Rev. Graham asked prayer for God’s forgiveness, for our leaders, for calm in our streets, for destructive efforts to be thwarted, and for the Church to be an instrument of God’s peace. In response to that request, here are some prayers that occurred to me.
We Pray for Forgiveness
Lord, our God, our world is in a mess, one of our own making. Our nation, begun “with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence” is in danger of shattering, rather than forming a “more perfect union” that “provides for domestic tranquility” and “secures the blessings of liberty”. We acknowledge our failure, and ask Your forgiveness.
Forgive us for turning our back on You. Forgive us for pushing You out of our schools, our institutions, and our public conversation. Forgive us for disregarding the grace You have given to bring us so far, from our humble beginnings as thirteen colonies to the large and powerful force that we are today.
Forgive us for seeing others only as representatives of some group, rather than as the unique individuals that You specifically created in Your own image. Forgive us for demonizing those whom You love and died for, simply because they don’t think or act the way we believe they should. Forgive us for forgetting that everything we consider “good” in ourselves comes from You, not from anything we are or have done apart from You.
Forgive those who react to disagreement with violence, as well as those who want to answer it with return violence. Let someone — let Your people — be the ones to reverse the tide. Let us answer wrath with love, without accommodating sin.
Forgive us for how often we have already accommodated sin, staying quiet when we should speak up and dismissing issues that should be addressed. Forgive us for our complacency, for not caring enough when Your holy name was mocked and Your loving commandments disobeyed. Forgive us for the laziness of not being willing to do our part in bringing Your kingdom to our culture. Forgive us for the despair of thinking that it’s too late, that nothing can be done now about evil, when we know that You have already defeated it.
We Pray for Guidance
Father in Heaven, we also ask for Your guidance and protection. Grant us wisdom as we navigate the choices before us, leading either further away from You or back toward You. In each decision, may we take the correct path.
Guide our leaders. Each of their actions has such consequence. Protect their lives and their physical safety from those who prefer chaos and violence over discussion and debate. Protect their hearts from arrogance and hunger for power. Lead them to use the power they have wisely, as a force that lifts others up.
You established government to restrain evil. Help those who have that difficult task to balance mercy and compassion with real justice, the kind that cleanses and rehabilitates and changes lives for the better. Be a shield of protection around those enforcing just laws, and keep Your hand on them as they make life-changing choices in split seconds.
Move in the hearts of wrongdoers of all races and creeds to repent, turn to You, and take a productive role in our world. Bring them to take responsibility for their actions, instead of hiding behind labels and excuses. But also prevent us from writing them off as irredeemable. We know that You can and will redeem anyone who will accept it.
We Pray for Our World
Finally, Lord, we look beyond just our own nation. We see sin’s effects throughout our world. We ask for Your healing to blanket all the brokenness. May Your kingdom come on Earth, as it already is in Heaven.
Be with those around the world who are fighting to gain freedoms that we in America take for granted. Give them courage in the face of tyranny, and comfort in the face of great loss. Go before them, defend them, and defeat those who would enslave them.
Bless our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted for their faith in You. Grant them joy even in the midst of hardship. Let them feel Your presence with them in a mighty way as they share in Your suffering. Bring them through it to also share in Your glorious victory.
Shelter the people of Israel, the Jews, Your chosen people. They are a tiny nation living in the midst of many enemies. Those who live outside their homeland are often in the minority, outsiders and targets for abuse. Preserve the faithful remnant, as You have always done. Lead them to recognize that their Messiah has come, and to join with us in welcoming You into their lives.
We Pray These Things in Jesus’ Name
We ask these things not on our own merit. We ask them in the name of Jesus, our Savior whose blood makes us acceptable in Your sight and allows us to come before Your throne with confidence that You will welcome us. We praise You for all You are and all You have done. Thank You!
Amen.