Greetings Sisters and Brothers in Christ at Pax Pres, and to all people,
Though I’m still just starting at Pax and hope to say more words of welcome to you soon, in the meantime the national events of yesterday deserve attention.
Our God calls us to pray every day for many things. But occasionally events like those yesterday in Washington, D.C. merit a special response of concerted prayer, like the prayer I offer below. I take great comfort knowing that Scripture promises that before we even pray a word of our own, our resurrected King Jesus and the Holy Spirit are already interceding for us with groans too deep for words. (Rom. 8:26-27; Heb. 7:25)
I offer this prayer on behalf of all of Pax Pres to God. I also offer it if it helps guide your own prayers in any way. You may find it long, but in such nuanced and difficult times as ours, I cannot help but pray for as many aspects of what is going on as possible.
Humbly in Christ,
Pastor Matt
Almighty God, you are King of Kings and Lord over every nation. Though your kingdom does not depend on the rise and fall of a democracy, we give you thanks that most of us have only ever known your blessing of a democratic, consistent peaceful transfer of powers. Though we struggle to understand it, God, we give thanks that the events leading up to yesterday and the events of yesterday, January 6, 2021, do not surprise you, O holy God.
Nevertheless, God, you made us in your image, and you designed us to live in good wholeness - “shalom” as the prophets so beautifully called it. We pray for your protection over the police and all authorities in Washington, D.C. who are attempting to maintain safety in D.C. in the days and weeks ahead. We pray your same protection over police and authorities in any other cities where similar protests might escalate.
God, we pray for your divine wisdom and discernment to guide politicians of every party and spokespersons of every ideology, whose words and actions have the power to escalate and de-escalate situations like what we saw yesterday.
God, we pray for regular citizens of every gender, class, and creed who call D.C. “home” and are just trying to finish their days and their week safely amidst the chaos on Capitol Hill. We especially pray for citizens affected by or trying to help address the Covid-19 pandemic, whose already-exhausting circumstances are only exacerbated more by the stress of yesterday’s events. Be their peace, healer, and sustainer.
God, we pray for those who are not just angry but are flat-out inciting violence and disrespecting the people you have placed in office - whether we personally voted for them or not. We pray for those disrespecting the physical halls and institutions that Scripture says get their authority from you (Rom. 13). For those not just protesting but inciting violence against the halls of power, Spirit of peace, intervene and reign in their hearts.
God, we pray for those who are furious at the mob of protestors, and we pray for those who are furious alongside the mob of protestors. Our own families and friendships have been tested and tried by the divisiveness brewing for so many years now in our country. Bring us together to the foot of the cross of Jesus, who absorbed all our sin to free us from the penalty and power of sin… so that, if we abide in Christ, we don’t have to resolve our differences like this! God, let reconciliation at the foot of the cross begin with some of us and our own family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Give us courage to have those hard, humbling, forgiveness-drenched conversations with someone with whom we’ve experienced division in recent years.
God, we pray that you would temper our own reactions to the news, especially our reactions in front of our children and grandchildren. Show us how to respond well to the news in such a way that perhaps our children will grow up to mimic more of Christ and less of the spitefulness, anxiety, and anger they see in us.
God, we pray for anyone who does not identify with the protestors, or the insurrectionists among that larger crowd, to still try to listen to the heart of their anger and concerns; not to be intimidated by their concerns, but to understand and, by your grace only, seek common ground.
God, though our system of government is built upon our individual involvement, for the majority of us, today’s events in D.C. feel removed from our daily lives. Yet in our 24-hour news cycle, we are still bystanders and very invested in what we see unfolding on our TVs, radios, and social media feeds. I think of the anxiety just seeing all this provokes in me. So, Lord, for those of us watching the news, help us find our peace and security not just in the hope of de-escalation - though we very much pray for that! Whatever thoughts and emotions the news elicits in each of us, God, help us find our peace and security in Christ and Christ alone, our one solid rock.
God, we pray your Spirit would bring in us and across our country a wave of repentance for all. God, may you inspire every American, myself included, to search our hearts for the part we play in the current power crisis. God, you came to us in the flesh of Jesus of Nazareth in first-century Palestine, at a place and time of history that was overflowing with diverse groups brokering for power in the Roman Empire. Yet we praise you because your message of repentance, forgiveness, and love cut across all the idols of the heart that were driving every political and cultural group of that time. We plead for your mercy to intervene in a similar way in our country and in our time.
God, we confess that we shouldn’t be surprised at this kind of collective crisis, because all of our souls are sick without you. Forgive us for the ways we have not worshipped and obeyed you and you alone. Create in each of us clean hearts and renew a right spirit within us.
God, we pray for all churches and Christians together to seek your divine insight about what we can do to promote reconciliation between even the most hostile of groups, and to promote the common good. We pray for all Christians, but among them we pray for fellow members of our National Capital Presbytery (NCP). Grant wisdom and strength to all NCP pastors, elders, deacons, and local mission organization leaders who you’ve called to minister in the heart of D.C.
Almighty God, you only hear our prayer because Christ’s atonement on the cross tore down the curtain and bridged the chasm that stood between us and you. Though nations - including the one we love so dearly - rise and fall, your kingdom has no end. Therefore we truly pray all of this in Christ’s name and for his eternal renown over all the earth.
Amen.
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