Pray the Word with David Platt is a resource from radical.net.

Exodus chapter 22, verse 22,

you shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.

This is one of the many places in scripture,

both Old Testament and the New Testament,

where God makes clear his specific

love for, concern for, care for widows and orphans. This is why James I makes clear that true

religion looks after orphans and widows amidst unique needs that orphans and widows have.

And God is here in Exodus chapter 22 making it very clear in his law that his people will be held accountable for loving and caring for widows and children without a mom or a dad.

And God is saying that among his people, he wants his love for orphans and widows to be clear in the way his people love them.

And that doesn't mean that every single one of our lives will reflect that love in the same way. It doesn't mean every person

is supposed to foster or adopt children or to care for widows in this way or that way,

but it does mean that we as God's people all have a part to play in caring for widows and orphans.

And so I just want to lead us to pray that God would help each of us to play whatever part

he is leading us to play, to do whatever he is calling each of us to do. So God, we each pray right now in our lives

and in our churches as your people that you would help us to be a reflection of your love

for widows and orphans. God, you've made it clear in your word from cover to cover

how important this is for you. And so, God, we pray that it would be important for us, for each of us,

and that you would show us how you want us to be a reflection of your love for widows and orphans.

God, for any of us who you're calling

to foster or adopt, to care for children in need in a particular way to support families

who are doing that, we pray that you'd help us to be obedient. God, we pray that you would give us

...