Speak for the Voiceless

Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
— Proverbs 31:8-9


These verses are a timeless and urgent call to action. They do not merely invite us to feel compassion—they command us to speak it. To remain silent when others are voiceless is not a neutral act; it is a missed opportunity to mirror God’s justice and mercy. Advocacy is not reserved for the powerful. Every follower of God, whatever their station in life, is called to open their mouth on behalf of the poor, the oppressed, and the forgotten.

This charge comes from a wise mother counseling her son, a king. Yet the wisdom applies far beyond royal courts. Whether in a courtroom or a classroom, a neighborhood meeting or a family gathering, we are summoned to use our influence, however small, for the sake of those who have none. Who around you today might be considered “voiceless” or “dispossessed”? How might God be nudging you to stand beside them, to lift your voice where theirs cannot reach?

True justice is active. It is not satisfied with impartiality alone but leans toward rescue and restoration. Consider your daily conversations, your social circles, your opportunities for influence. How can you use them to defend, encourage, and honor those who are overlooked? Are there situations where God may be prompting you even now to open your mouth and speak truth, mercy, and hope on behalf of someone else?

This week, listen carefully to the stories of those around you—especially those who often go unheard. Pray for the courage to speak when silence would be easier. A single word of advocacy, offered in love and conviction, can be a powerful reflection of the heart of God.


Lord God,

You speak for the oppressed and defend the helpless. Give me the courage to do the same. When I am tempted to stay silent or look away, stir my heart to act. Teach me to use my voice in service to Your justice, and to stand for those who have been forgotten or ignored. Let my words and actions reflect Your goodness and truth, and may I be known as someone who speaks life and hope in a broken world.

I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.


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