A Lament for My City // Minneapolis

(This lament is for the current events in Minneapolis where in the last ten days, one man has been killed by police, two people have been shot and killed in their car, 5 protesters have been shot, and other acts of unnecessary violence have happened)

Oh God, my God, we cry out to you! You are the author and sustainer of life and we need you!

My city is torn apart by evil. Racism, prejudice and injustice fills the streets.

Lives are being threatened, and lives are being lost.

Bullets, pepper spray and molotov cocktails have no place in the city you love. We are filled with anger, pain and fear.

Are we alone?

Are you seeing this evil and suffering?

Why do you allow senseless death and violence?

Why did you create us with such a high-capacity for hatred?

Why do we continue to see difference as a curse instead of a blessing?

We trust you. We have no other choice.

We turn toward you. We have no where else to go.

We plead with you. We have no ability to make sense of this agony without you.

We need you. We have nothing left on our own.

God this is our request:

Hear our cries.

Heal our city.

Bring your peace.

Bring your justice.

Bring hope to the hopeless.

Bring truth into the light.

Bring reconciliation into our view.

We praise you God because we know you are good even when the world around us is not.

We lift up your name Jesus because your light can pierce the darkness.

We adore you Holy Spirit because you are the only thing more powerful than the evil invading our midst.

Oh God, my God, hear our cries!