After fleeing violence and persecution, refugees resettling in a new country need people to walk alongside them, lifting them up in prayer as they rebuild their lives. Over the next four days, we’ll share prayer topics focused on four areas where refugees need support to grow and thrive in their new communities.
Bethany Christian Services
Day 1
Scriptures: Exodus 22:21, Deuteronomy 10:19, Matthew 25:35, Romans 15:7
Praying for refugees: Acceptance
Acceptance: “The process or fact of being received as adequate, valid, or suitable.”
Reflection
One of the core needs of the human soul is a sense of belonging—to know we have a place. Unfortunately, the flip side of this universal human experience is that we all have moments when we feel like we don’t fit in.
Accepting others despite differences can be surprisingly difficult. The unknowns and dissimilarities are distressing. Yet, as followers of Christ, we know that loving and accepting others is a consistent theme in the New Testament.
In Romans 15, Paul cuts through our resistance and excuses by connecting our acceptance of others to our acceptance in Christ. Acceptance not only heals our hearts but also transforms our souls. That transformation is meant to extend beyond our lives and impact how we see and engage others.
Accepting others doesn’t require us to abandon our personal values and beliefs, but it does require us to abandon our ego and minimize our need for comfort. It requires us to remember, ultimately, that we aren’t defined by what we do but by what God has done for us and to live from a position of gratitude.
Prayer
The place to begin is right where you are. Commit to meeting with God, asking him to share his heart for the foreigner with you.
Father, thank you for the blessing and privilege of calling you “Father.” Before I was acceptable, you welcomed me and, in doing so, changed me. Your love for me shapes and empowers me to be love in this broken world. Help me each day to recognize that my acceptance before you isn’t based on my merit but on your grace. Give me eyes to see opportunities to express your love and grace to others. Help me cultivate a heart for those brought to this country through difficult, traumatic circumstances. Make me a vessel of your compassion, goodness, and acceptance. Amen.
Day 2
Scriptures: Hebrews 13:1-2, James 2:14-17, Titus 1:8
Praying for refugees: Hospitality
Hospitality: The friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.
Reflection
The life we’re called to as followers of Christ has a much higher bar than the world. This isn’t so much about standards; it is a calling to live for something much larger than ourselves. Recognizing this shines light both in our world and in our souls.
Let’s look at a few examples:
The world encourages us to pursue comfort; God calls us to show compassion.
The world tells us to seek ease; God empowers us for impact.
The world says practice tolerance; God compels us to practice hospitality.
This is a significant mindset shift, and nowhere is it felt more than in the practice of hospitality. One of the reasons this shift is so difficult is because it forces us to acknowledge the simple truth that what we have to offer was never ours to begin with. The world sets a goal of ownership; God invites us into stewardship.
The practice of hospitality is an exercise in humility and grace. With biblical hospitality, we’re not only offering comfort but also refuge. In doing so, we celebrate the refuge we’ve found in Christ. Our extension of love to others is an expression of the love we’ve received. When we love others well, we are changed.
Prayer
Father, I acknowledge that often my starting point in life is myself rather than you. Thank you for your grace that covers and changes me. Grant me eyes to see those in need and a heart to welcome and serve them. All I have is yours. I surrender my life and resources to you so that I may be a vessel of the love and compassion you have shown me in Christ. Amen.
Day 3
Scriptures: John 14:27, Matthew 7:12, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 14:14, Psalms 16:1
Praying for refugees: Peace
Peace: Freedom from disturbance; tranquility.
Reflection
In life’s daily chaos and busyness, we take for granted what it means to understand others and be understood. Familiarity robs us of the awareness of good things in our lives. If we have a need, we can communicate that and hopefully find a way to fulfill it.
But imagine being in a place where everything is unfamiliar—the language, food, clothes, streets, expectations—everything. Add to that the traumatic experience that forced you to leave behind your home and everything you knew.
Pause for a moment: What would that feel like? What thoughts would go through your mind? What emotions would you experience?
In the Bible, the word for peace in Greek is eirenes; in Hebrew, it’s shalom. It means “to join together that which has been separated or divided; quietness, rest, wholeness.” For those displaced from their homeland, acceptance and hospitability are gateways to much needed peace.
Extending peace to others requires both our actions and our presence. It requires a willingness to step outside our comfort zone and embrace Jesus’ call to be peacemakers, bringing peace where it currently doesn’t exist. Refugees come to America (and other countries where they’re resettled), fleeing difficulty in pursuit of safety and peace. God calls his people to be an answer to that prayer.
Prayer
Father, thank you for sending Jesus to be my peace. Thank you that no matter what circumstances I face, I know you’re with me and for me. As I seek to walk in the peace you’ve purchased for me, help me offer that peace freely to others. Align my heart with yours. I surrender my talents and resources to be used by you to bring peace to others, especially immigrants and refugees. Push me beyond myself so I may reflect the love and compassion of Christ to those who need it most. Amen.
Day 4
Scriptures: Jeremiah 29:11, Job 8:7, Psalms 9:18, Romans 5:5
Praying for refugees: Hope
Hope: A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
Reflection
The author of Hebrews says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1). In 1 Corinthians 13:13, Paul highlights hope, alongside faith and love, as one of life’s three most important things. Hope is central to the gospel message and the well-being of the human soul. And hope is what we have abundantly in Christ—enough to generously share with others in need.
When we pull together acceptance, hospitality, and peace, we fuel hope in someone’s life.
• Hope that things will get better.
• Hope that God has a plan and future for them.
• Hope that they can be part of something good.
• Hope that their life matters.
Fueling hope may look like helping someone find a place to stay, bringing someone a warm meal, or helping a family set up a bank account. When we help someone meet a practical need, we infuse hope that they can make a better life for themselves and their loved ones.
One more thing: Hope is contagious. When we cultivate it in someone, they take that hope and share it with others. And our own internal stores of hope grow as well.
Prayer
Father, thank you for the hope I have in Christ. I did nothing to earn it and can’t do anything to prove I’m worthy of it. So, I freely accept it and want to walk in it each day. In love, you filled my heart with faith, hope, and love. I now ask you to guide me so I can be an expression of your hope in the lives of others. Help me overcome my fear and discomfort so I may be a blessing to you and others. Thank you for reminding me we’re all foreigners and exiles in this world. Help me to be light and love in my world. Amen.