Skip to main content

A Small Prayer for Paris

Dear LORD, 

You are sovereign even when, in our eyes, our world starts spinning out of control and we feel utterly helpless. You are a gracious and loving Father--Abba. You know each of your children deeply and completely. We praise you for you are good. You are good. 

You hear our cries, and you see our tears.  And one day, you will take away our pain, death will be no more, and you will wipe every tear from our eyes. But right now we weep with Paris. Right now, we boldly and humbly approach your throne because we recognize how much we need you, LORD. 

Our hearts ache for the people in Paris. 
Be with them now. Let your presence be close to them. Let your love shine through the midst of this dark, dark night. Be with those who have lost and with those who have been scarred. Bring healing and peace, we ask with all our hearts. 

Be with those who attacked. May we be bold enough to ask you to transform their hearts. Help us to remember that you sent your Son to die for their sins as well. Help us to remember that one day you will bring about ultimate justice. 

Please hear these prayers of your children. Bring about your will, and remind us that your plan is greater than any we could ever imagine.  

Forgive us as we so often believe we could do better. Forgive us because so often we don't understand why you allow things like this to happen and we turn away from you. Let us run to you now. God, please embrace the people of Paris tonight.  

Bring reconciliation.

We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 29 Roots

Orange unfurls from green and lies under layers of brown. Roots are planted deep, but canopies are left bare with death as bitter winds befriend my nose and fingers. I pray my roots are deep enough to endure the change of season. What if death consumes everything that sits on the surface so everything underneath is exposed? Dig deep, patiently wait for the sprout to emerge, let the roots begin to sink in. The winds may blow the leaves away and break some branches, but resurrection comes with change too. Hope lives in the roots.
Post a Comment
Read more

Day 27 You are a Leader

Today Pastor Chris (at Riverbank Church in White River Junction, VT) talked about one of my favorite topics-- Christian leadership.  What do you think of when we hear the word "leader?" Maybe you think, "sure, I'm a leader." That's great! But maybe you think, "uh, no way, I don't have the abilities or the gifts to be a leader." And if that's you, I understand where you are coming from. But friend, I'm lovingly telling you, you're dead wrong. As Christians, we are all leaders.  Really, I think we're just defining leadership wrong. Leadership, from a biblical standpoint, is serving others (Matthew 20:28), influence (Galatians 5:16-25), responsibility (Galatians 6:4-5), character (2 Peter 1:3), and skill (Luke 1610-12). We all have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, and he is the most powerful influence. So if we have him living inside of us, and working through us, how can we not be leaders? See, God does not call the qualif...
Post a Comment
Read more

Day 28 Divine Love in Truth

I'm going to back-track here... back to truth. Remember how I said it's connected to love? Christopher Heuertz says in The Sacred Enneagram  that "there is divine love in all truth no matter where it's from." But see, sometimes the truth hurts. So where's the love then? What about the truth that I am broken and selfish and impatient and human? When we are held accountable, we typically don't like hearing where we've gone wrong. And yet, being held accountable is so valuable and necessary. It helps us see who we truly are-- even the ugly bits.  It teaches us how we can grow and who we are becoming.  It draws us closer to Love. When you can see where you struggle, you can also choose to see your potential. I believe that's how God sees all of us.  He sees our cracked pieces and sees beauty because he can see the final work. It requires hope on our end, and patience to hear and develop from hard truth. So next time you hear someone tell you that t...
Post a Comment
Read more