Heavenly Father,
We are sick at the Parkland shooting. Yet again, the senseless loss of life. Families are forever changed. Thank You that You never change.
Malachi 3:6For the families:
For I am the Lord, I change not;
Father, the grief of each family is beyond my understanding. We don't know the last words spoken to their children or their husband as they parted on that morning. What were the words of siblings to each other, parents to their children, children to their parents? ...exchanges between spouses? You know O God.
These are words that will live on in their minds for the rest of their lives. They are changed forever. Have mercy on them. Do the impossible...comfort them. Grant them peace—even if they don't want it. We need a miracle.
For the surviving students, teachers, officials, and administration:
Father, You know each heart. You know each thought and You alone understand. Nothing escapes You.
Psalm 139:2Surely, there is no way for us to understand. There is no way to make it make sense. Yet, we cannot help ourselves as we engage on ceaseless thoughts to try to work through it. It is not possible. We need You. We need the peace that passes understanding...yet, in our grief, we cannot even desire peace. There is no way to make sense of these killings. Have mercy O God.
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
There are many images and sounds that are etched in the minds of everyone involved here. Images and sounds of horror: the dead, groans of the wounded and dying. The sound of bullets. The screams of friends. The orders of the law enforcement, sobs of friends and family; some with the relief of knowing their loved one is alive, and the angst of those who have been stripped of a loved one, a brother or sister, a friend and classmate, a teacher, a parent, a spouse.
Truly, this is the sound of horror.
Today, Father, the sound of terror and horror screams in the silence of the minds of everyone involved and perhaps in the minds of those of us who look from afar. There is so much brokenness, that it is hard to even conceive of healing. We are in shock. We need You.
Please send those who can help to manage this situation. Pour out the right words, or no words at all. Pour out understanding, discernment. Only You know what would help. Father, I can not think of anything that would help. But You are the perfect God of grace. Touch this situation.
Father, there are many broken hearts. Rise up and touch the many.
Psalm 34:18You promise to bring good out of every situation for those who love You and are called by You for Your purpose. Only You know how this is possible in this situation. The brokenness is inconceivable. Father, send those that love You and are called. They are needed. Open their mouths and hearts. Give them a presence that can assure others that You are there in this incredible time of need.
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Romans 8:28For the law enforcement officers:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Father, these men and women have put aside their feelings and inclinations to subdue this shooter. This was their task after seeing the carnage that this person left in his path. Thank You for their training and self control. Thank You for their quick action to save others and to bring the situation under control. Thank You for these men and women who choose this profession despite the negativity and the harm that surrounds them.
For the shooter:
I ask for special grace for this young man, who lost his father and recently lost his mother...who has no semblance of belonging. Salvage this soul. Please bring a testimony that will speak of Your uncompromising righteousness and salvation for all who believe on Jesus Christ and His atonement for our sin. May many lives be saved through this incident.
For recovery:
Father, how will this young man recover? Does he have family? How will the families of the victims recover? Only You know. What can be salvaged for him. I cannot conceive of how this man can move forward. Father, can this man be a wake-up call to this nation that the problem is not gun control. We have lost our love of life and have made this kind of an act acceptable. Yet, YOU are the God of life. I ask for everyone here to be surrounded by forgiveness. This sounds so cheap and shallow. It sounds dismissive. Yet, I ask that people can draw close to You and find forgiveness for themselves as well. They need a miracle. We all need a miracle.
For those that blame:
Father, there is so much blame going on. We blame gun control; we blame President Trump; we blame law enforcement. We blame the administration. We blame those who thought there might be a problem and didn't act. We put blame everywhere that we can see. Yet we haven't visited the mirror.
We do not want to go to the truth that we are to blame. Your church is to blame! We have not done our part to take back this nation. It has gotten out of hand and Your church has not prayed against the insidious moral decay that has taken our land out from under us!
We are the ones that know that the battle is NOT against flesh and blood! We are the ones who know that it is not about the gun laws, President Trump, Congress...or anything else that is about flesh and blood!
What's worse is that You have given Your church the weapons to fight the unseen enemy.
Ephesians 6:12Yet, we do not want to face this. Father, You know what it will take for Your church to rise up and take back that which You have given us in this nation...utilizing the weaponry that You have provided. Please awaken Your church to repent and to do our part.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
May this incident cause us to rise up as the soldiers You have called to "occupy" until You come (Luke 19). Raise us up O God, Change our hearts.
...that we may found faithful in the day of Your coming,
In Jesus’ Name.
Please consider these prayers for the revival of our nation:
For the U.S.
For the Sanctity of Life
Disaster Recovery Prayers
For the Trump Administration
For Leaders and Decision Makers
For Pastors, especially in the U.S.
***This prayer is my own and the content does not reflect the philosophy or policies of any organization. It is inspired by the Intercessors for America newsletter. Learn more and consider joining this incredible organization, that is committed to praying for America.
For assistance in understanding God's Word, consider the Derek Prince Legacy Radio podcasts. This and other free and life-changing resources can be found at https://www.derekprince.org/.
For encouragement and guidance to pray for our nation, please consider being a part of Intercessors for America. Join this army of prayer warriors. Consider visiting their website to learn more. http://ifapray.org/
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