Prayer Topic #5:
A Prayer Regarding Poverty
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 81:1-10, James 2:1-12
Reflections of the Heart:
“I believe that as long as there is plenty, poverty is evil.” ~ Robert Kennedy
Scriptural Prayer:
Glorious Father, we thank You for Your all-encompassing love. Thank You for giving us the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will never leave us, but will lead us into all truth. We thank You for being the God who gives justice to the poor. Your eternal Word stands firm in heaven. Your faithfulness extends to every generation. Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves Your plans. We will never forget Your commandments, for, by them, You give us life. We give You praise and glory, Father! We adore You as the One who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from You alone, for You rule over everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and at Your discretion, people are made great and given strength. Hallelujah to Your Holy Name!
Divine Father, we understand that poverty is a spiritual oppression that manifests itself in lack, debt, shame, despair and injustice. Therefore, in the Name of Jesus, we cancel the assignments of the spirit of poverty! We declare that our Church Family has been anointed to respond with wise, decisive action to the curse of poverty through the provision of jobs, homes, businesses, services and community support. As kings of the King and lords of the Lord, we have the power to abolish poverty from our communities because we have been given authority over all the power of the enemy. As a Church Family, we commit to spreading the Good News about Jesus Christ, and presenting the truth in love. We will live by Your higher standard; doing what is right and just to bring hope and freedom to all people. We will not judge nor will we give favoritism or criticism based on outward appearances. We will love our neighbors as ourselves.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal how you can be a blessing to the poor in your community:
Holy Spirit, as a Church Family, show us how to live with the Father’s global purpose in mind and not just for ourselves. Open our eyes and ears to opportunities to be used by God to bring divine intervention to someone else’s situation. Bring us, as a Church Family, closer together in unity and brotherly love. Help us to remain consistent in prayer and intercession for people who are impoverished physically, mentally and spiritually. Give us pure hearts to serve and to love unconditionally. Teach us how to use our influence to bring about justice for those who are disenfranchised and demoralized by the oppression of lack. Holy Spirit, please give our local, state and national leaders wisdom and divine strategies to solve the socio-economic disparities in our city, state and nation.
Forgiving Father, please forgive us for thinking and living selfishly, for putting our desires before the needs of others. Forgive us for taking Your commandments lightly and causing others to suffer lack because of our greed. Forgive us, as the Body of Christ, for being passive about our position in the world as salt and light. Forgive us for unfairly judging others because of their appearances or conditions without knowing their stories. As a nation, forgive us for lusting after wealth and affluence, and for doing less than our best to extend ourselves to help other nations in need. Lord, forgive me for (list any sins that You have committed). Holy Spirit, remind us all of all those we need to forgive and help us 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 us all not to yield to temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
We exalt You, Lord! You are the blessed and only almighty God. You are King of all kings and Lord of all lords. You alone can never die. You live in light so brilliant that no human can approach You. All honor and power are Yours forever! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture References for the Written Text:
John 14:16-17, Psalm 140:12, Psalm 119:89-91, 93, I Chronicles 29:11-12, Isaiah 54:17, Mark 12:31, Leviticus 25:35, Acts 20:35, Matthew 6:13, I Timothy 6:15-16
Today, I will trust God to:
© Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. ©2019 Caldwell Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved — No reproduction of the material is permitted without the expressed permission of CMI
