What else can we do after 18 children and eight adults are killed in a senseless shooting? Like the disciples in Acts 1:14, let’s all with one mind and one accord devote ourselves to prayer in light of these tragedies: Kayla Campbell’s Death and The Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting. And if you are aware of anything that we can do to serve these people, please make it known.
It’s hard to know how to pray during times like this. Here are some scriptures to inform and empower our prayers. I recommend grabbing one, meditating on the scripture and making it your recurring prayer for the rest of the day. Then use another one tomorrow. However you do it, please pray.
- We can pray for God to be gracious to and heal those who are languishing and troubled. (Psalm 6:2)
- We can pray for them to take refuge in God and for God to preserve them. (Psalm 16:1)
- We can pray that the Lord would be always before them, at their right hand, and that they would not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8)
- We can pray for God to give counsel, grant justice, shelter the outcasts and reveal the fugitives. (Isaiah 16:3)
- We can pray that those who are mourning will be blessed and comforted. (Matthew 5:4)
- We can pray mercy to permeate the hearts of all involved. (Matthew 5:7)
- We can pray that this will be a catalyst for Christians to work harder and shine brighter as salt and light in this decaying and dark world. (Matthew 5:13-17)
- We can pray against a spirit of retaliation and hatred among the wronged. (Matthew 5:38-48)
- We can pray for God’s name to be held up as holy. (Matthew 6:9)
- We can pray for God’s kingdom to come and his will to be done on earth like it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)
- We can pray for God to provide for their physical needs. (Matthew 6:11)
- We can pray that this would remind us all to lay up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. (Matthew 6:19-21)
- We can pray against anxiety for all the parents across the world who read this news. We can pray that we all will seek first the kingdom of God rather than worrying. (Matthew 6:25-34)
- We can pray that many in light of this tragedy would call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. (Acts 2:21)
- We can pray that many would “save themselves from this crooked generation” by receiving the gospel. (Acts 2:40-41)
- We can pray that the Lord would add to the number of those being saved in the local churches day by day. (Acts 2:47)
- We can pray that these events would prompt repentance and “times of refreshing” from the presence of the Lord”. (Acts 3:19-20)
- We can pray that God would restore all things. (Acts 3:21)
- We can pray grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ to all involved. (Romans 1:7)
- We can pray that God will send Christians to “impart some spiritual gift to strengthen” those involved in their faith and encourage them. (Romans 1:12)
- We can pray that the gospel would be preached in light of these horrible things and that people would be saved. (Romans 1:16)
- We can pray that Jesus will return soon to put an end to evil. (Revelation 1:7)
- We can pray that those involved would find “patient endurance” in Jesus. (Revelation 1:9)
Please also come pray with us at Dulin’s Grove at 9:30am this Sunday if you can.
