God of rest, God of renewal,
we come to you seeking to be renewed by your presence in our lives.
So many of us work so very hard, and it can feel like we cannot afford to take time to rest.
Too many are struggling to make ends meet, to survive, to go on for one more day.
We feel the pangs of guilt when we cannot rest as you have encouraged.
However, a lack of rest is not the only challenge present in the world today.
We pray in solidarity with citizens in Kenya, as many have been arrested for protesting tax hikes. And we offer a prayer of thanksgiving that government officials have responded by removing some of the most harmful elements of the proposal.
We pray for the residents of N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, as a fire at an arms depot overnight caused a series of explosions, injuring several and killing at least one person.
We pray for our planet and for the Pantanal wetlands in Brazil which are ablaze with over 700 fires reported so far this month, nearly doubling previous records.
We pray for those injured and the families of those killed in a train collision in eastern India earlier this week. We also lift our prayers for all those who responded in efforts to help those involved in the accident.
We pray for the life-giving waters of our planet as warming seas are leading to mass die-offs of coral reefs, including the Great Barrier reef off the coast of Australia. Officials have likened this mass bleaching event to the equivalent of forest fires under the ocean.
We give thanks for increased diplomacy between China and Australia as two new giant pandas will be sent to Australia to continue what has become known as “panda diplomacy.”
We pray for the people of Ukraine and Russia as the ongoing conflict continues to disrupt lives. There is especially fierce fighting near the town of Vovchansk as Ukrainian troops try to isolate and expel Russian troops that have invaded the country.
We pray for our siblings on pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, where temperatures have reached 120 degrees F (49C). These exceedingly high temperatures have killed dozens and caused thousands to seek treatment for heat stroke. Officials there report that this year’s pilgrimage is being made by over 1.8 million people.
For these situations, and for those we hold close in our hearts,
we ask your presence of love, healing, peace, and restoration.
Help us to rest in your love, Holy One.
And help us to act out of that same love to help hope flourish in our broken and hurting world.
Make your Holy Spirit known in our midst, we pray.
Amen
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