Dear God,

Yesterday at noon, I stood in the food line at the Idaho Falls Soup Kitchen; and then in the evening, I mingled with those in the meal line at the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission.

I hate to see my friends in their struggles: the stolen belongings, the abused women, the lack of education, poverty, missing teeth, dirty clothes, and poor mental health.

Lord, it is overwhelming.  Sometimes, I am at a loss for words.

During the noon hour, I listened to their stories.  And by evening, some of the men were drunk in their anger, trying to escape their misery for one more evening.  Dear God, speak to them; break into their darkness.  You know every detail of what is going on in their lives.

I am crying out to You, Father, for the full work of the Messiah, Your Son, among my friends. It was foretold around 2,600 years ago by the prophet Isaiah:

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound (Isaiah 61:1-3).

God, I am thinking of my dear friend who was just picked up by the police this week.  He is now sitting in the Bonneville County Jail.  Looking at the Bonneville County Jail roster/list of names online, I linger over his name. God, you know all the church services have been canceled at the jail.  Please!  Swiftly take my written letter to him.

Jesus, restore my brother fully as you restored Peter in the days following Your resurrection. Please do not let the anger, despair, shame, and sin swallow him up.

Thank You, Jesus, that You come to us in our camps of spiritual leprosy.  You touch us in our soul-sickness and heal us.  We have been given Your food and new life.

Shepherd of my heart, I thank You for all that You have done in my life.  Help me to be a loud beggar who keeps sharing the news with all the other beggars in our city.

In Jesus’ name, amen.