Black Lives Matter: Relationships with Yourself
It wasn’t until several days after the murder of George Floyd that I even started looking into what really happened. It took countless Instagram posts and mentions from family and friends to even begin to understand the truth of what’s going on.
I was met with pain, suffering, injustice, brutality. But why did it take me so long to even be stirred? These are my brothers and sisters in Christ, and I took a blind eye to them for so long.
Many are blessed to quickly pick up on the injustice and take action. Some may have been like me and take longer. But regardless, today is the day we look into the matters of our own hearts as we stand together to fight for not just a moment, but a movement of change - one that begins with the relationship you have with yourself.
3 ways to start the movement of change within yourself
Ask God to search your heart.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart. Know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalm 139: 23 - 24
It can be easy to say that we hold no prejudices within ourselves. The heart can be deceitful and we can easily blind from seeing the truths that are hurting the heart of God. Welcome God in and be open to see habits and the judgments He reveals in your heart and ask for His love, wisdom and courage.
Once you see the truth of your heart, take your step of faith
“For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead”
James 2:26
As God unveils the things in your heart, ask for a prayer of courage to start fighting for justice. To say your prayers is amazing, but we must realize that we are called to act on it through works.
So how can you propel faith into works?
A. Educate yourself
There are countless resources available online to educate yourselves on racism, police brutality, and white privilege. There are also tools on how your role in social change to have these conversations with your family.
Education unlocks the key that propels us into critically thinking about the world we live in and how we can mobilize the individual, systems, and governments to be closer to the vision God has for us.
(The resources are linked at the end of this blog!)
B. Practice your voice - petition, vote, email, text, call, spread awareness.
There are petitions and policies that will create change. Each signature, email, and call all culminate to fight for justice and change for the system.
C. Talk about it
“As iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another”
Proverbs 27:17
We have to keep ourselves accountable, and we have to keep our friends, family, and communities accountable. Yes, the conversation may be uncomfortable, and it probably will be, but there is so much power in planting those seeds.
Pray
We are not taking a side, but a stand in Christ. As much as we are entering the battle here on Earth, we are entering a spiritual battle too.
It will be met with frustration, judgment, anger and questions. But when we are put in a place that we want to react with anger, whether that be towards our families, police, rioters, we root ourselves and choose to respond with the love of God.
Continue to pray that the fruit of the spirit manifest itself in you and those around you, because the world is hurting and needs Jesus more than ever.
It is my prayer that as you say your yes to God’s call to fight for unity and justice, all that you do be done in love (1 Corinthians 16:14). With every post, every signature, every prayer, center it around Him.
With love,
Jo
RESOURCES
https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
https://medium.com/@dviyer/my-role-in-a-social-change-ecosystem-a-mid-year-check-in-1d852589cdb1