Paul wrote, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Rom. 12:2).
How are you doing at this? Are your prayers filled with your own thoughts, or have you permeated your life with God’s thoughts?
5. We Are Neglecting to Speak Out Against Injustice
The Bible says we should lend our voice to injustice: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed” (Prov. 31:8).
Justice pleases the heart of God. An important Scripture to remember is Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
God doesn’t want our shallow acts of righteousness if we are not interested in bringing justice to the poor, speaking up for the broken down and freeing the oppressed.
We should speak up against injustice in our government and law enforcement systems. We should speak against racism. We should do what we can to encourage dignity and freedom for all people, just as we should stand with the vast majority of those who are honorable in law enforcement who protect us each and every day. Both sides need us to speak on behalf of what is true and right.
It is not enough to pray if we are not lending our voices to justice as is commanded in Scripture.
6. We Are Not Doing What We Can to Help
For the vast majority of us, we cannot change the system with a tweet or instagram post. It often seems like we do pitifully little to help or change the situations that cause our nation to grieve. But that shouldn’t stop us from doing what we can.
Andy Stanley has said, “Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.” You may not be able to do much, but you can do something. Shine the love of God to the people around you. Speak up for justice for the oppressed. Stand for peace for all sides. Show God’s graciousness and loving kindness to all you interact with. Be a voice of hope in a world mixed with pain.
The Bible says, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them” (James 4:17).
James warns about this earlier, as well: “Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, ‘Goodbye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well’—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?” (James 2:15-16).
So don’t just pray if you can something for someone. Do what you can.
If you have done and are doing these six biblical commands, dedicate yourself anew to prayer and call on God on behalf of our nation.
Pray and trust God to do what you cannot do. Because God is much greater than man, he can help in our pain like no one else can. God can do more in a moment than we can do in a lifetime. I’ve seen it over and over again with my own eyes. God is always working, and redeeming what the Enemy has tried to hijack for evil.
Tragedies will always arise on earth, but we will always arise to pray and to shine God’s love and truth.
Matt Brown (@evangelistmatt) is an evangelist, author and founder of Think Eternity, an evangelistic ministry that impacts thousands of people with the gospel each year through live events and online. This article was originally published on Matt’s blog at ThinkE.org.