World Habitat Day is a designated day each year that recognizes the basic right of all humanity to adequate shelter and encourages grassroots action toward enduring poverty housing. We are posting a series of blogs written from different perspectives that illustrate the importance of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Prayer by: Patty Lee, Associate Director of Special Events at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles
A Prayer for Shelter
Leader: Loving God, you made us in your image and blessed us with wisdom, creativity, skill, compassion and love.
People: Give us sight to see your children in need, ability to hear your call to serve and willingness to be your hands and feet.
Leader: How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! Even the sparrow has found a home and the swallow a nest—a place near your altar, O Lord.
People: Heaven is your throne and the earth your footstool. Empower us with your strength and wisdom to build safe dwellings.
Leader: You have called us to share our food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when we see the naked, to clothe him.
People: Give us willing hearts, Lord, and inspire us to action.
Leader: When you call upon the Lord, spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, the Lord will always guide you. He will satisfy your needs and strengthen you.
People: Grant us safety and protect us as we build your kingdom through building homes and communities.
Leader: He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
People: To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Leader: My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.
People: May our obedience to serve you with our wisdom, creativity, skill, compassion and love cause the weak to say I am strong, the poor to say I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us.
Leader: Transform our world and transform our hearts and minds.
People: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
ALL: Make us into one people, your people like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.