Rejected and Downcast

Friday, December 3, 2021

A great many Muslims are downtrodden and feel neglected and abandoned. They see no solution to their situation. Socially, they feel oppressed and demoralized and see no way out. Financially, they experience hunger and poverty while others around them bask in riches. Spiritually, and most importantly, they are poor and needy and to a large extent they do not know it!

Prayer

Compassionate God, full of mercy and grace, give me a tender heart toward those who feel unloved, lonely and forsaken. They “look for light, but all is darkness, look for bright skies but walk in gloom” (Isaiah 59:9-10).

They sometimes feel like broken vessels that cannot hold anything or be of any use. Yet your Word tells us that you choose to put some of your invaluable treasures in such vessels! It tells us also that you choose to use such containers as vessels of honor. All this is beyond our ability to fathom. O what measureless grace!

Divine Savior, you know what it is to be despised and rejected. Arise, LORD! Stretch forth your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless (Psalm 10:12). Reveal Jesus Christ to them in his love, compassion, humility, and sacrifice. He is the only One who can bind up their broken hearts.

And as with you, Lord Jesus, anoint me to proclaim the Good News to the poor. Send me to the brokenhearted to announce freedom to the captives, to declare that the blind will see, the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, and the time of the Lord’s favor has come—all by the power of the name of Jesus (Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-19).

May I be your hands extended today to touch someone and lift him or her up. In your mighty name I pray. Amen.

Promise

The poor and needy are seeking water, but find none. Their tongue is parched with thirst. I, God, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will not abandon them… Our Lord upholds those who have fallen and lifts up those who are bowed down (Isaiah 41:17; Psalm 145:14, SAB).