UPDATE - The people of Venezuela need our prayers even more urgently! Today we received this update from a Venezuelan pastor and friend of 24-7 Prayer:

Things are tough. My daughter was hit in a demonstration that she went to without my permission. Thank God nothing serious, but those who were with her were injured. There are demonstrations everywhere.

 

Military repress and kill students; there are raids on houses and political parties without court orders, shooting, wounded, dead. The government shows its paramilitary groups, thugs to confront people. Detainees are tortured with bats, swords, electricity, and sexual violation. It's a mess and people are outraged. In Barinas state they removed all telephones; internet, and electricity, journalists cannot go that far. 

 

The media are silent. This is crazy! If you can generate complaints to the embassy and international organizations would be very important."

In a nation politically divided, discontent has been brewing over restricted liberties and lack of basic necessities meant to be supplied by the Venezuelan government. Restricted access to internet sites such as twitter and facebook, along with the closure of any non-government media, has further fuelled frustration. Venezuelans around the world are showing solidarity with the opposition using the social media hashtag #sosVenezuela

Responding to a new ban on protesting, the opposition has come together in mass protests this week in major cities throughout Venezuela, with thousands of university students rallying on Venezuelan National Youth Day.

So far 13 people have died at the hands of the military and government-sanctioned "colectivos", militarized motorcycle gangs that are loyal to President Nicolás Maduro . Many others have been injured, detained and allegedly tortured while under arrest.

It can be challenging to know how to pray when there is limited information and media coverage available, but we can all pray that God will bring about His Kingdom and His purposes in Venezuela. Beyond that, here are a few points as we #prayforVenezuela.

Please pray with us that:

• God will give comfort, protection and a desire for peaceful resolution to everyone involved with the protests and conflict.
• Pastors, Christian leaders and the Body of Christ in Venezuela will be strengthened and empowered to promote peace and release the love of the Father in their land.
• Politicians and leaders will humble themselves and put peace and the needs of the people first.
• Peacemakers will rise up and violence will end.

All images are used by permission in accordance with commons copyright license terms: Feature image is a derivative of the images 'Venezuela' by openDemocracy and Caracas Protest by andresAZP