This prayer was originally written by Leonnie Wickenden, from Love Makes A Way, for Common Grace's 2022 election prayer vigil
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God of Mercy
God of Creation
God of the Lost
God of those who seek asylum and refuge in lands of safety
God of great and lasting Compassion
God of the Nations
We come before you in gratitude that you are the God of the broken hearted
That you are near to those the world doesn’t see
We are grateful that you see
You see those who have lost so much, fleeing conflict and other situations that cause them to seek
other shores
That you see the efforts of so many who are working to bring justice and mercy, working to meet
practical needs and who being the voices of those who are voiceless and, in the shadows.
Father we know there is so much that is not right in this world, and we lament at governments and
situations that cause people to flee for their lives and a seek security in places they don’t know as
their own.
We bring the leaders of this country, those who are seeking re-election, those who are hoping and
posturing to be elected to government
We pray for justice, kindness, and grace to be at the core of their policies, that systems and
structures would be torn down and overthrown so the “boundless plains to share” in these lands,
would be open and available to all who need a place to find hope and rest.
We pray for leaders to show wisdom, leadership, courage and boldness to create a better way. The
Way.
The Way of love and hope to all who seek our shores. That they would work together with and lead
communities to work and strive for justice to welcome the stranger to our shores and
neighbourhoods.
That we would be strangers no more.
That we would become “one and free”.
We pray for all who have recently been released from alternative places of detention, for those who
remain in on and offshore detention, for those in Indonesia and other places around our troubled
globe; that compassionate solutions would be found to bring resettlement and safety – and hope
amongst the shadows of uncertainty.
Father we thank you that you show us a vision of a place where there are no borders, where
everyone has a seat at the table, where lives are cherished and restored through belonging.
Thank you that that you show us how to love
To love our neighbour
And be welcome for the weary, to a place of peace, safety and belonging.
Our Father who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be your name
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done
On earth, just as it is in Heaven, a home where there are no borders
Give us this day our daily bread and provide for those seeking asylum and strengthen those who are
laying down their lives for the stranger among us
Forgive us our sins, those things that separate us from loving and welcoming our neighbour
Just as we forgive those and the systems and structures of oppression that sin against those seeking
asylum and refuge
And lead our governments and elected representatives, not into the temptation of repeating the sins
of separation
But deliver us from the evil of division
For thine is the Kingdom, the Power and The Glory
Forever and ever.
Lord hear our prayer