Great God,
In the midst of all this incessant talking and arguing and finger pointing and word throwing, it's easy to forget to talk to you...and I have done just that. Please, forgive me. God, I pray for myself. I pray that you will be a constant encourager in my life of being slow to anger, slow to speak, and quick to listen. God, please be with those people who have felt stung or rejected by political banter. Encourage them as well. Give them hope and excitement for a future of love and acceptance. God, be with those who have administered the sting and rejection through their words of reprimand. Open their hearts to see that those whom they recognize as a sinner is no different than them, and may not be a sinner in the way they believe.
God, help us all. Help us all to model Christ. Help us open our arms to those rejected in our society - whatever our society is. Some may need to open their arms to embracing and loving homosexuality as not a sin, but as just another way of expressing love. Some, like me, may need to open their arms to embracing those with differing opinions not as ignorant or closed-minded, but as another one of your creations to be loved and respected. I ask, God I beg, that we all find the ability to communicate rationally without plan or agenda to change each others mind. Help us all be open to hearing from "the other side" without putting up walls of defense around our own beliefs, so that through these conversations, we will be able to hear the truth spoken through You.
I believe you are a God of love and are truly capable of doing miraculous things, but we must be open and receptive to those miracles to see them. Help us all be constantly anticipating hearing from you to speak love and justice in the ways that you believe are what we need. Thank you God for the ability to speak freely about you and about our opinions without risk of punishment or death. Help us not take that lightly or for granted.
I love you God and am grateful for your presence in my life. Help me be that presence to others in all that I say and do.
Amen.
