September 24th was Safe Church Sunday for the Christian Reformed Church of North America. Esperanza Rosario (leader of the prayer team and the Director of Community Outreach) and Elsie Rodriguez (Elder) at Grace and Peace Church, wrote this prayer to be shared in churches across North America. Please share with your congregations as you consider that this is not merely an issue of outreach. Two in five Evangelical Pastors know a church member who has experienced domestic violence in the past three years.

Lord, we come before You, for where does our help come from? It comes from the Creator of heaven and earth. From the one who hears our cry. Lord, we cry out to You to save us, to deliver us. We cry out to the one that does not slumber. (Psalm 121)
Hear us, oh Lord.

Help us that have sinned against our loved ones, that no unwholesome word continue to proceed from our mouths, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Help us not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom we were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from us, along with all malice. Help us walk in Your truth that instructs us to be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; because our anger does not produce Your righteousness. Help us not sin in our anger and not let the sun go down while we are still angry so that we leave no room for the devil to have an upper hand in our lives and our home. Help us not trust in oppression and help us master our anger our sin that it would not master us. (Ephesians 4:29-31, James 1:19-20, Ephesians 4: 26-27, Psalm 62:10, Genesis 4:7)
Hear us, oh Lord.

Help us that have gone through domestic violence or are still experiencing it, oh Lord, that we would not continue in our brokenness in this vicious cycle that converts the oppressed to the oppressor. Deliver us, bind our broken hearts, help us surrender our pain to You. Give us the courage to be bare before You. Help us not allow our shame to condemn us, help us walk in Your truth for You did not come to this world to condemn us but to save us. You who are the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by You. Help us take refuge in You, oh Lord, than to trust in man. Help us forgive so that we are not tormented. Help us surrender to You for You will vindicate us. (Psalm 147:3, John 3:17, 1 Corinthians 1:3,4, Psalm 118:9, Matthew 18:34-35, Romans 12:19)
Hear us, oh Lord.

Have mercy, oh God, on us, for many of us have been wounded and scorned. Help us not trade Your truth of who we are for the lies spoken about us. Help us not allow falsehood to be our refuge and not be concealed in deception in our secret places. For who You set free is free indeed. Help us not be carried back to captivity, but walk in the freedom You have given us. That we would not trade Your truth of who You say we are for the enemy’s lies. Lord we believe but help our unbelief. (Romans 1:25, John 6:38, Mark 9:24)
Hear us, oh Lord.

Lord, help us to be a people that live justly and in righteousness, using Your tools to help deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of their oppressor. Help us not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and not shed innocent blood in this place. For Lord, You deliver the afflicted person who has no help. You hear them when they cry out. You have compassion on them and You will save their lives. You will rescue their life from oppression and violence for their blood is precious in Your sight. Help us, oh Lord, have Your heart for the afflicted let us be your hands of compassion that their blood would be precious to us to. That Your body would be a safe-haven for anyone abused and help us not lose heart as we minister in Your name in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary in doing good. For Your ways are higher than our ways and Your thoughts than our thoughts. (Jeremiah 22:3, Psalm 72:12-14, Galatians 6:9, Isaiah 55:9)
Hear us, oh Lord.

Lord, how precious is Your loving kindness, Oh God! Let the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. That we would be a people that represent You in such a way that when any child suffers abuse they would find a place of safety, of love, and of care in Your body. That we as Your body would demonstrate Your great love for them in the midst of their pain. May they find Your peace surround them as we are the shelter You call us to be. Help us be the advocates You call us to be for the ones that cannot speak up for themselves. Remembering that You do not take lightly anyone that offends one of the little ones. (Psalm 36:7, Luke 17:2)
Hear us, oh Lord.

Lord, thank you that we do not have to fear for You are with us. We do not have to anxiously look about us, for You are our God. You will strengthen us, surely You will help us. Surely You will uphold us with Your righteous right hand. For all those who are angered at us will be shamed and dishonored. For we hope in You, Oh Lord.  You will answer, Oh Lord my God. For You are our anchor, our rock, our deliver, our fortress, our strength, our high tower, and our salvation, in whom we put our trust. You are our God who hears our cry. You will not allow our feet to slip, for You are our keeper and You will not slumber. You, oh Lord, will protect us from all evil and will keep our soul. You, oh Lord, will guard our going out and our coming in from this time forth and forever. (Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 38:15, Hebrews 6:19, Psalm 18:2, Psalm 121)
Hear us, oh Lord.