One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’” Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
Luke 18:1-8

Dear God, justice seems to be the key word in this book translation. So what does justice look like? And are there times when you need me to experience injustice for your purposes and/or my growth?

The obvious thing that comes to mind right now is what is happening in Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza. The injustice of all of that for countless people is overwhelming. Maybe I and others haven’t prayed for their justice enough. I don’t know. But that’s a hard one to I’m not saying you caused it. I know Satan’s plan is to divide us and he is perfecting that plan more and more. But it’s still hard to watch. I’d love to see you come and bring justice quickly.

Someone asked me yesterday what my core tenants of faith are. Before telling him what I think you’ve taught me about the soil in my heart, the fruits of the Spirit and Jesus’s two top commandments, I told him my favorite verse is Acts 20:24: “However I consider my life worth nothing to me…” If that is true then do I really need justice for myself?

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I confess there are times I just don’t know how to pray—especially for myself. But I offer my life to you. Break me, melt me, mold me, heal me. And please show me how to love you and love others as well as you need me to for my sake and for theirs.

I pray all of this in your, my Triune God,

Amen