Half a world away, millions of Syrians are suffering. More than 6 million have run from their homes to safer areas within Syria—only to find that the war changes and makes their new home as dangerous as their old one. More than 4 million have run from Syria altogether.
They’ve made their homes in rundown refugee camps and tent settlements or have found shelter in abandoned buildings. They’ve been forced to live on handouts because they’re not allowed to get jobs in their new countries.
Their children have lost years of education as they’ve been expected to learn in new languages—or have been barred from school.
And the complex war that caused this damage doesn’t seem to be letting up, even after five years.
Let’s PRAY about this.
Prayer is action. If we believe that God is both all-powerful and perfectly loving, the very act of bringing our concerns to Him—even huge, complicated concerns like war, disease and injustice—is action.
1 John 5:14 tells us that “this is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
Prayer moves us to obedient action. At the same time, God isn’t satisfied with our words alone. He tells us that our actions are important.
In the Old Testament, God tells Israel through the prophet Isaiah, “When you spread your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you. Even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening … stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice; defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”
God’s action and our actions are intertwined. Often, He works through us, bringing His mercy and love to others through our merciful and loving actions. Often, he reveals what actions He wants us to take as we come to Him in prayer. And God infuses power into our actions when we seek to work with Him for the people He loves.
Close your eyes. Fold your hands. Bow your heads. And do something.
Pray.
Photo©2016 World Vision, Jon Warren
