As long as there are tears and suffering 22/03/2009
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4
Sunday 22 March
Father, we pray for India. We thank You for the extraordinary nation that she has become; however, we cannot help but think of the millions who suffer there, particularly the individuals among the ‘lower’ castes who are continually subjected to degradation, exploitation and violence. We pray that You would intervene in a powerful way to bring justice to India’s minorities and that we would be able to play a part in this change.
Monday 23 March
Pray for the elections taking place in India. Ask God that the new government would do justice for all and be sympathetic towards the needs of Dalits and adivasis (tribals), and that it would seriously address caste-based discrimination and religious intolerance.
Tuesday 24 March
Pray for the hundreds of thousands like Peddanna, known euphemistically as ‘manual scavengers’, who are condemned by their caste status to clean human faeces from dry latrines. Pray that this job would finally be eradicated in India and that laws banning this work would actually be enforced.
Wednesday 25 March
Please pray for devadasis like Sujatha and Nagamma who have been forced into temple prostitution. Pray that this tragic process would end, and ask God to heal these women who have been subjected to this form of exploitation.
Thursday 26 March
Ask God to continue to bring an end to castebased discrimination in India. Pray in particular for those who are unable to advance socially or economically because of the ‘glass ceiling’ that has been imposed on them by their caste status.
Friday 27 March
Pray that the aims of the extremist Hindu nationalist movement in India, would not be realised, and that the true, violent nature of the movement would be recognised. Ask God to protect the minority Christians and Muslims whom this movement views as ‘outsiders’ and pray that they would not suffer further abuse as a result of the spread of Hindutva by extremist groups.
Saturday 28 March
Thank God that this Christmas was a relatively peaceful one for Christians in Orissa. However, please continue to pray for the violence that occurred last year in that state. Pray that justice would be done and that the victims would receive physical, mental and emotional healing and would be able to rebuild their lives.