40 Days to Heal a Nation’s Racial DivideSample

 Day 5: Different Kind of Battle

There’s nothing like going into battle with the wrong gear. Ask David. 

Before he faces Goliath, David is outfitted with King Saul’s tunic, helmet, armor and sword and none of these work for him. Instead, he discards all of it for his shepherd’s staff, five smooth stones and a sling shot. He’s victorious over the giant fighting with the right weapons for his battle (1 Samuel 17:32-40). 

As we suit up to fast and pray in this spiritual battle,  trusting God for victory over racism in our nation, we too must don the right weapons. Trying to change someone’s heart and mind regarding their deeply rooted beliefs through a screaming match on social media is like showing up to fight Goliath in Saul’s armor. It does not work. 

Ephesians 6:10-17 explains that we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against rulers, powers and wickedness in heavenly places. We are instructed to take up the armor of God and stand, resisting evil. 

God’s armor includes the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Can you see how the system of racism embedded within every sphere of culture could begin to be unraveled with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and the Word of God?

Tackling racism starts first with each one of us going before the Lord and asking Him to outfit us in truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and His Word and to point out any racist or prejudiced way within us, our families, our communities and our institutions. We are able to stand against evil because the scales fall from our own eyes and we’re no longer calling evil good and good evil.  

What armor have you been trying to use in this different kind of battle?  

PRAYER

Father, we repent for blindness, ignorance and stubbornness and trying to fight as we desire and not as You’ve told us to in Your Word. Today, we shift course and put on Your armor and confess that we will await further instruction from You. Please protect us and our families, in Jesus’s Name, Amen.