Prayers When Faced with Civil Injustice and Social Unrest.

In trying times like these, when many are incensed for present and past injustices in our country, there is a deep need for prayer. These are portions of prayers I have used in the past that you may find useful. Most of them are in my book "To You I Lift Up My Soul". 

Mighty and merciful Father, reflecting on Paul’s biography (Philippians 3:2-7), it quickly becomes clear that we often forget who you have made us to be and what you have richly given us; and we are confronted by the ways we have put confidence in the flesh. We have been proud of our ethnic heritage, self-reliant because of our nationality, enthralled by our wealth and status, and impressed with our own religious zeal. O God, we confess that we have sought to justify ourselves, by ourselves, to ourselves. And the results have been destructive in our families, our homes, and our lives. Father, all these assurances we now count as loss for the sake of Christ; because you have saved us by grace alone in Christ alone to your glory alone, and we receive your loving kindnesses by faith alone. Lord, have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Amen (p. 3).

Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil (Psalm 36:1-4). Our hearts, O God, grieve for those who have never repented of their sins, believed in Christ and avowed him as Lord (…). Save them, work mightily penetrating their resistance and draw them into your family. But we also pray for those whose words are trouble and deceit, who plot trouble on their beds, who set themselves in a way that is not good and don’t reject evil: terrorists, guerrillas, Antifa, Proud Boys, and the KKK; thuggish leaders of nations and blood-spattered rebels; thieves, molesters, muggers, and the high-society promotors of death. O God, restrain and vanquish their bloodlust and bring order and honor to fill the void (p. 67).

On the holy mount stands the city he founded; the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Selah. Sometimes, Lord, we forget that you love the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob (Psalm 87:1-2). Sometimes we think you should cherish our country more than you do your Church. Sometimes our constitutional concerns become more important to us than the cares of your kingdom. So, remembering that you love the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob, we still pray for our country as you have bidden us to do. Tensions abound on the right hand and on the left. Violence raises its beastly head in brutal and bloody ways. The rhetoric of some seems to pour more petrol on the smoldering embers threatening to ignite into a bursting flame. There are places and spaces of injustice in our courts, on our streets, behind closed doors, and out in open spaces. Therefore, we implore your kindness and goodness to come and smother the seething cinders and to promote fair-mindedness, helpfulness and benevolence. Thank you for the many who are working to foster civility and sanity; those in office, those who patrol neighborhoods and streets, and those who influence their communities. And we pray for countries that have been bloodied by bandits or are governed by gangsters. Please give relief, justice and restoration (p.65-6).

Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth. He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah (Psalm 47:1-4). World Rescuing God, thank you that in Christ Jesus all of us who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. That he himself is our peace, who has made both Jews and Gentiles, Billy Yanks and Johnny Rebs, Brazilians and Mexicans, Puerto Ricans and Cubans, Koreans and Japanese, Mongolians and Chinese, Republicans and Democrats – all who are redeemed by him, he has made one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:13-14). Be with your church all over this big, wide globe, including this church, and these local congregations (...). Where, Lord, we have turned our backs to you and not our faces (Jeremiah 2:27), rectify and reform us; and draw together all of your people in a renewed unity that is centered on your Son Jesus Christ, and shaped by the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, (1 Timothy 6.3). Hear our prayer, O Lord, and let our cry come to you (Psalm 102.1)!