A Prayer for the Incarcerated

Lord, Paul and Silas sang in the middle of the night in chains, and the foundations of the prison shook (Acts 16:25–26). Sing through the walls of every cellblock tonight. You told the disciples, I was in prison and you visited me (Matthew 25:36) — teach us to visit. You once said, You are not far from the kingdom of God (Mark 12:34) to a man you had every right to walk past — say it now to the one bent over a metal table, counting years. Peter's chains fell off when the angel came (Acts 12:7). Bring some kind of angel tonight. For the innocent, exoneration. For the guilty, honest repentance. For everyone, dignity you have not withdrawn. And to the child of an incarcerated parent, be Father in the visits and in the silences (Psalm 68:5). Bring them out with singing (Psalm 68:6). Amen.

Wear the prayer Crazy Faith — for the kind of freedom the walls cannot cancel.