A Prayer for Bahrain. . .

God of Love,

We offer our attention, our urgency, and our prayers to you on behalf of the people living in Bahrain. We pray for all people who live there, that peace may prevail and that justice and reconciliation may be made known in the lives of the people. May Your presence be known. May Your call be heard. Remembering Your steadfast love, O God, we add our concern to Your concern.

We pray for those who are protesting the actions of the monarchy, that they may speak truth, that they may have fellowship with one another, that they might hear and protect the interests of those who are vulnerable. In their own vulnerability, we ask for Your companionship, that they might be empowered in Your power, in Your love for all people.

We pray for people of all religious faiths, that they might be attentive and active toward the needs of the Bahraini people. We particularly offer prayers for Sunnis and Shiites, that they may have dialogue and peace - not false peace which covers up injustice, but true peace which is made manifest in a partnership of ministry, a partnership which seeks justice above all.

We pray for King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and other government leaders, that they would hear the voice of the people and that they would respond differently. O God, we pray for You to act within the Bahraini people and within us, so that their reign of control and torture will come to an end.

We pray for political prisoners within Bahrain, that they might experience just treatment and that their humanity may be respected an honored. Help us to open our ears to their pain, their needs. Help us to hear their voices which are being silenced.

Remembering Your steadfast love, O God, we add our concern to Your concern. And in our concern, we add our voices to the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray, saying. . .

Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

And let us make this prayer together as well:

O Lord, help us to be a part of the very prayers we make.

Here are some recent news stories concerning the turmoil in Bahrain. Let's continue to be prayerful and mindful of the needs that people are facing there.

Bahrain: Student Details, Speaks Out Against Government Pledge
Bahraini Activist Said Threatened with Rape: Report
Bahrain Activist Jailed Following 'Politically Motivated Trials'