Today, on International Human Rights Day, we come to the end of Common Grace’s 16 DAYS prayer campaign.
Domestic and family violence has exploded onto the public agenda in the past couple of years. It has always been present in our community, but the tragedy of Luke Batty’s death and the rise of the voice of his courageous mother Rosie, has helped us to see the urgency of addressing it. Australia has found a moment which should not be lost if we are to make lasting change, to end violence in the hearts of our society – in our families.
We believe that Australia needs a coordinated national policy and service response to deal with it.
We also believe that we need to offer a personal, practical response to deal with it.
Each of us needs to be ready to offer support to those who need it. Reaching out for help or offering it to someone who might be at risk is not easy. It is often an act of great bravery that comes with serious risk. Victims of domestic and family violence need to feel that when they ask for help they won't receive judgment and shame. Responding appropriately starts with how we discuss the issue at home, report it in the media and the support we offer victims.
We hope and pray that the experience of praying for 16 DAYS against domestic and family violence has been a powerful one for you. Even more than that, we hope and pray that God will use our prayers to end violence against women and children everywhere.
Please keep praying, learning, and advocating, and keep in touch if you’d like to get involved in future Common Grace campaigns!
PRAY ABOUT IT
‘You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.’ - Psalm 56:8 (NLT)
God we thank you that you give us the power to learn, grow and change. Thank you for what we have learned over these last 16 days. We thank you that you have heard every one of our prayers, that they are precious to you. We thank you that you pay attention to every tear we have cried because of our own suffering or that of others. We thank you that you are able to bring about change in us and the world. We pray for those we know or suspect are suffering or at risk of family and domestic violence. What would you have us do to care for them? Please show us, and help us to help them. Amen.
GO DEEPER
- If a friend, family member or colleague tells you she has experienced violence, the most important thing you can do is listen to her, believe her and make sure she knows you're there to support her. More on how to support someone you know who may be experiencing domestic violence here.
- Keep on praying for Domestic & Family Violence with this downloadable pdf of the Lord's Prayer, print it out and stick it up on your wall to keep praying. You can see the text below:
Our Father in heaven, you are a good Father, who loves to give good gifts and who cares for us.
Hallowed be your name. May you be known as a God of justice and mercy and compassion and truth, by victims and perpetrators of domestic and family violence.
Your kingdom come. Bring the full resources of the kingdom for victims and perpetrators of domestic and family violence. Your kingdom upends oppressive powers and exalts the humble and low, brings healing to the wounded, and goes beyond outward appearance and reaches to the heart. Your kingdom brings together people of every culture, tongue and tribe in equality and grace and hope.
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. We trust in your perfect will. Because you are completely good, we trust in the goodness of your will.
Give us this day our daily bread. Father we have many needs. Please give us the support we need to escape situations of violence. Please give us the compassion and wisdom to be supporters. Please give us hope through your gospel.
Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. God we ask for your forgiveness over our complicity, our apathy or our involvement in domestic and family violence. God please give us grace to forgive.
Lead us not into temptation. We are tempted to give up, or despair. Lead us away from that, into perseverance and hope. We are tempted to maintain cultures and habits which oppress and control. Lead us away from that, into respect and freedom.
And deliver us from evil. You have conquered all evil – all that is wrong within us, and without. There is no power that can stand against you. Please give freedom, healing and protection to all who need it.
