This week we’ll be exploring practical advice from author and activist Rich Gower about how you can help bring justice and hope to the world around us. God has given each of us a particular reflection of his character; this week, pray that God reveals the unique role we can play.
Sunday 9 March
At the centre of Rich Gower’s book, The Hopeful Activist, is love. ‘All our action and justice-seeking and striving and serving has to come from love,’ Rich writes. Spend time reading 1 Corinthians 13. Lord, help us to learn to love you and other people first over everything else. Amen.
Monday 10 March
We praise you God that as Christians we have eternal hope. Thank you that nothing is too broken for you to restore. Thank you that despite strong secular messages from the world around us, we can place complete trust in you. Amen.
Tuesday 11 March
‘Throughout his lifetime, Jesus moves to restore relationships between God and humanity, between humans, and between humanity and the rest of the world,’ writes Rich. ‘He heals people, he provides food and reaches across deep cultural divides.’ Lord, help us to hear your voice guiding our mission and ministry as we root ourselves in your story. Amen.
Wednesday 12 March
Are you involved in some form of activism? The first step to discovering your unique role is to pray to uncover the values God has placed at your core. ‘Understanding our role goes hand in hand with God restoring our connection to ourselves – uncovering the unique reflection of the image of God that he has placed in you,’ writes Rich.
Thursday 13 March
Spend some time in quiet meditation today, asking God to highlight issues that you care about and needs in your local area. ‘Then, spend some time planning, researching, looking for others who have either done the same thing before or are doing it in your local area or might join with you,’ says Rich.
Friday 14 March
‘Everything about Jesus is about identifying with the pain and suffering of the world,’ says Rich. ‘It's about leaning into the mess. And that's our calling as activists. That's what Jesus models. He came into the mess and was born absolutely in the midst of it.’ Lord, thank you that you are the perfect model for us to follow. Amen.
Saturday 15 March
‘We have an eternal hope for restoration and renewal. But sometimes God also gives us specific hope for particular instances of renewal in our time,’ writes Rich. ‘Without it, we wouldn’t start working on many of the injustices we see today.’ Lord, thank you for the hope that you place in our hearts. Amen.
The Hopeful Activist: Discovering the vital change you were made to bring by Rich Gower and Rachel Walker is available from spckpublishing.co.uk and other bookshops.
