Let hatred not win the day

Ruach Breath of Life

With increasingly violent protests occurring on our streets in the UK, which once again greatly threaten people and properties, and stretch the police forces, let’s join in this prayer with considerable urgency. Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ . . . and if you call on Him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile. [here on Earth](1 Peter. 1:13,17 ESV) With algorithms, news items and social media posts skilfully fuelling people’s prejudices, and so increasing their sense of outrage – and when even the spiritual discernment that enables us to recognise when things are not being built to according God’s plumbline – all such things can leave us feeling incensed rather filled with the passion of God – which itself includes righteous anger as opposed to mere rage. Each one of us faces the challenge of needing to be willing to take our stand for truth, (and against that which is not truth), but without allowing our hearts to become contemptuous and dismissive – or even consumed with hatred against those who think very differently from ourselves. It is really important to pray that the love of Jesus wins the day in so many peoples’ hearts, and in so many situations rather than the power of hatred. Please note that in this brief prayer along those lines, when I say that I am not praying primarily for such 'categories' as hypocrites, hackers and those infested with an overly partisan spirit, I am not saying that we should not pray for these people, for we are called to bless all who spitefully use and ill use others, but am simply directing the focus of the prayer elsewhere. One of Handel’s powerful Sarabandes provides a stirring backdrop for this prayer, with the musicians then expanding into a time of improvisation beyond it. May the Lord lead us to pray the love of God into many hate-fuelled and filled situations.