January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. We at Shared Hope have a tradition of spending this month praying for an end to sex trafficking. You are invited to join us in those prayers in one or both of these ways:
- Watch the weekly videos below throughout the month. These emails tell a brief story about a survivor and contain a prayer for the week by Yvonne, a survivor herself.
- Use our 30 Days of Prayer guide.
Week 1 Video
Introduction to Yvonne, welcome to our 30 Days of Prayer, and a prayer for the week
Week 2 Video
Yvonne tells the story of Brianna and offers a prayer for the week.
Week 3 Video
Yvonne tells the story of Kim and offers a prayer for the week.
Week 4 Video
Yvonne tells the story of Tiffany and offers a prayer for the week.
Week 5 Video
Yvonne speaks of girls like her and Shared Hope’s new Girls Like Me campaign and offers a prayer for the week.
Link in the call to action at the end of this video:
Urge your governor to end the unjust incarceration of trafficking victims!
30 Days of Prayer Daily Guide
Below is our 30 Days of Prayer day by day guide! Of course you are welcome to follow along in any order you like, and in any month you like. God is always listening.
Day 1
While [Jesus] was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume… She broke the jar and poured perfume on his head… Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume?” … “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me… She did what she could…”
Mark 14:3-8
Prayer Focus
God, your word promises that you knew me before I was born (Jeremiah 1:1) and I trust you to help me fulfill your plans for me. I will look for ways to help others, but trust that you will lead my steps each day as I walk with you to make the most impact that I can with the life you have given me. Give me strength to continually use my talents and not bury them.
Day 2
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Romans 12:2
Prayer Focus
Lord, hear my heart’s cry as I bring before you all the evils that I have become aware of. I admit I feel powerless, but I know that I can change the way I think and speak. Help me to always show love and respect for every individual, and give me the words to speak to those around me to help them to also honor others. May we always exhibit your heart towards all people.
Day 3
“He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8
We are reminded that justice, mercy, and humility before God are part of an integrated response. Neither justice alone nor mercy alone is the response God requires. Furthermore, neither is acceptable absent humble submission to His leading.
Prayer Focus
Dear God, when I see blatant evil, I am tempted to rant and rave and want to destroy those who are hurting others. Help me to understand that buyers and traffickers are broken people too, in need of your mercy. Help me to be patient as you extend mercy to them but also trust that you will judge rightly. Help me not to be angry in my own pride, but to humbly trust you are working.
Day 4
Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”
Isaiah 1:17
Prayer Focus
Here is a prayer you might pray:
God in heaven, in your infinite wisdom you designed men with the instinct to defend the vulnerable. I pray today that men everywhere will feel that noble call on their lives and will respond as You show each man how he can act or speak to defend his family, his community and his culture.
Day 5
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Romans 12:2
Prayer Focus
- The protection and safety of sex trafficking victims.
- Wisdom for professionals who seek to intervene to help victims of trafficking.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
Lord God, your Word tells us that the enemy seeks to devour the innocent (1 Peter 5:8). I pray now for Your hand to hold back the devourer from his pursuit of more victims. Equip believers in the helping professions to support survivors on their journey of restoration.
Day 6
“He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8
We are reminded that justice, mercy, and humility before God are part of an integrated response. Neither justice alone nor mercy alone is the response God requires. Furthermore, neither is acceptable absent humble submission to His leading.
Prayer Focus
- Having the proper measure of justice and mercy.
- A humble heart before God.
Day 7
Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men,
who have planned to trip up my feet. The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and
with cords they have spread a net; beside the way they have set snares for me.
Psalm 140:4–5
When we realize that this is an age-old battle, we also become aware that God is very
engaged in the fight. From the beginning of time, He intended everyone to be equal in His
sight when He wrote in the very first chapter of Genesis (verses 26–27), “Let us make
mankind in our image…Male and female, He created them.” All are to be respected as
being in His image. God’s heart that no one be misused or abused in any way is clearly
shown throughout Scripture. We are privileged to be fighting by His side.
Prayer Focus
- The protection of vulnerable young people from the lies and deceptions of traffickers.
Day 8
“He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8
We are reminded that justice, mercy, and humility before God are part of an integrated response. Neither justice alone nor mercy alone is the response God requires. Furthermore, neither is acceptable absent humble submission to His leading.
Prayer Focus
- Having the proper measure of justice and mercy.
- A humble heart before God.
Day 9
“We know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28
While this verse can be taken as very personal and applying to each individual who loves God and is called according to his purpose, it might also be taken to mean that he works things together for good for the body of believers according to his own sovereign plan. Given the limits of human understanding, it is usually impossible to see how circumstances, personal or global, are under God’s sovereign control; but the faithful personal, called by God, will trustingly join with Him in the outworking of His good plan.
Prayer Focus:
Faithfulness and trust that I don’t need to understand His plan for the particular person or situation in order to be effectively used in that plan.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
God, I admit that I don’t get it. I don’t understand how the injustices and wickedness of this earthly experience can work for good for individuals trapped in such evil situations. Yet, I know the testimonies of many survivors of sex trafficking do actually attest to this mystery of restoration. Help me to see things from Your perspective, not mine.
Day 10
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
James 1:5
Strong anti-trafficking response is dependent, in part, on the wisdom of leaders and law makers. The laws and policies they create directly affect survivors’ access to justice. State and federal laws also dictate acceptable investigation procedures and sentencing for traffickers and buyers. Our leaders must be willing to address this issue if we want to make progress in the movement to end trafficking.
Prayer Focus
- Wisdom for leaders in creating or amending laws to provide sufficient penalties for traffickers and buyers and maximizing access to justice for victims.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
Lord, I ask for wisdom for our lawmakers…first, that they become fully aware of the reality of sex trafficking and how insidiously it occurs, and then that they will be bold enough to act on the knowledge. I further ask, that if it is Your will for me to personally occupy one of the decision maker offices, no matter how large or small, that You will make that apparent to me. I thank you in advance.
Day 11
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”
Romans 12:4-6
In our years of operating anti-trafficking programs around the world, one resounding lesson holds true: collaboration is key. Those who were called to professions that directly impact sex trafficking victims, like law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and shelter and service providers, must be equipped with the knowledge, resources and strength necessary to accomplish their very important role.
Prayer Focus
- Wisdom, knowledge, resources, patience and safety for professionals—social service providers, prosecutors, judges—and all those who serve victims of trafficking.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
God, there are so many people that influence the sex trafficking survivor’s journey, and each has a unique view of that individual through the lens of his or her profession. Please give each survivor contact with the legal professionals and restorative service providers who have understanding and compassion and will provide just the right support to enable restoration.
Day 12
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angles nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creating, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39
It is freeing to know that nothing we do can make God love us any less, or any more! That can be difficult to accept when we feel ashamed or worthless, but it is true. Because of the stigmatization of prostitution, sex trafficking survivors often struggle with shame and feelings of worthlessness. Traffickers view them as a paycheck, buyers view them as an object for sexual gratification, society views them as a criminal, but God views them as worthy of His unchanging and unfailing love.
Prayer Focus
- Survivors of trafficking to know that they are loved by the Lord.
- Christian mentors for survivors to encourage and support their release and healing.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
Lord God, even for survivors who know who You are, there is the pervasive feeling of guilt and shame that overwhelms the knowledge that You are a God who loves and forgives. Such guilt and shame obscures the knowledge that nothing can separate anyone from Your love. If it is that hard for those who know you, how much worse for those who don’t know You yet! I pray that they meet You and learn how much You love them.
Day 13
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
Romans 12:17-19
It is so difficult to hear the horror stories of trauma, violence, and degradation that our survivor friends have faced and NOT want to take revenge on the one who caused it! But we are reminded to leave it to the One more powerful than us. Vengeance is not our job. What if, instead, we prayed for the traffickers and buyers? If a nation of faithful, praying people ask the Lord to change their hearts, can we make a dent in the prevalence of those who seek to exploit our children? Let’s find out.
Prayer Focus
- For traffickers’ and buyers’ hearts and actions to change.
- The Lord to remove the scales from their eyes so traffickers and buyers can see their destructive behavior and turn from it.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
Well Lord, this is a difficult one to pray with a sincere heart! (But let me try…!) Open my eyes to the likelihood that some very terrible things may have been the experience of the trafficker or the buyer that turned them into offenders. Inevitably, hurting people hurt other people. I pray that You will bring healing for the wounds that have formed their thinking, convict them of their sin and cause them to repent. Graciously, show them how You can heal their reformed hearts.
Day 14
“Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7
The Message renders this verse: “…take plenty of time to think it over and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.” We often hear the part about giving cheerfully, but what about the giving wisely? As good stewards of what we have been given, we are instructed to engage our minds and not just our emotions in decisions about where God would have us share a portion of our earnings and possessions. We can’t lose when we do things that please God.
Prayer Focus
- That I may discern worthy causes that merit my support.
- A spirit of sharing cheerfully from the blessings I’ve received.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
You, Lord, have abundantly blessed me and I ask that You guide me as to where and how I can give of my “three Ts”—my time, my talent and my treasure. Direct me, and help me to give of all those Ts with a grateful and cheerful heart.
Day 15
“I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears…the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer.”
Psalm 6:6-9 (excerpt)
David wrote this Psalm at a time when his safety was threatened. He was no stranger to severe danger, and neither are trafficked victims. Research indicates that trafficking victims can face Post Traumatic Stress Disorder because of the intense, prolonged period of danger and fear they endure during their trafficking experience. Danger eagerly awaits them at the hands of a violent pimp, aggressive buyers, and even law enforcement agents can elicit fear for victims.
Prayer Focus
- Praying sex trafficking victims who are still in bondage, or still suffering, will have assurance that the Lord hears them and will deliver them.
Here is a prayer you might pray:It weighs heavily on my heart God, when I picture these young people caught in that filthy trap. He or she may not know You yet, but You tell us that knowledge of you is imprinted on every heart. Based on that truth, I pray that from deep within the soul of every person still in bondage—whether or not he or she consciously knows You– they will call out to You in their day of trouble. Bring them out of prison that they may give thanks to Your name!
Day 16
“Righteousness is revealed every time you judge. Because of the strength of your forgiveness, your anger does not break out every day, even though you are a righteous judge. Yet, if the wicked do not repent, you will not relent with your wrath…You are the conqueror with an arsenal of lethal weapons that you’ve prepared for them. You have bent and strung your bow, making your judgment-arrows shafts of burning fire…The wicked go into labor with their lies and give birth to trouble. They dig a pit for others to fall into, not knowing that they will be the very ones who will fall into their own pit of failure. For you, God, will see to it that every pit-digger who works to trap and harm others will be trapped and harmed by his own treachery.”
Psalms 7:11-16 TPT (excerpt)
May we always remember that God is a righteous judge! He is indignant about the evil done to His precious ones and He alone is in control of the just outcome for evildoers. As His emissaries here on earth, we do our best to deal justly through civil and criminal responses, but we must always keep in mind the very limited understanding we have of His greater purposes.
Prayer Focus
- Help me to remember that God’s ways are not my ways and he will ultimately provide a just response to the buyers and traffickers who perpetrate violence against precious ones.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
Oh God of JUSTICE! I shudder with anger because of the rampant evil being done to innocents; I admit that if I were in charge, there would be revenge! Remind me that YOU are the One who will deal with the wicked. Your Word tells us again and again that You love mercy and that You DO JUSTICE. On earth, you provide for good people in law enforcement to bring down some of the wicked, and I thank You for that, while we wait for the fulfillment of Your final administration of justice.
Day 17
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”
1 Peter 5:10
We are told that there is an eternal reward after suffering for those that are called by Christ. Christians differ on what it means to be called but can perhaps unite around the idea that suffering will end, and God has eternal and glorious plans for those that believe in him.
Prayer Focus
- That all those suffering will be restored and strengthened.Here is a prayer you might pray:Today I want to tell You how thankful I am for the testimonies of so many who have survived the brutality of sex trafficking, and not only survived, but given voices to proclaim Your incredible grace and mercy! They are not only survivors, but thrivers, and they give so much encouragement to advocates like me who so hopeful stories to keep on fighting. Lord, I pray today that You would provide avenues for rescue and restoration for many more.
Day 18
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice…wisdom will come into your heart…understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil…”
1 Peter 5:10
A multi-billion dollar industry exists for the sole purpose of deceiving men and boys into believing that viewing pornography or buying sex is normal and harmless entertainment. The wisdom that comes from knowledge of the Lord is a shield against the pull of the culture into these lies and perversions.
Prayer Focus
- For all the men and boys in my life, that they will resist the siren song of pornography and the deceptions of people that will attempt to lure them into using others as objects of sexual satisfaction.
- Recognize that women may also be addicted to pornographic materials and ensnared in its destructive web.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
I’m remembering a child’s prayer-song, “oh be careful little eyes what you see…for your Father up above is looking down in love…oh be careful little eyes what you see…” I know Lord, that Your name Jehovah Rohi means that YOU are the God Who Sees. You see everything that we permit to pass the eye-gate and penetrate our conscious and subconscious. You see the filth that our society has relentlessly and recklessly put out for the little eyes of our children, and the eyes of grown ups who desire to act out what they have seen. Today, my prayer is that You would protect the eyes and hearts of those I love, especially the men and boys who are so dear to me.
Day 19
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.”
Proverbs 3:27
The “good” that each of us can do can be something that seems dramatic, like opening a shelter for sex trafficked victims…or it might be something barely noticed, like looking into the eyes of someone you suspect is “in the life” and smiling encouragingly. Trafficking victims talk about the distain turned their way from the glances of every “normal” person. Your smile at them might be the best thing that happens to them today.
Prayer Focus
- Let me be conscious of the fact that my facial expressions and gestures say a thousand words.
- Help me not to judge by appearances.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
Lord, in so many ways I could inadvertently cause further injury to someone who is suffering and in pain because of my own labels. Judge my thoughts that may bring shame or place guilt on another person, and change my heart so that I am clean in my expressions, words and actions. Help me to be the person Jesus spoke of in the Good Samaritan parable and show true compassion.
Day 20
“O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
2 Chronicles 20:12
All of us in the battle against sex trafficking have felt powerless in the face of the great assault of pornography and sexual perversion on our culture, yet the Lord’s response to this plea, found in verse 17, is moving and encouraging: “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them and the Lord will be with you.”
Prayer Focus
- Remind me that my powerlessness is an opportunity to rely on the all-powerful Lord.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
God, thank you for the many examples You have given us in the Bible of situations where You assured Your desperate follower to “be still and know that I am God.” You seem to love to show up suddenly and powerfully when Your child is facing insurmountable odds. Today I stand in total and humble agreement with You—that Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen!
Day 21
“Have I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
It’s not just a suggestion; it’s a command. The command is repeated often in the Old Testament—the Lord’s words are echoed by David to Solomon and again by Jehoshaphat to the Israelites. What a comfort to know that the Lord my God is with me wherever I go.
Prayer Focus
- I can’t obey this command without help. Help me to be strong, courageous, unafraid, and undismayed.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
Oh dear God…You know me. I don’t really need to tell you this: In the natural I am neither strong nor courageous nor unafraid! I can’t be any of those things unless You equip me! Thank You for directing my attention to so many of the Psalms such as 121 that remind me YOU are that source of courage.
Day 22
“And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”
Genesis 50:20
There is hardly a more dramatic story in the Bible than the story of Joseph, nor a more dramatic illustration of how God uses man’s evil intent to bring about great good. He was betrayed by his own siblings, falsely accused, enslaved, forgotten. We can readily associate those very things with the plight of those that are sex trafficked. Let us be encouraged by how God turned the evil directed at Joseph into blessing and preservation for an entire nation.
Prayer Focus
- For trust in God that everything that happens is part of His plan, whether I can see it or not.
- For trust in God’s goodness.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
Oh God, the Word that You have given us is a treasure, and the book of Proverbs contains some gems that help me pray. I’m directed to trust in the Lord with all my heart and I’m admonished not to lean on my own understanding; You will make my paths straight if I acknowledge You! (Proverbs 3:5-6). Ah, I admit that most often I DO rely on and trust my own understanding—not just about my own circumstances, but I often question how You are addressing the injustices of this world! Lord, forgive me for thinking I could do better! Your ways are so much higher!
Day 23
“We know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also made certain they would be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”
Romans 8:28-29
We offered one view of this verse on day 9, but reading verse 29 sheds a light on how God uses all things that happen in a Christian’s life to work out His good plan for that individual believer to be made more into His image. That good plan may be temporal, spiritual or eternal, or all of these things; our trust is in the all-knowing and all-powerful God.
Prayer Focus
- For the humility to recognize that His ways are not my ways. He will bring about freedom and restoration in His perfect timing.
- For faith to trust His plan for each individual life.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
Lord God, you gave humans the ability to love you because You first loved us. You gave us the ability to reason and analyze our circumstances— to keep us safe, to process information, to assess situations, to guide us to good decisions and much more. I am thankful for that ability, but I need Your help to believe that Your hand is above all my circumstances…indeed, Lord, help me to trust that Yours is the mighty and benevolent Hand that guides everything in the lives of those who ask for Your help.
Day 24
“He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted me.”
Psalm 18:17-20
The favorite ploy of traffickers is to seek out those in the day of their “calamity.” This brings to mind the many vulnerable children that become separated from their families during a natural disaster or children that daily experience the calamity of abuse in their own homes and run away in desperation, only to be confronted by something even worse.
Prayer Focus
- May the strong arm of God protect children all over the world from those too mighty for them to resist.
- May those in captivity be brought out from the darkness into a broad place where there is air and light and freedom.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
God, I think that sexual exploitation is the ultimate calamity for a child. For that child, the calamity continues to live inside the spirit and soul as self-blame, guilt and shame. Please free children everywhere from ever experiencing such abuse; free those who have been victims from the devastating effects of the trauma—physical, emotional and spiritual. I thank you in Jesus’ name.
Day 25
“He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as He hears it, He answers you. And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”
Isaiah 30:19-21
What a comfort to know that God immediately responds to our pitiful cries to Him. Sometimes those cries are in response to the anguish we feel when we suffer or when we see the suffering of others because we just cannot understand the why? Yet His response is not an explanation; rather it is simply assurance that He will guide each step of the way through the adversity.
Prayer Focus
- To trust God when I don’t understand what He is doing and why.
- To have eyes that notice signs of His guidance and ears to hear His instruction moment by moment.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
Lord, over the last few days I’ve been praying to be obedient to Your instructions and trust in Your good purpose for me individually and for those I love and care about. I continue to pray that I trust in the goodness of Your sovereign will, because honestly, it is sometimes hard to believe…especially when I see the suffering caused by human trafficking. I know You understand and forgive my inability to see things as You see them. Help me to trust You more.
Day 26
“God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy…”
Psalm 68:6
God places the lonely in families. What a beautiful promise! Many are familiar with loneliness. Wishing for a friend, family member, or spouse who can provide a warm smile, a comforting hug, a gentle word. Traffickers know that we’re built for relationship and commonly use this to exploit victims. Traffickers may promise friendship, romance, or family but instead supply violence, control, and manipulation. Today’s prayer focus is that God will supply a healthy response to a very healthy desire—family!
Prayer Focus
- Pray that survivors who do not have healthy family relationships or friendships would find them.
- Healing to family of survivors so that they may one day have reconciliation.
- Joy for survivors in the freedom that they now have.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
The family was Your idea, God, to give us a place to belong and to be accepted. Certainly, You knew that model would be disrupted very early in the world You created, and would never be perfect. Nevertheless, thank you for families that are healthy. Thank You for families that are sometimes dysfunctional, but still work. Thank you for families who have adopted or taken in foster children who are so vulnerable to trafficking. Bring reunion and reconciliation to survivors and their families. And provide a family within your body of believers for those who have none. I pray all this in Your great name!
Day 27
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 14:27
Safety and security are two of our basic needs, which is probably why the Lord spoke so often about resting our cares and troubles in His hand and finding peace in our faith in Him.
Prayer Focus
- Pray for the peace of the service providers—to not be afraid of those who would try to interfere with their work, nor would they worry about provision.
- Pray for the peace of the prosecutors and law enforcement—any threats against their families for the work that they do.
- Pray for the peace of survivors—those who would try to harm them physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
Today I lift up to You all those professionals and advocates who are involved in helping sex trafficking survivors escape their circumstances. It may be a physical escape brought about by a law enforcement officer. It may be a judicial escape through a court that expunges a criminal record for acts done while being victimized. It may be emotional and psychological escape from reliving the trauma experienced. May all these allies and survivors experience Your peace.
Day 28
“For this reason I kneel before the Father…I pray that our of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being…I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together…to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…”
Ephesians 3:14-21
We grieve for the women and children in countries who have been subject to human trafficking and sexual slavery through the acceptance of their own culture, including the USA. We must also lift up the hundreds of children who have been enslaved and sold into sex slavery through their cultural or religious customs, such as being forced into temple prostitution. We trust the Lord is stronger than the darkened cultures of our world, and can bring a miracle of peace, deliverance, and freedom for those trapped in them. Our faith is in “Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine…”
Prayer Focus
- Swift deliverance for the all those enslaved by the dark customs of their culture, that they would be free.
- That God will grant wisdom and success to those seeking to help them find their freedom.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
Lord, every nation of the world belongs to You and is under Your authority. You have told us though, that there is a spiritual struggle in the heavenly realms between forces of evil and angels of light. I pray today for all the world to be freed from the oppression of the demonic spirits that have laid claim to countries and territories. Bring them knowledge of You, the True God, and the freedom that comes from knowing You!
Day 29
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youth grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:29-31
God is said to give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak. We work with many excellent shelter and service providers that serve as a conduit for this promise. They offer residential care and essential programming to facilitate restoration. Unfortunately, these programs sometimes lack funds, or struggle to fill their homes. Alternatively, survivors have been detained in juvenile detention due to the lack of shelter options.
Prayer Focus
- Pray that God will fill shelters with the residents He has selected.
- Pray that God will give wisdom and discernment to those seeking to start a shelter, that it will fulfill the purpose He has for it.
- That survivors will receive access to the services and restoration they need.
Here is a prayer you might pray:
Lord, thank You for the people who are providing shelter and restorative services to survivors of sex trafficking. Thank You for those that provide outreach to locate victims and enable them to escape to places of safety. Provide the finances needed for these services to continue and for more to be offered, for homes to be filled. I also pray that healed survivors are able to find employment with organizations where they will have a great positive impact on the healing journey of others.
Day 30
“When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to the evildoers.”
Proverbs 21:15
“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.”
Zechariah 7:9
Prayer Focus
Pray for our 4 priorities for this session:
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Protecting Survivors from Being Criminalized as a Result of their Trafficking Victimization
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Establishing Protective, Trauma-Informed Responses In and Out of Child Serving Systems
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Preventing the Conditions that Foster Sex Trafficking of Children & Youth
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Supporting Survivors’ Access to Justice for Online Abuse
Here is a prayer you might pray:
Lord, today I have a very specific prayer asking You to inspire Congressional bills that protect survivors from being criminalized as a result of their trafficking victimization; that you will help establish protective responses to provide for them; that you prevent the conditions that foster the sex trafficking of children and youth, and that you support survivors’ access to justice for online abuse.
I also ask that you prompt legislators in every state in the United States to pass legislation that will bring justice and enable restoration. I praise You in advance for your mercy and grace in responding to these requests.
Give
Your gift to Shared Hope today will keep us on the front lines of the fight against sex trafficking, advocating for laws that protect children and working to ensure that justice is served.
In this multi-faceted battle, we are committed to restoring survivors as well as preventing further exploitation of children by establishing civil and criminal liability for these crimes.
We are so grateful you are fighting and praying alongside us in our efforts to end child sex trafficking. You are bringing freedom, restoration, and new life to so many while holding the traffickers and buyers accountable — and taking the battle to Congress, the courts, the states, and online. Thank you and God bless you!
