A Prayer For the Racially Traumatized and Poor in Spirit
Words to pray in the midst of the struggle
Lord God,
George Floyd. Ahmaud Arberry. Breonna Taylor. And So many other names. Though history may forget them, Lord you can never forget them and how their lives were ended.
Every single beautiful Black face, name, and life is known to you, the one who sees.
Our blood cries out to you:
How Long, O God? How Long? How long?
We are sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Our hearts are melting before the fire. Our knees are bending under the weight, and we can’t stand. Black men and women murdered by police. At Home. In the Park. In the City. In the Country. We are tired. We cannot breathe. Do you see us, God? Or are we hidden from your sight?
Holy Spirit, show us the road to resilience and restoration. Give us hope. Give us eyes to see the rays of light in the midst of the dark clouds. Don’t let hate have its way in us.
Mighty are the waves of the sea, this massive sea of trouble and sorrow, but the Lord on High is mightier. We are clinging to you. Don’t let us drown.
O God, the one who rules over heaven and earth, in every institution and sphere of power and influence, let it be remembered that you are the King of Kings.
Let not those in positions of authority and platforms of great influence think themselves untouchable, invincible, and that no one sees them. Lord you do see! And you will hold them to account! Let them turn away from their sins by doing what is right, showing mercy to the oppressed, and look towards you. Open the eyes of the blind!
Lord of truth, do not let us believe the lies that threaten to swallow us: the lies that say our lives don’t matter, that you are against us, that you are not a God of justice, that racism, anti-Blackness, and white supremacy will have the final word. We are precious in your sight.
We thank you in particular for our white brothers and sisters who do “get it” Lord , and for others as well who are joining the pursuit for justice and dismantling racial oppression. For it is in your name all oppression must cease.
As we eagerly wait for the day that you, precious Lord Jesus, return and establish your Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven,
We will do the Good Work.
We will fight the Good Fight.
We will advocate.
We will speak up for those who don’t have a voice.
We will love our neighbors as ourselves.
We will prophesy and call the unjust to an account.
We will love mercy.
We will practice justice.
We will walk humbly with you.
Father, we will boast in the empty tomb of your Son Jesus, who conquered death, sin, and evil, through the power of the Holy Spirit whom you have given us to be your blood-bought agents of redemption, justice, and reconciliation.
Amen.
