DAY 6: PRAY FOR FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION – PASTOR RYAN IVY

Matthew 25:36&40
36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ … 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

People often think about what they would say to the people closest to them if they only had a few days left to live. In this passage, Jesus knew His time was coming to an end, and he was concerned with talking about caring for people. No one cares more about the vulnerable and outcast than Jesus. Over and over again, Scripture calls us to speak up for the people that cannot speak for themselves and to care for those that struggle. (Proverbs 31:8-9)

There may not be a more vulnerable group today than orphans and children in the foster care system. In Clark County, NV there are over 5,000 children in the foster care system, and we only have 580 approved foster homes. We desperately need prayer for more people to open their homes to care for kids the way Jesus would. We must make it easier for families to foster by providing prayer, support, meals, childcare, and other things to families that decide to make the leap and care for vulnerable kids. We are not all called to foster kiddos, but we are all called to do something. What is your part?

Caring for kids from hard places is messy and one of the most difficult things a person can do, but that is exactly what Jesus is talking about in Matthew 25. We aren’t just doing it for the kids in that moment, we are doing it for Jesus. James goes on to Say, “27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27

Father, I come before You in Jesus name by the power of Your Holy Spirit. I need your help to care for the vulnerable. Show me opportunities to serve kids in my city and make a difference in the foster care system. Lord, give current foster families the endurance to continually make a difference. Please meet all the needs of every kid in our county and strengthen families and empower them to care for their children. Awaken more Christians to these issues and send more laborers. We pray all this in Jesus name, amen!

• Examine your life and identify ways that you might could serve a foster child, foster family, or even become a foster parent.

IDEAS:

• Send an encouraging message to a foster or adoptive parent.
• Ask someone to tell you more about foster care or adoption.
• Encourage someone else to join you in praying for foster care and adoption

IDEAS:

• Run the sixth mile out of the total of 21.
• Do 15 sit-ups and 15 push-ups.