“O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple, they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble. They have left the dead bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild. They have poured out blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead. We are objects of contempt to our neighbors, of scorn and derision to those around us” (Psalm 79:1-4). 

In these opening verses of Psalm 79, we’ve stumbled into a description of a horrifying scene. It can be appallingly easy to forget those who are suffering when we live in privilege. 

What if we let the words of this psalm be raised as both a lament and prayer for mercy for suffering people around the world? Today, take a few minutes to raise your heart and hands in prayer to our God on behalf of others. Pray that they be delivered from evil. Pray that they see Jesus walking with them. Ask the Holy Spirit to give comfort to all who have witnessed and endured harm to their bodies and spirits. Ask the Lord to wrap them in his love and protection. Ask the Lord to stop evil acts for his name’s sake.

May we bless our hurting brothers and sisters in this nation and throughout the world with our prayers and our actions.