40|50 Project: 40 Days To Heal A Nation’s Racial DivideSample

Day 20: Come to the Garden

COME TO THE GARDEN! That’s the invitation I hear on the radio for a massive prayer event at Madison Square Garden in the late 1990s. So, I reserve my spot and make my way into the City and then into the Garden.

As I walk in, I am overwhelmed by the sight of what looks like the United Nations. I literally stop and make a circle in place around myself staring at all of God’s people of so many different backgrounds who have gathered to pray. 

“This must be what heaven looks like,” I catch myself thinking out loud. 

“And this is to whom I am sending you, but you must forgive.” 

This is early in my journey of discerning the Lord’s voice from my own, so I pause, wondering if I just made that up. But then I feel the incredible weight of my anger against years of racism and the prejudice I carry within as a result and I find myself bowing over in tears and full repentance. Yeah, this is definitely God. 

Layer after layer of heaviness is removed as I forgive people and finally see clearly the beautiful array of the family of God before me. I sense God’s love for all of His children and He begins to fill me with love for them in place of the hurt. 

In Matthew 6:14, Jesus says that we are not forgiven if we do not forgive. Forgiveness requires that we acknowledge the wrongs that have been done against us and choose to relinquish those debts, entrusting justice into God’s hands. Forgiveness doesn't mean reconciliation. Repairing the relationship comes when the offender has repented, recognized their wrong and made restitution. But forgiveness frees us to move on.  

As we wrap up the first half of this 40 days and this second week exploring family and justice, is there anyone else you need to forgive? 

PRAYER

Father, I want to love like You love and see Your family as You see us. Please heal my vision. I forgive ____________ (names) for ____________ (actions), and I ask You to forgive them. Please forgive me for holding on to the offenses for so long. Thank You for freedom and protection today, in Jesus’s Name.