A Prayer To See Needs Around Us And Respond With Compassionate Action

I just read a lovely article about a man and his daughter here in Vancouver who designed and are selling a bracelet where 100% of the profits from each bracelet sold go directly towards feeding a household in need.  

The bracelets are handmade by volunteers using local materials. This project works in partnership with organizations we know well and know are doing great work in the community for the disadvantaged.  A well-known restaurant chain makes up the take-out meals and a community service organization delivers them. Within the last 3 months the sale of the bracelet has provided more than 1000 meals for those in need.  Isn’t that lovely?

The founder of this project was quoted as saying, “Too many families found themselves being pushed to the edge of their financial means and beyond.  Seeing his, we couldn’t stand idly by … we encourage and celebrate the power of spreading kindness in our community by supporting those struggling with food insecurity.” 

There are so many things each of us can do to show care and compassion in the face of needs that this pandemic has brought out and also just need that goes on because every one of our communities have those who are poor and disadvantaged living among us.

How many times in the Bible do we read how Jesus saw need and had compassion and then took action.  Both the story where He fed crowds of 5000 and 4000 tell us that:

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”   Matthew 15:32

And it’s not just daily needs like food and clothing that God cares about.  When King David recognized His sin He only dared to confess it to God because He knew that God had great compassion even for notorious sinners.

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.  Psalm 51:1

(don’t read) But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.  Psalm 86:15

Well Lord, we are so grateful that You are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.  What hope and expectation we can live in today because that was true, is true, and always will be true of You. 

The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. Psalm 103:13-14

You don’t just look on us with compassion and care when things are going well but You do so when we are not doing well – when we are weak – when we are failing – when we are showing that we are only dust.  Now that’s really being compassionate and being filled with mercy when we don’t deserve it at all.

If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?  1 John 3:17

So today Lord, particularly during this time of the pandemic when the needs of many are so great, we pray to be willing to be aware of the vulnerabilities and the insecurities of people when it comes to basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing.  Give us hearts of generosity so we have compassion on them and an unwillingness to simply let them continue on in their needs when we have been blessed.  Give us courage and strength to take action and watch You bless and multiply what we are able to contribute.

Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.  You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.  Psalm 112:4, Luke 6:36

We don’t know what tomorrow will hold and we want to be responsible with the resources that You have given us but at the same time we want to give generously to those who do not have because that is Your heart of love in action.  Help us to be compassionate just as our Heavenly Father is compassionate.  Help us to not wait until tomorrow but to seek Your heart today and act in accordance with Your direction before the sun goes down.  Amen