Praying the News
“One should preach with the Bible in one hand and the
newspaper in the other.” – Karl Barth, theologian.
What would it mean to read the newspaper in Jesus’ name? “Praying the News” is a form of intercessory prayer; it is also an act of faith. We look at our world…and all too often, it seems, there is no one to help. No one, it seems, to free the oppressed, uphold the fallen, or shelter the homeless. We may view these events through a television screen, the front page of a newspaper—or even the eyes of someone who has seen for themselves. However they come to us, these painful reminders of the incompleteness of the world are everywhere.
It is in this context that we pray the news. By continuously making ourselves aware of the present moment of our cities, our nations, and our world, we awaken ourselves to the presence of God in it—and in our own way, participate in the healing, loving, and creative energy this process can spark.
Praying the news also expands our worldview so that we become less focused on own selves or families and awakened to what is happening beyond our front doors. Yet in praying we focus less on the problems of this world and more on the problem-solver—on the one who so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.
In praying the news, we pray that the wounds of the world become locations of God’s grace.
1. Before you begin to read, take a moment of silence to prepare yourself and become “centered” in God. Remind yourself that you are not reading the news for the purpose of information, but for the purpose of intercession. You are reading not to enhance your fear of what is happening, but to enhance your love for your community or world.
2. Read the article through once to familiarize yourself with the content. Take note of names, places, and ideas. Read it again, only this time “prayerfully.” Lift those names and places to God; think about who or
what is affected by this news (the effect of it) and who is affecting this news (the cause of it); pray for both, the powerful and the powerless.
3. Take another moment of silence to listen to God. Are you feeling led to pray specifically in any way? This might mean praying for the wisdom of leaders and governments, local teachers, administrators, or politicians; it might be for healing or comfort; you might end up praying for criminals or abusers or even forms of art or science with which you disagree. Try to avoid judgment in your prayer, but let the presence of Jesus shape your thoughts and words as you pray. See if any particular scripture verses come to your mind during this time.
4. Pray for yourself, for your own humility, wisdom, and integrity—so that you will be able to listen to the opinion of others and ask God to inform your own opinions. Pray for openness, compassion, and empathy. Pray for the courage to participate in God’s healing and loving work in this world.
5. End your time in gratitude, thanking God for this particular present moment and for God’s presence in this world and in you through Jesus Christ. Try ending your time of “praying the news” with a song, a scripture verse, or the Lord’s Prayer.
