Prayer Needed

I look at what's going on in the United States right now and my heart is broken.  We, like many countries struggled through the pandemic of Covid19.  We prayed for one another, mourned deaths with one an other, supported each other through financial hardship and celebrated recoveries with each other.  We stood together in the face of sickness, not perfectly, but with strength of hope.  Some countries, like Brazil and Peru are still suffering and we will continue to pray for their recoveries as well. 

But to see people looting and burning and destroying, hurting each other all in the name of justice is sickening and heart wrenching.  The thought of judging anyone based on what they look like is ludicrous and un-Biblical to begin with.  1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”   If God didn't like or want variety He would have made a boring, monochromatic world of one color.  But just look around!  God enjoys the colorful.  Our world is a menagerie of shades and hues....people, plants, animals, rocks, waters.....all of it varied and brilliant. 

I ask for prayer today.  I ask for the Lord to end the violence and bring about true justice and true change, not just to our country, and other countries around the world, but change to our hearts.  I ask that we pray all hearts would invite Jesus in and be open to His healing, His leading and His salvation.  He is the only way true justice will flow through our streets and cities.  Lord, we need You to restore order and peace.  We need You back in our land, in our schools, our governments, our homes and yes, in our churches.  Lord it seems we are reaping what we have sown....but please have mercy on us.  Heal our land and the lands of those reading this.  Bring about change, bring glory to Your Name.  Use Your children to be the light that shines Your love into an increasingly dark world.  We need You!  And I want to pray for the families of those who have lost loved ones to racism....bring them healing and comfort.  I want to lift up those who have lost homes and business, livelihoods to violent rage, that You would restore them, and I want to ask for fear to cease and courage to begin.  Lord, let not Satan have his way here.  Bind the enemy in our countries...let You Holy Spirit spread His love and power and peace.  I know this world is under the sway of the evil one, but I also know that You are a God who triumphs!  You will always be victorious.  In Jesus' most powerful Name, amen. 

Pray without ceasing.