Mandisa - Out Of The Dark DevotionalSample

Bleed The Same

Devotional by Mandisa

I'll never forget July 4-7, 2016. July 4th was Independence Day in America. I recall that because the events that transpired the rest of that week made me question just how free we truly were. There was a fatal shooting of a Black man by police officers in Louisiana on July 5th. There was a fatal shooting of another Black man by police officers in Minnesota on July 6th. Finally, there was a fatal shooting of five police officers by a Black man in Texas on July 7th.

Can I be honest with you? As a follower of Jesus, and a woman with Black nephews, as well as a brother who is a police officer, I'm a little scared to speak freely here. I remember the fear that hovered over our country then. I remember the hate being spewed on social media that week. I remember wanting to say something, and knowing I would offend someone either way. I didn't say much on social media that week. I did, however, say a lot to God.

I'm a big believer in praying scripture. Here's how I turned a very familiar verse into a prayer that week:

“Father, I come to you now on behalf of my beloved country, and pray according to 2 Chronicles 7:14. There are many people in the USA who call ourselves by Your name. So on behalf of Your children here in America, I pray that we would humble ourselves before You, and our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Holy Spirit, give us a burden to turn our arguments into prayers, and rather than seeking our agendas, help us to seek Your face. We have turned away from your ways, God. Would You forgive us, and supernaturally empower us to turn from our wicked ways? Then, I stand on Your promise that You will hear from heaven, forgive our sins, and restore our land. I ask this in Jesus’ Name...Amen.”

Shortly after the events of that week in July, my songwriters and I wrote “Bleed the Same.” My brothers, TobyMac and Kirk Franklin, share a similar heart for unity and love in the Body of Christ. Our prayer is that God would use our song to truly make us an undivided, holy nation, under God.