Tearfund Prayer Diary March 2016

TEARFUND PRAYER DIARY MARCH 2016

LENT WEEK FOUR – GIVING IT UP: 28 FEBRUARY - 5 MARCH Lent is often a time when we choose to give things up in order to break a habit and focus on God. But many people across the world have no choice: they have to miss meals regularly, and are denied life's essentials such as good sanitation and clean water. This week we give these things up to God. SUNDAY 28 FEBRUARY Lord, thank you for all you have given me. I have food, clean and safe water to drink, and I enjoy the benefits of transport and electricity. Help me to focus on the plight of people in this world who do not have even the basic essentials they need to thrive. Amen. MONDAY 29 FEBRUARY In Matthew 25, we are called by Jesus into a life of service to poor people. Lord, open our eyes to see you, even in the most human of encounters today. Remind us that you are in each one of us, and that when we serve poor people, we are serving you. Amen. TUESDAY 1 MARCH The good practices God gave the Israelites to help keep their camp healthy (Deuteronomy 23:12–14) are the same principles that Tearfund teaches communities today to improve their hygiene. Lord, thank you for your concern for our health and your desire that we enjoy life in all its fullness. Amen. WEDNESDAY 2 MARCH Life is precious, and it cannot be sustained without water. Across the world, children walk many miles every day to collect water for their families, often in very dangerous conditions. Lord, we lift up the millions of children who have to walk miles for water. Protect them on their daily walk, and keep them from any danger. THURSDAY 3 MARCH You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14 Is this verse simply a personal challenge? The next line reveals Jesus isn't just talking about individual holiness. Father, help us work together to offer light to people in need, whether it's physical, emotional, spiritual, or all of these. Amen. FRIDAY 4 MARCH A simple pit latrine can be a lifesaver. It can restore peace to women and girls who no longer have to relieve themselves outside in the dark. Thank you, Lord, for your faithful provision. Teach us to appreciate what we have—and share it. Father, we lift to you the 2.5 billion people who still don't have a proper toilet. SATURDAY 5 MARCH Writer and broadcaster Elaine Storkey says: 'In many places where Tearfund works, despite being weaker than men in physical strength, women do most of the hard work. But they remain weak in economic, social and legal terms. Thank you, Lord, that you made women and men in your image. Help us search our own attitudes, as we work together for your kingdom. Amen.'

Tearfund Prayer Diary March 2016 – tearfund.org/praying LENT WEEK FIVE – IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE: 6 - 12 MARCH Last year, devastating floods hit poor communities across Mozambique. The survivors now live in basic resettlement camps, far away from their homes and lives on the riverbank. As we choose to give up things for Lent, we consider those who lost everything—and had no choice in the matter. SUNDAY 6 MARCH Lord, we know that in this life we will face trials of many kinds. Help us to be faithful in our own circumstances, and give us compassion for people who face extreme hardship, such as those who lost everything in the floods last year in Mozambique. Amen. MONDAY 7 MARCH On 12 January 2015, the Licungo river in Mocuba, Mozambique, rose more than 12 metres—sweeping away the homes and possessions of more than 60,000 people who lived on the riverbanks. We pray for the families now living in resettlement camps. Lord, give them the determination to start again, far away from the life they knew. Amen. TUESDAY 8 MARCH The floods also hit Megaza, a very poor community near Morrumbala. Flora lost everything—her husband and six children, her home and possessions. Lord, we lift up Flora to you today—a woman who has known so much loss and sadness. Surround her with your love as she copes with her grief and starts her life afresh. Amen. WEDNESDAY 9 MARCH 'My husband grabbed our daughter, Isabel,' says Adelia from Mocuba, recalling the night the floods came. 'I picked up our eight-month-old baby, Meide. I felt so afraid, but we were together and safe.' Father, thank you for keeping Adelia and her family safe. Help us to look past our possessions to the people who really matter. Amen. THURSDAY 10 MARCH When the floods hit Mocuba, 23-year-old Elton lost everything. Then, as he arrived at his new home, he was struck by lightning. Asked how he could survive now, he pointed to the community pastor, saying, 'He is my father now.' Thank you, Lord, that you have provided an earthly father for Elton, as well as being his heavenly Father. Amen. FRIDAY 11 MARCH Madelena, now in her 80s, lived most of her life on the banks of the Licungo river. She misses her home on the riverbank but has accepted that it's too dangerous to return. Lord, we lift up Madelena to you and pray that you will surround her with family and community members to make her new life comfortable. Amen. SATURDAY 12 MARCH 'Life is very hard,' says George whose family were camped out on the riverbank in Megaza when the floods came. 'I never imagined I would lose my four children. I am just mourning.' Lord, we lift up dear George to you as, one year on, he still feels the loss of his four children profoundly. Amen.

Tearfund Prayer Diary March 2016 – tearfund.org/praying LENT WEEK SIX – IN CONFLICT: 13 - 19 MARCH The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. Isaiah 11:6 This verse in Isaiah is a picture of harmony, peace and tranquility. Sadly, across the world, conflict and injustice are still rife. We pray for God's will to be done ... SUNDAY 13 MARCH Reflect on this verse today:'There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roof' (Luke 12:2–3). MONDAY 14 MARCH When we feel unable to talk about or practise our beliefs, it can be easy to hide away from the people who reject Christ, and hide our faith. Thank you for modern-day Jeremiahs and Baruchs (Jeremiah 36:4– 7) who persevere in making your voice heard, despite persecution. Amen. TUESDAY 15 MARCH Some of the most life-changing work Tearfund does is to confront the fear, confusion and suffering caused by stigma around issues such as HIV. Dearest Lord, thank you that there is nothing but truth in you. Clear the path for those who long for your truth to be revealed, and give courage to those who challenge what is hidden in darkness. Amen. WEDNESDAY 16 MARCH When life is busy, it can become more tempting to push God out. While it would be better to focus our attention on God, we often just plough on. So just think how much harder it is for people in positions of authority. Lord, we lift up those in authority. Grant them your mercy and courage, so that they lead wisely, for the good of all. THURSDAY 17 MARCH About 60 million people worldwide have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. It's hard to get our heads around such an immense figure. Lord, we pray for peace, courage and safety for all who have been forced to flee, and ask you to lead them into a future filled with healing and restoration. Amen. FRIDAY 18 MARCH Our televisions, newspapers and smartphones display powerful images of conflict and families forced to flee their homes. But we can never fully understand the pain, loss and impact this has on people's lives. We pray for your way of peace to transform these challenging places and pray that you will deliver troubled people from distress. In the name of Jesus, Amen. SATURDAY 19 MARCH Tearfund's staff and partners experience huge joy and fulfilment through their work. However, many also encounter risk on a daily basis. Lord God, thank you that you know by name every person working for Tearfund. Protect them, strengthen them, inspire them, we pray. In the name of your Son. Amen.

Tearfund Prayer Diary March 2016 – tearfund.org/praying LENT WEEK SEVEN – TAKING UP THE CROSS: 20 - 26 MARCH This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16 As we come to the end of the journey this Lent, we turn our devotions to the suffering and death of Jesus, and what his sacrifice means in our lives. SUNDAY 20 MARCH It is written: 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'Every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.' Romans 14:11 Today, as we celebrate Palm Sunday, we look forward to the day when every knee will bow before God. Lord, help us to use our tongues to acknowledge you before others today. Amen. MONDAY 21 MARCH This week we remember Jesus' last days, when he was arrested, beaten, humiliated and killed. To onlookers, it must have seemed like the ultimate failure. Jesus, thank you for your incredible life of love, and the new life made possible because of all you endured. We ask you to help us not to run from brokenness and failure. Amen. TUESDAY 22 MARCH While we were far from God, he reached into the mire and humbled himself to death on a cross, for us. We have been rescued, set free by Jesus' death and resurrection. Father in heaven, we thank you for your Son. We ask for your help as we seek to move from having thankful hearts to having active hands as well. Amen. WEDNESDAY 23 MARCH God is committed to making us more like Christ so that we love the things he loves, and hate the things he hates. Can you be one 'after God's own heart'? (Acts 13:22)—ready to do what he wants you to do? Father, as we see disasters around the world, help us not to grow hard-hearted. Amen. THURSDAY 24 MARCH One of the most amazing things to consider about Christ's death is that it was a willing sacrifice. Jesus took the path to the cross because it was the only way to rescue us from our sins. Thank you Jesus that, through the Lord's Supper, we are joining with millions of people across the world who will enjoy eternal life because of your sacrifice. Amen. GOOD FRIDAY 25 MARCH Father, we thank you for sending your Son to die on the cross in our place, so that we can draw near to you. Help us to follow the obedience of your Son by taking up our cross, so we may become ambassadors of your sacrificial and reconciling love in the world. In Jesus' name, Amen. SATURDAY 26 MARCH Father, thank you for bringing new life and everlasting hope to us through the resurrection of your Son. We know the sufferings in this present age are not worthy to be compared with the resurrection glory yetto be revealed in your people. Help us to be instruments of hope in the world. Amen. You can read longer versions of these daily devotions at tearfund.org/lent

Tearfund Prayer Diary March 2016 – tearfund.org/praying SUNDAY 27 MARCH

Eastergram By Steve Turner Calvary is a rubbish tip close by, not a green hill far away.

That is the stench of rotting dogs, not the waft of holy oil.

The cross is stubbed and splintered, not elegant and planed as if in a Florentine fresco.

Imagine that helmet a mask. Imagine that sandal a boot. Imagine that spear a gun. Imagine this crowd not contorting itself in grief but holding up its phones to share Easter with the world; proving it was there by watching it on screen.

What happens next will amaze you.

Steve is performance poet and journalist, author of several anthologies of poetry and many rock biographies. 'I imagined how the crucifixion of Christ would look today,' says Steve. 'There would probably be cars and hoardings in the background. The soldiers would wear fatigues and masks. The bystanders would have t-shirts advertising Western products.' It brings to mind some of the toughest places on earth our staff and partners work. As you thank God for the wonderful news of Easter, remember them in your prayers today for their remarkable, sacrificial work.

Tearfund Prayer Diary March 2016 – tearfund.org/praying