Praying for Justice

We need to pray for justice. In doing so we are asking God to act in accordance with his character. This is important to keep in mind. God's will is always righteous and always just. Therefore to pray for justice in personal and cosmic ways is to pray for God's will to be done and his kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). That's what it means to pray for justice.

You see in God's presence justice is reality. It is not aspirational. It is not theoretical. It is not ethereal. Justice is reality. That's the picture and promise Isaiah gives us when he said of the Lord, "Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this" (Isaiah 9:7). God's kingdom is eternally established upon justice and righteous; a realm which touched earth through Christ and will one day be fully expressed at his return.

So when we pray for justice we are asking for something which is common to God. To be sure we may look around with despondency believing justice will never come. But the Scriptures teach us that justice surely will come to earth and it is ready in God's presence, because he himself is righteous.

This should give us clarity in our prayers ... justice is not merely an idea, it is God's presence and power and righteousness. This should give us hope in our prayers ... justice is in eternal supply in God's presence. This should give us joy in our prayers ... justice will come and in Christ, all shall be well.