…I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
Nehemiah 1: 4b
I watched the video of George Floyd’s murder in horror. My heart hurt; for him, for his mother, for all the mother’s who have to relive the horror of their children’s murders, and for all the black people who were reminded once again, in such brutal fashion, that their lives are worthless. And I also hurt for all the well-meaning people (of all races) in this nation, and around the world who find this moment unacceptable and too agonizingly barbaric for words. George Floyd was a child of God, fearfully and wonderfully made, in the image of God (Psalm 139: 14; Genesis 1:27) and he deserved to live. We all deserve to live because we are made in the image of the Almighty God. How can we claim to love God if we hate our brother? America’s heart is broken, and it must be rebuilt. Nehemiah did not embark on rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem until he had fasted and prayed for four months, confessing the sins of Israel, and asking God to grant him favor. We can do no less, so let us pray:
Almighty God, we bring the late George Floyd’s mother and family before your throne of grace. In this moment of grief, surround them with your heavenly comfort. Walk with them through the valley of the shadow of death, so that they might fear no evil. Be their shield and their defender against any and all offenses. Provide for their every need according to your riches in Christ Jesus and as they grieve dear Lord, let them grieve with the hope that can only be found through the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Merciful God forgive us as a nation. Forgive us for condoning racism by our silence and paralysis. Forgive us for calling ourselves Christians and claiming we love you while hating our brother simply because of a different skin color. Forgive us for pointing out the speck in our brother’s eye while ignoring the log in our own eye. We have policed the nations of the world; held them to a higher standard; and yet we are no different. Expose our hypocrisy and grant us the courage to dismantle the layers of long held institutional racism and oppression that have held our brothers and sisters down. Father, we ask for leaders who will lead our nation with integrity, with wisdom and with compassion and bring our hearts us back to you.
Loving Savior forgive us as individuals for any instances where we have exhibited prejudice, bigotry, and injustice. Forgive us Lord, for ignoring the pain and hardship of our neighbors because it did not affect us. Give us the strength to reach out to those that are not like us, so we can begin to repair bridges between the races. We know that love is the greatest spiritual gift so help us to love as you love, with deeds and not just with words.
And now Gracious Redeemer, whose mercies cannot be numbered, we commit to you our departed brother and your son, George Floyd. Hold him to your bosom, where there is no more pain and no more sorrow until that day when we will all be united together with you, to live together forever and forever in your Presence. In Jesus Name, AMEN.