World News This Week In Prayer - Thursday, June 24, 2010

"I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, that he may hear me. In the day of my
trouble I seek the Lord" - Psalm 77

Our world is troubled by natural calamities and by human conflict. We pray now for your wisdom, and for those afflicted by their days of troubles, the comfort of your love.

--The harvest in Niger has failed and the UN reports that over 400,000 children are starving or at immediate risk of starving there.
--The floods in Brazil have killed at least 44 people and made over 120,000 homeless.

Our world, which could be a rich tapestry of different human cultures living in harmony, instead suffers from human conflict.

--Sectarian violence between the Uzbeks and the Kyrgyz has caused over 2,000 deaths in recent months and has made over 400,000 people homeless.
--Last month over 600 people died in the violent conflict in Darfur. This week three UN Peacekeepers were killed, and since 2008, 27 Peacekeepers have died in Darfur trying to bring an end to the killing in that country.

Oh Lord, our God, we praise you that the world can still inspire us with sights of the beauty of your creation and deeds of kindness and friendship. We give thanks for

--Volunteers working in teams to save the wildlife on the Gulf Coast
--A 13-year-old boy who jumped into a river to save a friend in difficulties near Glasgow, Scotland, and died in the attempt
--The armed forces trying to bring peaceful lives to peoples who live thousands of miles away from ‘home-base.’ The UN currently has seventeen peacekeeping operations around the world (Africa 7, Asia 9, Caribbean 1). We pray for their safety and for the success of their operations to prevent violence and chaos.