As I write this, it’s been less than 48 hours since the nine people at the church in Charleston were gunned down and killed. The question is simply what “in God’s Name” do you say at a time like this? Personally I am experiencing grief, anger, and the hope that somehow this will bring us all closer together rather than farther apart. What could I say here that would help us heal and move forward? Those words are hard to find right now.
But I do know what the most important words are right now. And I am most comfortable in finding them. Those are the words of prayer. Please join me in these words of prayer. Read them now. Pray them again later. Pray them with your children and family. Pray them in your churches. Pray them with firm faith that God hears us and will give us the comfort, healing, and strength which we so desperately need right now.
Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come to You with heavy hearts right now as we ponder this terrible tragedy. Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for those whose lives were lost. Most merciful God, we commend into Your everlasting and merciful arms the souls of those tragically gunned down and killed. By their faith in Jesus, grant them the fullness of Your love forever in heaven. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for the families of the victims. O God of Comfort, wrap your tender arms around the grieving families of those taken from them. Enfold them with the peace only You can give, the peace which passes all human understanding. Let their tears flow, as did Yours, O Jesus, to help cleanse their souls of this painful grief. Keep them from destructive bitterness and the urge for revenge. Help them live their lives as examples of Your way of life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for love, acceptance, and unity across lines which sometime seem to divide us. O God, You are the one true God and Father of us all. Help us to acknowledge our unity of humanity. As You are Father to us all, we are all brothers and sisters of each other. Please help us see that, and live that out in ways better than we so often do. We all confess our sin of prejudice and division. We beg you to open our hearts, the hearts of white people, black people, and all others, and bring us together in a spirit of unity, based on the love of Jesus Christ, our common Lord and Savior. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for the perpetrator and those like him. Dear Lord all-powerful and almighty, use Your strength to overcome the delusion, hatred, and misguided spirit of this particular perpetrator and all others like him within all sectors of our society. Help us conquer and reform the criminal elements throughout our society. Help us take Your Love to these dark places, for it is only Your love which can bring The Light so desperately needed to bring about change for the better. Lord, in Your Mercy, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for law makers and law enforcement personnel across our land. O God, it is Your Will that people created by You would live peacefully and respectfully together under good law and necessary order. Bless our law makers so that our laws are made according to Your Will, and are fair, just, and equal for all. Bless our law enforcement personnel. We thank You for them. We acknowledge the sacrifices they make every day. Keep them safe. Help them make the right decisions as they encounter those who are breaking our laws. Lord, in Your Mercy, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for our children, youth, and families. Dear Father in Heaven, we fall to our knees with our deepest request concerning our children and youth. Help us not lose them, but to keep them close to You and close to a family that loves and guides them. Help us create families that teach children and youth Your ways for their lives both present and future. Bless and strengthen our families. Keep husbands and wives together, so that children have both a father and a mother. Help us lead and guide our children and youth away from hatred and violence, and toward the kind of love which You have first given us. Lord, in Your Mercy, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for our churches. Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Head of The Church. We may be many denominations, but we are all knit together as Your Body here on earth. Keep our churches strong so that they can be places where children and youth hear Your Truth about how to live their lives in the best way.
Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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[Find Kollmeyer at princeofpeacefayette.org]
