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God, where do we go from here?
The chaos we have seen. The fighting. The violence. The disrespect. Our nation remains divided. Our politics partisan. We recognize the need for change but are paralyzed by fear of uncertainty. We seek justice, healing and restoration, but are stymied by entrenched patterns, broken systems and the innate power of our tribalism. God, save us from the tyranny of chaos. Order our collective lives. Renew our spirits. Turn us to your holy work of building beloved community.
On this Inauguration Day, standing on the threshold of a new presidency, we pray for our elected leaders and our new president. As in the oath they take, guide our political leaders to “preserve, protect and defend” in ways pleasing to you, O God. Endow them with the wisdom of humility, of knowing what they don’t know, to foster healthy collaboration and across-the-aisle problem solving. Guide them in executing the duties of their office faithfully and solemnly, for the good of the whole, not the favor of the few.
On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as the struggle for civil rights continues, we pray for a renewed commitment to love and nonviolence. We pray for the resistance of hate and the liberation of the oppressed. We pray for the poor to be privileged and the vulnerable to be protected. We pray for King’s dream, which he said was deeply rooted in the American dream, that all are created equal, all are deserving of opportunity and all have a seat at the table of freedom and justice.
Inspire us, God, by the faith that King said could “hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope” and “transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.” As King advised, let us not “drink from the cup of bitterness” but “work together, pray together, struggle together, go to jail together, stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.”
This is our hope, holy God. This is our prayer. Let freedom ring for us, for all, for our future of promised peace.
Amen.
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