February 23, 2022 | by Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner | NCNW National Chaplain and President of Skinner Leadership Institute
Oh Lord, our God, whose name is excellent and whose ways are beyond human imagining, we bow before you, to praise your holy and righteous name. One of the most challenging aspects of our human journey is our daily longing for a measure of encouragement that is too often overwhelmed by the darkness of our world.
God, your word says, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin - 1 John 1:7. How, O God, are we, your children, to walk in the light when every single day darkness abounds?
The darkness of systemic racism, painfully experienced by people of color, yet denied as reality by too many White brothers and sisters;
The darkness of poverty in a land of plenty crushing the hopes of children from every background;
The darkness of senseless violence casting a spirit of fear over our nation; and
The darkness of brazen efforts to tear down the pillars of democracy built on the sacred freedom to vote for every citizen.
O, Author of light; Creator of all that is good, perfect, holy, and right, help us to keep our gaze fixed steadily on the light of your divine Presence, lifting us above all that overwhelms us. Lord, only when we walk in your light can we see the humanity of brothers and sisters of every race and background. It is only in the brilliance of your loving Presence that we can entertain the reality that all humankind is birthed out of one man and woman, Adam and Eve. Give us the strength today, Lord God, to build authentic bridges that remove every barrier to human flourishing, made possible only by the shed blood of our Lord and Liberator, Jesus Christ. In your mighty and precious name, we pray. Amen.
