Intecede...pray on site with insight
1. Pray for repentance of our own sin.
“I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:32
Heavenly Father, when we pray for a horrible injustice like human trafficking it’s easy to forget our own sins. We need to acknowledge that we struggle with selfishness, lust, and greed…three factors that greatly feed the evil of human trafficking. We repent and ask for your forgiveness so we can serve, love, and pray for others.
2. Pray for freedom and justice for the victims of human trafficking.
Who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free.” Psalm 146:7
“The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.” Psalm 103:6
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.” Acts 16:25-34
Father, we pray for the liberation of victims of (__name of brothel__). Please bring freedom to them and the millions of slaves in the world. Just as you helped Paul and Silas escape the jail, free these people supernaturally. Free them through the repentance of oppressors. Free them through the work of your people to administer justice.
3. Pray for healing, restoration, and purpose for the victims.
“I waited patiently for the Lord, he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. Father, you are a God of Miracles.” Psalm 40:1-2
“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.” Joel 2:25
God, you are a God of miracles. You are a healer, restorer, life-giver. We know you can bring life, purpose, and joy back to people who have had the years stolen away. Father, we ask that you enter into their lives through your Word, through other people, through your Holy Spirit and to enable healing and bring peace to their lives. Put a new song in their mouths.
4. Pray for salvation of victims of human trafficking.
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10
“For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.” Psalm 86:5
“…and you shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you. You shall not fear other gods, but you shall fear the Lord your God, and He will deliver you out of the hand of your enemies.”2 Kings 17:38-39
Jesus, we pray you will save the victims of trafficking from the physical slavery in which they are held, but more important from the spiritual slavery that is in their hearts. We pray they will not fear other gods but they will fear you and experience freedom through their response to your love.
You are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love. Cause these dear people to call upon you so that you can save them. Grant them an eternity where every tear will be wiped away and every injustice against them made right. May that be their hope.
5. Pray for salvation of pimps who have assumed the position of ownership of those held captives and who have no concern for their well-being.
“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:7
“to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison, those who sit in darkness.” Isaiah 42:7
Oh God, how hard it is to pray for our enemies and especially for those who horribly abuse others. But you have called us to do just that. You demonstrated this when you prayed for us while we were still sinners and still your enemies. So we pray for these pimps. We ask that you remove the sin that blinds them and open their eyes to the evil they commit. We pray they will repent and turn from their sin. We pray salvation for them…that they would seek your forgiveness and find it. We pray they would seek and receive the forgiveness of those whom they’ve victimized. God, only you can do such a work. No one is too far for the reach of your gospel.
6. Pray for enforcers of our laws…police, lawyers, prosecutors, judges, legislators and all others who can make a difference when they see the evil of human trafficking as you see it.
“For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.” Psalm 37:17:
“Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous—you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God!” Psalm 7:9
Heavenly Father, you are a just God. Our legal foundation of justice comes from you. You are perfect, holy, and without sin. You have the authority and right to require payment for sin/wrong doing. We ask for justice to come to those who traffic people. We pray that authorities will be committed to locate, arrest, prosecute, and sentence these lawbreakers. We pray for legislators who will enact laws to remove the blight of human trafficking.
7. Pray for increased awareness in the general public.
“Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.” Luke 12:2
“But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible.” Ephesians 5:13
God, would you help the public to see this as a problem for everyone and not just those directly touched by slavery. As hard as it is to see and hear the truth and reality of what happens to these victims, we ask that you help awareness increase. Show us how this is not only a problem overseas, but right here in our own cities. God, reveal to people how pornography plays into the trafficking of women and children. Give favor to those who are giving a voice to this cause. Help the truth of what is happening to these victims reach all races, ethnicities, and socio-economic classes. Pierce our consciences with the truth.
8. Pray for the church.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” Matthew 5:13
Father, we pray for your church to rise up and speak for the helpless, vulnerable, imprisoned, and oppressed. We ask that you awaken this issue in our congregations and bring unity between denominations so that we can unite to end this evil. We pray for new laborers to come out of the church for this cause, people willing to work daily to bring an end to slavery.
9. Pray for all believers to take action.
“They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:18-19
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2:14-17
Father, first we pray for those who have made the strong commitment to initiate contact with those help captive, with the pimps, and even with the johns as you provide opportunities. We pray they will have peace as they go, boldness for whatever they may face, compassion for all with whom they come in contact, and the presence of the Holy Spirt to give overall protection for a fruitful visit.
Father, in addition to those who intervene raise us up to action! Raise up your people to go in and rescue. Raise up your people to fight for education and prevention. Raise up your people to risk their lives so that others can be saved. Father, you are a God of freedom. Your whole purpose in sending Jesus was to provide freedom to the captives. Please provide freedom for these captives and provide arms waiting to help restore them. Raise up an army of people willing to take action in a variety of different forms so that an end can come to the evil of slavery.
Select the “donate” button below and indicate your donation is for Human Trafficking