August 17, 2022 | by Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner | NCNW National Chaplain and President of Skinner Leadership Institute| barbarawilliams-skinner.com
Oh Lord, our God whose name is excellent and whose ways are beyond human understanding, we bless and praise your most holy name. Lord, you alone have the power to fix that which is broken—whether relationships, lives, marriages, families, finances, or institution. So, today, we approach your throne of mercy and grace on behalf of our broken nation, deeply embroiled in self-destructive division and turmoil, in desperate need of your healing hand.
We are desperate for your promise to King Solomon centuries ago to be applied to our land today, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Heal our land, O Lord, of the unfulfilled promise of equality and equity to Black, Brown, Asian Pacific, and Native American people, amidst renewed efforts to rollback voting rights, justice in the courts, economic opportunity, and fair immigration.
Heal our land of plenty, Almighty God, for those with more than enough, callously ignoring survival needs of the poorest among us.
Heal our land of lawless leaders, replacing the promise of democracy for "we the people" with brazen attempts to sustain White minority rulership and power in our increasingly diverse nation.
Heal our land of wild west type gun violence where no life or place is secure.
In a spirit of true repentance, O God, we humble ourselves and pray you would hear our fainted cry to turn the stony hearts of those called by your name into hearts of flesh, compassion, and love for all. We call out from the depth of our being for the healing that only comes from you, our Lord, our refuge, hope, and our help. In your precious name, we pray, Lord Jesus. AMEN.
