Prayer in Time of Famine

O righteous God! who renderest to every man according to his deeds, and lettest wrath, tribulation, and anguish come upon those that do evil; we come into Thy holy presence, ashamed of having sinned against Thee so greatly that Thou art obliged to bring us to prayer and obedience through famine.

O how abundantly Thou didst feed us in the years that are gone! We had bread in great plenty; the earth bore the best and loveliest fruit. These gifts should have been bands of love to draw us to Thee, the Giver, and to lead us to repentance. But how shamefully these gifts have been abused by intemperance, luxury, and extravagance; yea, so shamefully abused that the creature itself sighed over the graceless manner in which it was received by unthankful men! Is it a wonder then, that a fertile land becomes barren on account of the sins of those who dwell therein? Thou punishest us with famine, dearth, and drought, and makest the earth bring forth sparingly, and the land to suffer from want. Lord, hear the cry of the poor who cry for bread and are not satisfied. Let the whining of the children, the lamentations of the parents, and the misery which dwells in every home in city and country, move Thee to pity. It seems as though Thou hast taken the blessing from our food; for we eat, and are not satisfied; we eat, and yet almost die of hunger. And the cattle, the dumb creatures, cry out to their Maker for food.

O Lord, Lord, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness, have mercy upon us, and return to us again with the blessing which Thou hast taken away. Thy river is full of water; therefore visit the earth and water it. Let heaven hear the cry of the earth, and do Thou Thyself hear us from Thy sanctuary. Let the famine cease, turn unto us again in mercy. Satisfy the hungry, gladden the poor, bless the little bread which we have, and which we daily eat by weight and with care. Now we realize that we cannot live by bread alone, but chiefly by the word of blessing which proceedeth out of Thy mouth, and by which Thou puttest strength into our food. Let the fields soon be covered again with grain; multiply our small supply of meal like that of the widow of Sarepta; let the small supply be sufficient to support many. And meanwhile let Thy Word ever be our food and nourishment; for it is our heart’s rejoicing, and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. And for Thy grace we will laud and praise Thee all our days. Amen.