Prayers for Children and Childlovers

A Prayer for Children Suffering Abuse:

Almighty God & Everlasting Lord, You are the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. Have compassion upon all who have suffered the injustice, humiliation and pain of abuse – sexual, physical, emotional, spiritual and all other forms of sinful conduct. In the midst of their distressing circumstances, give them courage to speak. May your perfect love drive out fear and anxiety. In your mercy, create opportunities for these men, women and children to share their pain, reveal their struggles and expose the hurtful actions of others.

Give grace, sensitivity and wisdom to all who will minister to the victims and survivors of abuse. Strengthen those who have been abused and their carers with the certainty of your love for them. In all things, we ask that your name be glorified and that we – your people – do justice, love kindness and walk humbly before you. We humbly plead these things in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, who died and rose and now sits at your right hand in glory. AMEN.

A Prayer for Victims and Those Who Abuse:

God our redeemer and sustainer, we pray for the survivors of violence, abuse and neglect. Be with them in confusion and pain. Give your power to the powerless, your fullness to the empty of spirit. Heal their wounds, free them from fear and restore them to true health. Strengthen them to face the future with faith in you. We ask this through Jesus your Son, who was himself a victim of abuse and yet in his resurrection, triumphed over the oppression.

Likewise, God of justice, judge of all the earth, we bring before you those who abuse and mistreat others. Turn the hearts of the exploiters from the way of evil. Open their eyes to the truth of their conduct and fill them with hatred for the damage they do. And so by your Spirit bring them to true repentance and amendment of their lives.

And now, may your Spirit draw us together, both in our church family, and in the community. May we face our mistakes with complete honesty. But preserve us from unhelpful speculation and gossip. Help us reach out, care for the hurting, and support each other. Strengthen us with the gospel of your grace, for Jesus’ Christ’s sake. AMEN.

A Prayer for Sick Children:

Lord Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd of the sheep, you gather the lambs in your arms and carry them in your bosom: We commend to your loving care all children who are suffering in sickness. Relieve their pain, guard them from all danger, restore to them your gifts of gladness and strength, and raise them up to a life of service to you. Hear us, we pray, for you dear Name's sake. AMEN.

A Prayer for Childlovers:

Lord God, you call everyone to follow Your example on the cross in the midst of all trial, temptation, and perscution, so that you may have mercy on all and bring all into the light of your face. There is no partiality with You, whatever sexual orientation one has, so let our brother and sister Childlovers discern with clarity Your ways that they may adopt them as they go forth in life caring for your children as you care for them, with all the confidence, gladness, and perseverance in all their struggles that You alone grant. Let them be beacons of Your light to Your most vulnerable and Your most precious, that they may never cause  any one of Your little ones to stumble, but instead be the image of Your most loving sacrifice in all their deeds and thoughts, for their sake and the sake of children everywhere. AMEN.