The practice of spiritual disciplines is foundational to any work of the Spirit. As doers of justice, we are literally in a wrestle against powers and forces of evil, disguised as people and with strongholds in systems. Staying faithful and holding an open posture toward shared transformation and change takes discipline. As the elders who have gone before have demonstrated time and again, prayer is an essential spiritual practice in the work of resistance.

Sometimes that prayer is done as a public witness. I have held countless prayer meetings on the steps of public buildings, at places of worship, and in community locations where tragedies occurred. Once I was arrested while publicly praying in front of the US Speaker of the House’s office in support of Dreamers (I was arrested for blocking the door). We pray because we know that God is listening.

We pray publicly to let others know we believe that God is our higher power, calling us to work together toward his justice. Prayer is not a tactic of activism but an ongoing way of life. We pray individually, corporately, and publicly because we know the God of justice, who hears and will respond.

Remember the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge who finally gave into the widow who would not stop asking for justice? The deeper message of the parable of the persistent widow goes beyond wearing someone down, but it is about remaining persistent in prayer.

When we pray to the One who established justice, he cares and is always working to bring about justice. We who cry out to him day and night, believing that he will respond quickly, need to continue in deep faith. Jesus reminds us that there is incredible faith needed to keep a lifestyle of persistent prayer.