This is a prayer for the girlfriends among us, Lord.
You knew we’d need each other and that we would rock the whole girlfriend thing. So, thank You for the friends who have our back and rub our feet and Vox or text at just the right time with just the right words. You knew we’d thrive with the whole friendship thing.
But, You also knew we’d underestimate the power of a group of women who love each other, gathered together to love, or to serve, or to pull up to a table and plan a movement with a plate of nachos to share among us.
So forgive us, Lord. Forgive us when we miscalculate and fail to move outside our safe spaces. Forgive us when we build teams of “us and them.” Forgive us when we rationalize our way out of befriending the woman You have placed in our path to love and to love well.
Give us soft voices when peace and hope seem far away. Give us clear voices when injustice and abuse and discrimination threaten to steal the love and grace You’ve promised. Don’t let us turn away when it’s clear You’re calling us to step up.
Transform us by Your Word, which is alive and has the power to make us whole again. To make us one.
Make us generous people, Lord. Let us be willing to lay down our life for our sister and the people she loves. Regardless of her faith or status or race or culture or beliefs or record or language or orientation, let us love her well, Lord. Renew us by the power of Your Spirit, so that concern for the well-being of our neighbor loosens the death grip we’ve got on our very own lives.
Give us a love that works for girls’ night out, but also for stepping out of our comfort zones. Infuse us with the power of Your unconditional love. Make us the revolutionaries we’ve been waiting for.
Let there be no one left behind, looked over, locked out, or let go, Lord. Give us a keen eye for those on the margins; teach us to join them there, until the margins become mainstream.
We know you are counting on us, Lord, to be the Body of Christ. In You, we have what it takes to push back the darkness. In You, we have what it takes to be ambassadors of reconciliation and builders of bridges.
Deliver us from the wrong thinking we’ve gotten used to. Help us to see others the way you do. Forgive us when we fail to see the imago dei — the image of God — in every single person we meet; even the one who gets on our very last nerve.
You knew we would rock the girlfriend thing.
Let us be bold and courageous. Give us a relentless desire to be agents of unity. When divisive conversations surface, make us grace-filled and strategic squelchers of polarization.
Let the love of Christ dwell in us richly. Let it overwhelm us and flow through us so that light overcomes the darkness in our homes, our communities, our schools, our workplaces, our churches, and our cities and towns.
When we come to the end, Lord, let there be no regret about the lessons You taught us. Let there be no doubt that it was worth it. Let us be thankful that You didn’t let us settle for small and easy love.
Lord, we will be careful to give You the praise. For your glory, always.
And all God’s people said, “Amen.”
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Jas says
Amen xx
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Deidra,
What a beautiful prayer and call to action. May we all embrace it and make it our own! May they know that we are Christians by our love…not by the lines of division that we draw. God IS unity and we are made in His image.
Blessings,
Bev
Deidra says
Amen, Bev. Amen.
A says
Oh Deidra, Amen to a much needed and wonderful prayer 🙂 May each of us be a reflection of the love of the Lord to each person we meet, pouring out the love He has given us in these earthen vessels to the praise of His name 🙂
Deidra says
Agreeing with you in that prayer, A.
Penny says
What a wonderful prayer Deidra, thank-you for sharing it with us.
Penny
Lynn D. Morrissey says
Powerful encouragement and admonition, Deidra. And your truth about seeing the imago dei in each and every person would surely solve so much–our selfishness, indifference, and neglect. It we reached out to the least of these, because we knew they were God’s special creation, and we knew then when we did it, we were doing it to Christ, everything would change. He’s our only hope. Thank you for praying a prayer that I know God will answer.
Love
Lynn
Deidra says
Yes. Our only hope.
Amy M. Fry says
Wow… Just, Wow!
Nancy Roe says
So love this! I find myself here in the margins, a good place for heart softening, and a lonely place but not without purpose! I am sure I am not the only one! “Let there be no one left behind, looked over, locked out, or let go, Lord. Give us a keen eye for those on the margins; teach us to join them there, until the margins become mainstream.”
Deidra says
No. You’re not the only one, sister. Peace to you.
Julie Rogers says
❤️ Amen!
Gayl Wright says
Beautiful prayer! AMEN!
Kate @ A Ringing Bell says
A resounding ‘yes and amen’. Beautifully penned and prayed. Thanks for sharing!
Blessings to you today,
Kate
Deidra says
xoxo
Michele Morin says
Deidra, the words of your prayer bring to mind this incredibly powerful image of a rushing current that picks up and carries us all – those on the margins, those in “the center” – until there is no difference; all of us just carried; all of us on the same beautiful current.
May it be so.
Deidra says
That’s a beautiful image, Michele. Thanks so much for sharing it. I can only hope…and pray.
Jessica Galan says
I’m using this prayer for IF:Table this Saturday, Deidra. Just wow.
Deidra says
That’s fantastic! So glad you’re hosting, Jessica! xoxo
Beth Williams says
Deidra,
Lovely prayer and call to unity! This country needs more unity and love. There is to much division and cliques. We should all love as Christ loved us! We need to be ambassadors of Christ’s love for us and shower this world with His wonderful mercy and grace.
Blessings 🙂
Deidra says
Amen.
Sue Donaldson says
Such a great post and clarion call to God’s call in us to love deeply, well, and widely – wide as His grace called for us. Thank you, Deidra.
Chanda Torske says
Hallelujah! Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful words from your heart!
Melissa Henderson says
Amen. Deidra, thank you for this message. Blessings. 🙂
Dawn says
Amen, Deidre! Beautiful, necessary, life-giving words. Thank you!