A Prayer for Peace, Love and Justice
- Pastor William H. Lamar IV
- Jan 20, 2017
- 2 min read
As people of faith and goodwill stand united in our shared values of justice, dignity, compassion, love of neighbor and of country, we join together today and offer this prayer to guide our hearts, lift our spirits, and strengthen our resolve for the days and weeks ahead.
Because it is by the power of God we will stay awake. No matter who occupies the halls of power. Because the reign, the power, and the glory belong to God. Let us pray...
Sovereign God, we marvel at your handiwork
The beautiful earth that sustains us
The water that refreshes and cleanses us
The majestic beauty of the flora and fauna teeming about us
The pastoral scenes of rural life
The bustling energy of urban life
And the jewel of your creation
Human beings, made in your image and likeness, who inhabit these blessed spaces
We ask for you to breathe upon us anew
Give us your Spirit
So that we will not only pray for, but labor unflinchingly and untiringly until
Every child receives an excellent education
Every community receives the protection and services required for human flourishing
Every person is treated fairly under the law and by law enforcement
Our politics are driven by justice for all and not the accumulation of wealth and power for some
And until fear, despair, and deception are taken down from their high cultural places and replaced by faith, hope, and love
We give you thanks for our ministries.
As we labor, may we never forget the ugliness that traps so many of our brothers and sisters
As we enjoy the comfort of our congregations,
May we never forget the squalor known by too many human beings
As we laugh and plan and grow,
May we never forget those whose lives are circumscribed by unjust systems and shattered dreams
We give ourselves to You, to Your Spirit, to Your will, and to one another
By your power we will stay awake
No matter who occupies the halls of power
Because the reign, the power, and the glory are yours
And we, your sons and daughters, rest in your promise as recorded by your prophet Isaiah
If you remove the yoke from among you,
the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
If you offer your food to the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
and your gloom be like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you continually,
and satisfy your needs in parched places,
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters never fail.
Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
You shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to live in.
Amen and Ashe.
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