Day 17 – Prayer for God’s Justice

Ecclesiastes 4:1  Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless. (NLT)

Today, police officer Derek Chauvin goes on trial for the second degree murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN.  For approximately 9 minutes, officer Chauvin knelt on the neck of George Floyd, resulting in his suffocation. Floyd’s death became the catalyst for weeks of protests and calls for substantive changes in policing across the nation. Despite the racial reckoning that occurred, more names have been added to the list of people of color who have been killed by police. There is fear that real justice will not be handed down in Chauvin’s trial – fear that, once again, those with power will get away with murder.

Today, pray for God’s justice for the oppressed. Today, pray for racial healing in our nation. Today, pray for every family that has lost a son or daughter to police abuse of power. Today, pray that “love of neighbor” will prevail over every wall that divides us.  

Prayer: When our eyes do not see the gravity of racial injustice, 
Shake us from our slumber and open our eyes, O Lord.
When out of fear we are frozen into inaction, 
Give us a spirit of bravery, O Lord.
When we try our best but say the wrong things, 
Give us a spirit of humility, O Lord.
When there are times of chaos,
Give us a lasting spirit of solidarity, O Lord.
When it becomes easier to point fingers outward, 
Help us to examine our own hearts, O Lord. 
God of truth, in your wisdom, Enlighten Us.
God of love, in your mercy, Forgive Us.
God of hope in your kindness, Heal Us.
Creator of All People, in your generosity, Guide Us.
Racism breaks your heart, 
Break our hearts for what breaks yours, O Lord. Amen.