It can feel overwhelming to see people struggling in our communities, living outside on our streets, seeing refugees from war or disaster on our televisions and feel helpless, what can we do when there are so many in need? But we don't need to do it alone and Jesus shows us how.
Luke 11: 1 - 4 (NIV)
11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’
2 He said to them, ‘When you pray, say:
‘“Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
’When we pray the prayer that Jesus taught us, we pray 'Give us each day our daily bread'. This simple line means such a lot! It is thanksgiving for the things that we have from God, it is asking for the things we lack, it is about physical nourishment and the nourishment we get from Jesus who is the Bread of Life. It is also about how we can help others in need, through thanksgiving for what we have by sharing it with those who do not.
This doesn't mean that we can help everybody ourselves, but together we can. Together we have all the gifts and skills and resources necessary to carry out Jesus' mission here and now. 'Give us each day our daily bread' as a communal praying and sharing and supporting, not just an individual.
As Christians Against Poverty we offer practical help to get out of debt through our free debt advice service, we offer practical financial help through Money Coaching. But as Christians Against Poverty we do more, we come alongside those suffering with debt and support them, not just helping provide the physical 'daily bread' but to bring knowledge of Jesus who is the Bread of Life whose love sustains us, who gives us strength and who walks alongside us.
CAP is one service, helping with a specific problem, the problem of debt, but many of our clients have many other problems as well. We can help by walking alongside them and showing them love and strength, but again, we don't have to do it all alone. There are many charities and agencies who can help with a particular issue and by working with them, pointing a client in the right direction, walking with them as they meet those who can help them, by working together we can do so much more. 'Give us each day our daily bread'.
Prayer
Please pray for F who is very isolated and is finding it hard to let the CAP team in to help. Pray for C who is near the end of her CAP journey, she could barely leave her house at the start but now would like to get involved in volunteering. Pray for all our clients, whatever stage they are at in their CAP journey, that they would know that it is not a journey they make alone but that they are loved and supported every step of the way.
Please pray for our debt coaches John and Pat, for the time they spend with clients not just on their debt problems but coming alongside them as well. Pray for the befrienders who can offer a listening ear, a helping hand or a prayer. Please pray for our Community Links Coordinator Fiona as she builds links with those individuals, charities and organisations that can help our clients together with or alongside CAP.
Please pray for the Money Coaching team as they prepare for the next course starting in March, pray for all those in our community struggling with finances, that this may be the help and support that they are looking for.
You can find out more about Money Coaching here.
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