prayer for children at risk

This past weekend was the World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk initiated by Viva Network (www.viva.org). On Sunday night a group of friends from church and I gathered together for pray for children who are desperately poor, orphaned, exploited, and neglected. It was a time of prayer and lament on behalf of children around the world. We closed our time with a closing prayer that I will share here....

Lord Jesus,
Thank you for your love for every child in every nation of the world.

Thank you for dying and rising again for each one of them,

bringing hope and life.
We have come together to pray for the 1.2 billion children at risk in the world today:

Light of the world,

shine into lives trapped in the darkness of abuse and exploitation.
Bread of life,

provide food, shelter and security for the poor.
Good shepherd,

give wisdom and strength to all those caring for children.

Thank you that you are with us,

and that you hear our prayers,
In your name, Amen.