If My People
Spirit of the living God, the Bible says “If my people, who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” God, help us to do that. We are Your people, but we have for too long looked away from You. Too many of us have been silent when we should have spoken up; in looking away from You and not seeking Your face, our silence has been fueled by fear. We have perhaps prayed with our mouths – perhaps, I repeat – but have not prayed with our feet, going to the people who are in most need, seeking them out, hearing their stories and attending to their needs. We have become or some of us have continued to be – spectators of suffering rather than participants in helping to ease it. The people in this country do not seek You but, rather seek their own political values, at the expense of decency. We are not kind to each other; we do not support each other as You would have us, and our land – not just in this country but all over the world – is being ravaged by storms, resulting in even more people needing help and Your presence. God, come. We are Your people. Help us to treasure that fact, and to move from our silos into the vast openness of human need. Hear this prayer, God, Moisten our hardened hearts and spirits with the dew of Your Holy Spirit. Spirit of the living God, hear this prayer; help us to humble ourselves, seek Your face, pray and turn from our wicked ways so that You will hear from heaven, forgive our sin (which is our separation from You) and heal our land.
Amen
Amen