Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
covering yourself with light as with a garment,
stretching out the heavens like a tent.
Almighty God, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, you revealed the way of eternal life to every race and nation: Pour out this gift anew, that by the preaching of the Gospel your salvation may reach to the ends of the earth;
But on this Pentecost Sunday, the division between race and nation is very visible, especially here in the United States. Please have mercy and let justice roll down like roaring waters. May cool heads prevail and may there be real movement to address systemic racism and social breakdown. Father, once upon a time at Babel you divided the people as a judgment upon them for trying to be God, and since that day you have been reuniting and reconciling the one human race. Would you do so today. May Your Spirit rain peace upon our country where right now outrage is sparking violent action, and would you, by your hand, protect people as they decide how best to respond, keep people safe today as the protests continue in Oklahoma City and in our nation: especially we pray for Moose and other police officers and national guard that seek only to protect and serve (…), give them wisdom and safety; and we pray for our black friends Dominique, Clifford, Jasper, and more (…) and especially we pray for Christian ministers who are black; here in Oklahoma City: Ernest, Michael, Derrick; and in our denomination: Mike Higgins, Thurman Williams, Wy Plummer, Carl Ellis, and many more; all these who feel the constant weight of being Christians who want to see reconciliation, but who know the constant fear that comes simply because they are black, even though they are those who seek to live righteous lives. Preserve them. Use their actions, and ours, to bring change.
Bring down those who would use this as an opportunity for wickedness, vandalism, violence, and manipulation. As you brought people from many languages and ethnicities to become One People in Christ 2000 years ago upon the day of Pentecost, would you do so today, uniting people of all ethnicities, bringing justice where there is injustice, balance where there is imbalance, and peace to our nation.
But in all of this, we have a particular prayer for your Kingdom, that you would bring people to know Jesus Christ, for that is what brings true and ultimate reconciliation with you and with others. I continue to ask you for 12 baptisms of new believers and 10 new families this year at Heritage; but most of all I ask that in our City, nation, and world your name would be made known, lifted up, believed in, and you would draw many to faith. We lift up to you some of those we would like to see you save now. (…) Holy Spirit, come upon them as you’ve come upon us. And Lord Jesus, come soon!
May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in his works,
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the LORD.
Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
and let the wicked be no more!
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Praise the LORD! Amen.
