While great strides have been made towards gender equality in the United States and throughout the world, the sad truth is that woman still disproportionately experience a lack of access to education, physical and mental health care, voting rights, and equal wages. Research has found that closing gender wage gaps and supporting the women’s access to education benefits countries as a whole.  

Throughout the scriptures women are upheld and celebrated as examples of faithfulness.  We can quickly over look the inclusion of these stories today but their inclusion in a book compiled thousands of years ago, during an extremely patriarchal time, speaks volumes.

Verse for Meditation: Galatians 3:28

Action: Read about the women of scripture who played vital roles in the Mission of God (here’s a list of 8 key figures: https://get.tithe.ly/blog/women-of-the-bible). Pray for a world where women are treated with equality.  

While people can survive for several weeks without food, a human being can only go a few days without water.  Water is perhaps the most essential need a person can have.  And yet, over 758 million people live without clean drinking water.  This need has ripple effects in communities.  Children are sent on day long journeys to collect water and as a result can’t attend school.  Or parents set out to get water for their families and are unable to maintain employment.  These complications are in addition to the physical tolls that lack of water can create.  

Verse for Meditation: Matthew 10:42

Action: Consider donating to Charity: Water or if you have an upcoming birthday use their “pledge your birthday” campaign to encourage friends and family to donate in lieu of gifts.  https://www.charitywater.org/get-involved/pledge-birthday    

Reading through this devotional can feel a bit overwhelming.  There are so many needs in our world and becoming aware of all this pain and struggle can leave us feeling helpless and hopeless.  

Every Wednesday of this Lenten journey we will pause from our usual “World in Need” devotionals and instead invite you to simply rest and reflect.  

Verses for Meditation: Joshua 1:9

Action:  Take time today to remind yourself that God can be trusted, that God is in control.  That while the world is filled with need, it is also filled with the Presence and love of God.  

We used to think of bullying as just children pushing each other on the playground. However, in recent years the ongoing negative effects of bullying have received increased attention in the media and schools. Not only are young students victims of bullying but it is an issue that occurs in the work place and among adults as well. With the increasing use of technology and the anonymity it allows, we’ve also seen an increase in cyber-bullying through social media sites.  

When asked by his disciples which was the greatest commandment, Jesus responded, “to love the Lord your God, and to love your neighbor as yourself” meaning that bullying has no place in our Christian faith.

Verses for Meditation: James 3:9-10

Action: Pay attention to the words of those around you today, whether you are at work, at school or running errands. Which do you notice more: kind language or bullying language? Consider stepping in and sticking up for a any victims of bullying that you notice. And together, let’s pray for a world without bullying.

Education is an essential part of any child’s development. It opens doors, it creates opportunities, and it prepares people for adulthood. Not only does poor education dramatically affect the economy, but it also leads to heightened crime rates, poor health, and a lower life expectancy. 

Christians have long prioritized education because quality education can improve the lives of so many.

Verse for Meditation: Ecclesiastes 7:12b

Action: Organizations like the Boys and Girls Club of America strive to provide quality after school programing. Donate some school supplies to a local Boys and Girls Club and pray for a world where proper education is afforded to all.

A recent study found that the average income of households with a head identifying as black was 6.5 times lower than households with a head of household who identities as white.  This racial income gap effects the overall health of our economy and continues to harm specific neighborhoods and communities.  This wealth gap can be traced back to practices of the Jim Crow era where individuals in the Black community were redlined out of specific neighborhoods and not considered for higher paying jobs.  

Racial divisions between Jews and Gentiles was an original issue during Jesus’ time and yet so much of his ministry focused on bridging these divides.

Verses for Meditation: Acts 10:34-35

Action:  Explore this list of Black-owned businesses in the Denver area and consider utilizing these locally owned businesses over large corporate chains.  https://303magazine.com/2020/06/black-owned-businesses-denver/

Unfortunately child soldiers are a very real issue for many in countries throughout the world. In Asia, Africa, South & Central America, and Oceania, children in war-torn countries are recruited into military combat. Once recruited, these child soldiers are given drugs to numb their minds from the reality of the atrocities they are committing, and then exposed to violence and hatred; sometimes as young as age 8. Even if these children are only in combat for a brief period, these experiences leave lasting impressions on their young minds.

Verse for Meditation: Psalms 82:4

Action: Ishmael Beah was a child soldier in Sierra Leone in the 1990s. He has since found refuge in America, written a book about his experiences, and founded an organization with a mission to end the practice of children in military throughout the world. Consider supporting his foundation which seeks to put an end to these atrocities.  https://www.ishmaelbeah.com/  

Sometimes we come to points in our life where it is difficult to see God’s presence in the midst of things. It may feel to us as if we are calling out to God and receiving no response. Here we may feel lonely, isolated, and even in despair, unsure where to turn.   It is at these points that we can find it most difficult to reach out for help. However, that’s often just what we need. When these times hit, it can be helpful to remember that we were created for community. And we find community when we are vulnerable or intimate with others.

Richard Rohr, a Franciscan theologian, writes about the healing power of intimacy in his book, Immortal Diamond: “Intimacy is the only gateway into the temple of human or divine love…Intimate love is the true temple that we all desire. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God…For God is Love.”

Verse for Meditation: 1 Corinthians 12:27

Action: Take a moment to consider the areas of your life where you feel that God is remaining silent. Open up to a trusted friend about your struggles, fears and doubts around this issue, and see how you might hear God through the community of intimate friends.

Reading through this devotional can feel a bit overwhelming.  There are so many needs in our world and becoming aware of all this pain and struggle can leave us feeling helpless and hopeless.  

Every Wednesday of this Lenten journey we will pause from our usual “World in Need” devotionals and instead invite you to simply rest and reflect.  

Verse for Meditation: Isaiah 41:10

Action:  Take time today to remind yourself that God can be trusted, that God is in control.  That while the world is filled with need, it is also filled with the Presence and love of God.  

Domestic Violence is an unfortunate reality for too many. It can be emotional, physical, financial, sexual, verbal or psychological abuse by any member of one’s immediate family or intimate relationship. The very relationships intended to establish trust and love become the relationships that individuals learn to fear.   Just as God longs to be in relationship with us, God also longs for our earthly relationships to reflect the pure love God has for us.  

Verse for Meditation: Jeremiah 22:3

Action: Because this topic is often ignored and hidden, take some time today to educate yourself about this issue (https://ncadv.org/blog/posts/remember-my-name-a-brief-history).  As you read about real people who experience life through a lens of fear, invite God into these places, that these individuals might find hope and strength through their situation.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE

Human trafficking is a huge issue in the United States. It is estimated that between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked in the United States each year and this modern-form of slavery is rarely discussed.  Furthermore, we are often unaware of the ways that some of our lifestyle choices encourage the use of slavery in other countries.

Verse for Meditation: Proverbs 31:8

Action: Go to www.slaveryfootprint.org and research your own slavery footprint. Then, commit to making one small change to lessen your footprint.

Money and the issues of Greed are two topics that Jesus spoke of regularly throughout his ministry. However, due to the capitalist society we live in, facing our own greed and dependence on money is often extremely difficult. We have been taught that it is good to want and to obtain the latest and greatest items and we often miss the ways that our society’s focus on buying and selling distracts us from Jesus’ hope for our life.

Verse for Meditation: Luke 12:15

Action: Prayerful read Matthew 6:25-34 and consider what it means for your life. Then, gather up a bag of unused clothes, toys, possessions, and donate them to a local Salvation Army, or Goodwill.