A Prayer for Racial Healing by Maggie Meadows Cooper, read by Leah Martin.

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you, Colossians 35, lurking.

When you hear that word, what does it make you think of? A shadowy form hiding in a dark alley?

A sinister plot just waiting to be revealed? That's what comes to my mind.

Merriam Webster defines lurking as being concealed but capable of being discovered.

Another definition says, remaining hidden so as to wait and ambush, present in a barely discernible

state, although still presenting a threat. But in Colossians 35, Paul uses this word to

remind us of the sinful, earthly things in each of us. The truth is that we all have sin hiding

away, and the tricky part is that a lot of it doesn't show up in our day to day. We're able to

mask it many times. Can't you just picture, greed, pride, jealousy, anger, dirty language, lust,

and others wearing trench coats while hanging out in the shadows of our hearts?

Satan is crafty, and he knows just how to trigger these things in us so that they make a grand

entrance, reminding us of our own depravity. I'll think I've been doing so well as a follower

of Jesus, loving people, serving, etc., then something happens, and by my response, I'm reminded

of just how sinful I really am. In recent months, racial tensions have been high.

Why? Black men have been killed senselessly. Lives shattered, and it's heartbreaking.

It should make all of us examine our hearts and how we view people of the opposite race.

Pray for the hidden to be revealed, and seek how the Lord would help us bring healing.

The problem with racism, bias, prejudice, whichever word you like to use, though, is that

it's not easily discernible in every person. It's not something people like to face,

and it doesn't always show itself openly. It's something that is lurking,

and that makes it hard to get better. You see, I'm a white, middle-aged woman in the south.

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