While hate crimes, police brutality, and racial slurs are the most obvious forms of racism in 2020, covert racism is what most people experience. In summary, covert racism is subtle and could be easily excused if you are not the one experiencing it. For example, it “could be” a sales representative who chooses to ignore your presence in a store. It could be the sound of a locked door as you pass by someone in the parking lot. It could be a gentle tug of a woman’s purse when you step on the elevator. It could be a backhanded compliment, regarding someone’s abilities. “Wow! He’s articulate.” By the way, the word articulate seems to only be used when an African American person is being described. Why is that? Am I being too sensitive? Am I allowing other people’s prejudices and stereotypes to rule over my emotions? For Ephesians 4:26-27 TPT warns against that. It states: “But don’t let the passions of your emotions lead you to sin! Don’t let anger control you or be fuel for revenge, not even for a day. Don’t give the slanderous accuser, the Devil, an opportunity to manipulate you!”
As I soul searched with our Father, about all the times I’ve been offended based on someone’s prejudices and/or stereotypes toward me, I was led to read Psalm 19:11 NIV, which states: “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and is his glory to overlook an offense.” The question is: Do I have good sense? Do you? I would like to think that I do, but sometimes I don’t act like it. Sometimes I get offended and the anger consumes me. Sometimes I want to ask them what they’re looking at. (Yes, I want to use the preposition at the end of that sentence.) Sometimes I want to prove that I am just as good as everyone else! Sometimes I want to draw a line in the sand and declare that I am not going to take “it” anymore. Sometimes I forget that the weapons will form but the Lord said they would not prosper. Sometimes I forget that I am a princess because our Father is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Have you ever found yourself in that position? Well, if so, let’s pledge to act like we have some sense. Let us pledge not to say or post the first thing that comes to our mind when someone intentionally or unintentionally offends us. Pease let us consider doing a little soul searching with our Father.
#Soul Searching with Our Father#
