Merciful God,
We pray for our neighbours, friends and loved ones whose lives and families are being harmed and even destroyed by gambling.
We pray for a widow who’s lost her husband of 43 years.
She’s seeking escape from loneliness and loss – in a place where the staff treat her like a queen – until she has no money left to pour into their machine.
We pray for a man who’s worked hard to provide for his family, only to see it all slip away as he desperately chases his losses.
We pray for a young person who started gambling because he was told “it’s part of the game” but now finds himself lying to his mates, stealing from those who love him, and overwhelmed by feelings of secret shame.
Lord, we know that these people are not the problem. They are your beloved. And you hear their desperate cries.
Give us ears to hear them too. And may we, your church, rise up together to say “Enough!”
May we be your answer to our neighbour’s prayers.
Give us courage to face down powerful industries that have politicians cowering, that cynically prey on people’s vulnerability and obscenely profit from their suffering.
Strengthen our resolve to demand real change from political leaders.
Strengthen the same political leaders with both the will and courage to act decisively.
Sustain us in prayer, confident in our conviction that with you, all things are possible, with you, walls of injustice crumble and, with you, principalities and powers are defeated.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
– Rev Dr Rick Dacey, Senior Minister – Wesley Mission
Gamble Aware Week is October 19 to October 25, 2026