Dear Westsider,
As jurors deliberate the evidence against Derek Chauvin related to the death of George Floyd, a coalition of black and white pastors in Minneapolis
is asking every follower of Jesus to pray. I found their prayer guide valuable, so I’m sharing a version of it with you below.
The Bible invites us to pray continually. So, pray by yourself and with your family. Meet with friends, coworkers or fellow students to pray. Regardless of the verdict that is handed down in the days ahead, please, keep praying.
The concerns of people in the Twin Cities region are our concerns. Let’s echo their prayers.
Will you join me in doing this?
PRAY FOR SPIRITUAL REVIVAL
- Pray everyone will come to know Jesus Christ
- Pray that churches will multiply and thrive
- Pray for broken people and families to be healed in Jesus’ name
- Pray for children, students and young adults to trust and follow Jesus
PRAY FOR JUSTICE
- Pray for justice to be advanced through our judicial system
- Pray for George Floyd's family
- Pray that our society will be truly just
- Pray to become a person of mercy, justice and humility
PRAY FOR UNITY
- Pray for the eradication of racism
- Pray for grace to hear and understand the pain of others
- Pray for repentance and forgiveness
- Pray that believers will model unity and reconciliation
PRAY FOR PROTECTION
- Pray against all forms of violence
- Pray for the safety of people who dwell in our cities
- Pray for police officers to serve honorably and safely
- Pray for peace and harmony to fill our communities
Friend, meditate on Philippians 4:6-8 (NLT): Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing: fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
A friend recently offered this advice that I found helpful: whether you understand it or not, please allow our black and brown brothers and sisters the opportunity to grieve, no matter the verdict. We have not all had the same experiences or lived the same realities. These differences make us human – but our love for people who display differences is what makes us Christian.
If you would like to participate in a guided prayer experience, look for additional details in the days ahead. Thank you for praying with me. I love you.
Eddie