With such unrest, violence, and discord, my heart is heavy, and my words are lacking. So, I bow my knee to the only One who makes sense of our groaning, the only One who can work within, and the only One who can bring healing and peace. Join me in praying for our individual hearts and for the church at large:
Lord Jesus, hear our cry.
We humbly come before you and ask for mercy, Father. Our country is hurting, broken, and in need of you, Jesus, the only true answer. Lord, we pray that you would give us the power, by your Spirit, to look inward and see where sin toward our brothers and sisters may abound. We confess the ways we have contributed to injustice both intentionally and inadvertently and have allowed these weeds of injustice to choke out our love for one another. We have not always loved as we ought.
Help us, Lord, to plant seeds of mercy wherever we go. Help us to see the beauty in our differences and to acknowledge that we are not always in the right. Your truth is the only truth, even when it makes us uncomfortable; forgive us for establishing our opinions in haste, hatred, and with too much human authority. Help us to know and understand your Word and to trust its power.
Give us hearts that swell with empathy and give us ears that are willing to listen without interruption. Give us eyes that are attentive to the needs of those around. Lord Jesus, give us a spirit of humility and sensitivity to the uniquely vulnerable; only you can do this, so we ask that you mold us and shape us that we may be the hands and feet of your love and your goodness.
Keep us from despairing, Lord, and help us to remember that you are peace in a world filled with tribulation; you have overcome the darkness. Help us to live as bold ambassadors, showing love and grace to all God’s children. Bind Satan from closing the mouths of believers, and embolden the church, your beloved bride, to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.
Above all, we pray that we would be drawn closer to you, our Creator. Break our prideful stance that we may humbly bow before you, acknowledging our utter dependence on you. Help us to see your beauty and strengthen us to reach up and be filled with your grace, your love, and your compassion. Fill us with your Holy Spirit who gives courage in the face of darkness and hope in the life to come. We rejoice that there WILL be a day when all tongues and tribes unite together in worship of you. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore.”
Amen. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
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Katie. Such perfect and beautiful words of prayer. Thank you so much sister. I will be praying this exact prayer as I kneel at the Glynn county courthouse tomorrow morning. It matches my heart.