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This lament was prayed by Pastor Hopson Boutot during the May 31, 2020 worship gathering of Poquoson Baptist Church. It has been slightly modified from its original content. Visit the link below to hear the original prayer or to watch the worship service.

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Father,  

Last Sunday many of us were wondering when professional sports would return in major cities across America. This morning, many of those same cities are on fire. Our world is so fragile it can be turned upside-down in a matter of days. Father, we bring our lament to you this morning.

We pray for those who knew George Floyd best and loved him most. We pray you would comfort them. We pray they would find hope and help in the Good News of a Savior who defeated death.  

We pray for Derek Chauvin, the former police officer who kneeled on George’s neck . . . for over eight minutes . . . despite pleas to stop. Without saying a word! We pray for this man who is also an image-bearer of God, that he would face earthly justice for his crimes and find eternal salvation for his soul.  

We pray for Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, Alexander Kueng: the officers who stood by or assisted as Gorge Floyd died. Father we pray their cowardice and complicity would be rightly punished. And we pray they would find repentance and hope in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

God, we pray for upright and just police officers all over the country. I’ve not heard one defend what happened in Minneapolis a few days ago. And yet, even though they know this to be wrong they still must go out into streets that are very dangerous. They must work to rebuild confidence that collapsed in just a matter of minutes. We pray for their protection, we pray for their wisdom, we pray for their perseverance.  

Father, we pray for those who are afraid something like this could happen to them. For those that fear that because they look like George Floyd they might be victims of similar injustices. God, we pray for their protection. We pray You would give them wisdom. We pray they too would persevere.  

God, we pray for those who would use this tragedy to promote their own ends. From looters and agitators, to racists and race-baiters. For those who would deny or minimize the evils of racism and police brutality to those who would use those realities to justify other evils. Father, we pray You would break their hearts and open their eyes to their need for a Savior.  

Father, we pray for governing officials. For governors, for mayors, for police chiefs, give them wisdom we pray.  

Father, we pray for churches. Oh, we pray, for the churches across this land. Forgive us, O Lord, for any complicity we have had in the injustices in our land. Forgive us, we pray, for division that lights the fires of rage and violence. Help us, we pray, to be united in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May we be quick to listen. May we be slow to speak. May we be slow to retweet or post or share on social media. May we be slow to anger.  

And when we speak, help us to be bold in our condemnation against racism wherever it’s found. Especially in our own hearts and our own communities. Help us to be clear in our condemnation of the unjust use of force wherever it’s found, especially when that force takes life made in Your image. Help us to be consistent in our condemnation of evil, regardless of which aisle of the political equation it falls. May we be passionate in our proclamation of Jesus Christ as our only Savior and our only hope.  

And it’s in His name that we pray.   

Amen.