Prayer and Sabbath: How Do They Relate to Justice?

As written in Micah 6:8, we have a responsibility to do justice. But how does one live out such a high calling? It is evident that there is so much hurt in the world around us. It can seem like the problems are too big to fix ourselves. Doing justice can be a daunting task. This is why it is important to have the spiritual tools to do the work God has called us to do. Over the past few months, I have been reflecting on the biblical disciplines of prayer and sabbath. What do they have to do with the calling to justice? If you have ever read or even flipped through the Bible, you would notice that prayer is mentioned everywhere. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, we are instructed to pray without ceasing. Throughout the Old and New Testament, we read the prayers of various people of faith. In Matthew 6:5-15, Jesus even gives us a model for our own prayers. It is evident that prayer is important, but how does it relate to our call to justice? I believe that prayer is one of the most important things we can do to live up to our responsibility. We can pray for those who are out working in various fields related to justice. We can pray for lawmakers and judges who are charged with the burden of deciding the legal way justice is carried out. On the other side, we can pray for those who are oppressed or are facing injustices in their lives. Prayer is a way for us all to be active participants in the work of justice, and it can be done from our own homes. Physically doing the work of justice is important, but doing the spiritual work and praying for our world is just as necessary. Another less talked about spiritual discipline is that of sabbath. You may think to yourself, how could that relate to the action of doing justice? For me, the connection is clear. In order to be engaged in the work of justice, you must be in a stable place yourself. Making time during a busy schedule to rest is a way of ensuring that. By taking a sabbath, we can all be more awake in our daily lives to the injustices that surround us. And, we can have the energy to tackle them head on. Sabbath is a gift that God has given His children to help them to be able to live in this restless world. So take it, and use it to further the call to pursue justice. The spiritual disciplines of prayer and sabbath are instrumental in the fight for justice in this world. That is why BFJN has decided to highlight them on social media. Begin your week with us on Monday by engaging in our “Pray With Us” initiative. Come, and let us pray as a community that justice will be done in this world. Additionally, be on the lookout for our Sabbath post on Saturdays aimed to pave the way and provide resources for a restful sabbath the following day.