Prayer For Injustice
O Lord, open my eyes that I may see the needs of others
Open my ears that I may hear their cries;
Open my heart so that they need not be without succor;
Let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong,
Nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich.
Show me where love and hope and faith are needed,
And use me to bring them to those places.
And so open my eyes and my ears
That I may this coming day be able to do some work of peace for thee.
Lord, we respond differently to acts of sin -- some are protesting peacefully, some are protesting angrily, some are confused, and many are hurting. Help us to find unity in you God, you are the unifying factor because you are the Creator who created us all to be your image-bearers -- none more important than another. You look at each of your children and you have compassion and love toward each one equally, what love that is Lord. Help us to love as you do, help us to see human beings as you do, and help us to forgive one another in the midst of injustice. I don't know how you did it Jesus; you turned to the thief on the cross who was mocking you minutes before and you forgave him and led him to everlasting life in you with a few sentences. You looked out on the hateful crowd and you had compassion you said Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. Oh Lord, please give me that kind of compassion, that kind of love, and that kind of grace for others. You had the same compassion on the hateful crowd as you did for your disciple John and your mother Mary watching this happen to you. Your love is amazing and unparalleled. Thank you for being a living example to us of how to love and forgive.
You offer everlasting life to any who believe that you are the Son of God, that you died for sinners, which we all are, and you paid our penalty of death with the sacrifice of your life; then you took on the wrath of God against all sin, and you washed us white as snow with your innocent blood. Your resurrected life has provided a way for all who believe to know you and be loved by you. You have adopted us into your family, every one of us as equal inheritors of the kingdom of God. You took the penalty of our sins so that when and however we die we will be raised to life again -- a life without sin, without injustice, without pain, anger, and sorrow.
Lord, thank you for this hope today and we thank you that though George Floyd lost his life at the knee of another, he is with you today. Let his death not be in vain, help us to see purpose and a way forward. May our hearts be ignited for your truth and glory Lord; lead us to speak your truth in grace and love to others. Please bring hope to the broken-hearted and the angry, give us direction to find justice, and light the way to your kingdom so that many more can see and believe with transformed hearts and minds that you are who you say you are. You are God and God alone, you are the only Refuge from sin. May we find unity at the foot of the cross, where all men and women are equal in Jesus Christ. Thank you for hearing our prayers God.
Just as there are many who are broken-hearted right now, Lord, there are many who are angry--and some who feel both emotions. Injustice in its nature produces frustration and anger, sometimes we just wonder why would someone do this, how could someone think this way, why would they choose those words and so on. You did not design life with acts of injustice in mind. We were not created to hate or kill one another. In fact, every time we sin it is an act against you. Your heart breaks for the pain in the world, and you hold the sorrow of the world. Lord please break our hearts to see the truth behind injustice, may we see the real sorrow that is caused and the pain that so many have in their hearts from acts of sin. Lord help us to be angry at the right things at the right time - do not let our anger be against you. Help us to express righteous anger, to be angry about the things that make you angry too.
Jesus, we can read about your anger in the temple, and we can recognize that your anger was righteous anger. You were angry at what makes God angry, they degraded the house of God, the Temple of Jerusalem. You were righteously angry against sin, Lord, help us to have that same righteous anger and may it encourage us to speak out and take action. But Lord please do not let our anger lead us to a place of unrighteous anger, to a place where we commit sin out of our anger. Holy Spirit lead our hearts to know how to manage our anger and how to use it wisely for your glory and your kingdom. Train our hearts to be angry according to what makes you angry, and help us act with purpose, with a heart of forgiveness. May there always be forgiveness behind our anger. Help us to turn our anger into conversations with others, lead our conversations into relationships where we can share your truth and grace -- and may your truth and grace change hardened hearts and confused minds. Oh Lord, take the lead when we feel angry; Holy Spirit lead us in right action, according to your Word, amen.
Lord, you know the heart of everyone affected by this crime and this loss of beautiful life, the life of your child George Floyd, as well as the recent deaths of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery and many before them. Lord, I find it hard to believe that any human can watch the murder of George Floyd and not feel broken-hearted -- a broken heart for what happened to him, for the loss his family feels, and for so many nationwide that feel a deep pain every time a senseless death like this happens. There are many tears right now, Lord please draw near to all who are grieved by these deaths. Remind us of your closeness and your presence; remind us that you are with us always, through tragedy and triumph.
Your Word tells us that you are the Light and though the darkness tries it cannot put out the light; your Word also tells us that the darkness is as light to you. You know all things, there is no secret that can be kept from you, even in darkness -- you know the truth of what has happened. Thank you for the comfort in your Psalms, many of which are penned from a broken heart and a place of trial. The Psalms remind us that you are our Refuge in the midst of trials; you are our everlasting fortress. You are our only true safe place. May we leave every tear and every ache of our heart at your feet; may we trust you with these realities and these feelings and know that you are sovereign over all. You are a just God, and you will right every wrong. Help us to trust you always, and help us to seek you in everything. May we find comfort in who you are, God.
In the name of Jesus the Son of God, Amen.
Jesus, we pray for justice in the death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others. We pray for justice for the men and women who have lost their lives, may there be consequences and convictions for those who have taken these lives, Lord. The Bible is very clear that taking a life is sinful and abhorrent, and it is a sin against you. Your Word is clear about human life; every life is valuable because every life is made in your image. We may look different from each other, but we have one big thing in common -- we're all your image-bearers Lord, which means we all have equal value, we all have purpose, and we are all part of your plan. Father, you know the injustice that has occurred for thousands of years, in different countries, with races of color and classes of people. I pray for justice in ongoing racism, which is still found here in America. I pray that these wrongs look very wrong to everyone who views these situations; make it clear to everyone God, that races of color are beautiful, valuable, and worthy.
You are the author of justice Lord, we ask that you would rain down justice in the form of convictions, law changes, police training, transformed mindsets and hearts, and continued racial reconciliation. Help us to look to youand your Word to remind ourselves of what justice should look like. You know what injustice is like God; every sin committed is an injustice against you. Lord help us to fight injustice in the right way, may we always look to you as the solution. Oh Lord, that there would be more and more hearts transformed by your grace. May this time of injustice produce opportunities for conversation to talk about your grace, mercy, and forgiveness. May we seek you in our quest for justice, and may we continue to pray in your name for justice to be served when lives are taken and hateful actions are committed.
In your name Jesus, amen.
Father God, sometimes I think the most infuriating thing about injustice is the absence of the acknowledgment of wrong. I think of times I have read the Gospel accounts of Jesus in your Word, and the frustration I have felt when reading about the wicked-hearted Pharisees and Sadducees, the crowd that chose Barabas, and the Roman soldiers who carried out their orders without thinking about the injustice. I wanted them to know that what they were doing was wrong. No one knows the depths of injustice better than you God. Lord, I know acknowledgment will not fix everything but it's a step in the direction of truth. We pray that the officer who committed this crime will acknowledge that what he did was wrong, we pray that police departments and governments across the country will acknowledge that what happened to George Floyd and others is wrong. Lord I've seen videos of police officers humbly taking a knee, hugging protestors and even praying with them -- thank you that these men and women are acknowledging the hurt that individuals who were (and some still are) part of their institution have caused.
Thank you that many police, government officials, and everyday citizens are acknowledging a need for change. May this acknowledgment continue across the country and may it be followed up with action. Lord, we pray for a growing acknowledgment that racism exists in this country still; let us grieve that truth and let us advocate for change. Lord, you know that change starts with the heart; please open the hearts of many so that we may see people the way you see people -- that we may love people the way you love people. Help us to acknowledge wrongs, give us clear minds and hearts to decipher the truth behind injustice. May we look at every circumstance through your lens Lord, a lens of truth, love, grace, and mercy.
In your name Jesus, amen.
Eternal Father, You created us in Your own image and likeness, but sin has warped the minds of men and throughout the world there is much injustice and much carelessness of the rights of other people and personal responsibility.
Lord when You are excluded from the hearts and consciences of men, the inevitable result is that people suffer and Lord, there is much injustice and corruption taking place in our world today, not only in the lives of individuals but also in the corridors of power and the council rooms of many nations.
We pray Lord that You will right all the wrongs that are taking place in our world and vindicate those that are being treated unjustly. Keep us Father from trying to take matters into our own hands for vengeance is your and You will repay - but Lord in your grace and mercy we pray that you would give justice and peace to all those that have been cruelly and unfairly treated by their fellow man and may injustice and carelessness that they have had to endure be the means to draw them into Your saving arms of grace - we ask this in the precious name of the Lord, Jesus.
O God, we pray for all those in our world
who are suffering from injustice:
because of their race, color, or religion;
for those imprisoned
for working for the relief of oppression;
for those who are hounded
for speaking the inconvenient truth;
for those tempted to violence
as a cry against overwhelming hardship;
for those deprived of reasonable health and education;
for those suffering from hunger and famine;
for those too weak to help themselves
and who have no one else to help them;
for the unemployed who cry out
for work but do not find it.
We pray for anyone of our acquaintance
who is personally affected by injustice.
Forgive us, Lord, if we unwittingly share in the conditions
or in a system that perpetuates injustice.
Show us how we can serve your children
and make your love practical by washing their feet.