! You are mighty, but You do not despise anyone! You are mighty in both power and understanding. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scripture References for the Written Text: Psalm 19:1-2,7-10, Isaiah 59:1, Psalm 139:1-2, Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 26:11, Isaiah 58:7,10-11, Job 1:10, Isaiah 43:19, Matthew 9:38, Matthew 6:13, Psalm 89:8, Psalm 89:7, Amos 9:6, Job 36:5
Today, I will trust God to:
