Saturday, July 21, 2012

July 21, 2012

Yesterday, in the United States people woke up to the news that 12 people had died in a movie theatre. The incident is horrific but I'm asking all of us to not look at the act but pray for the victims, the shooter and the families of all involved.  We can choose to look at this like everyone else.  We can question what kind of parents raised a son that would kill innocent people or we can take the stand that evil lurks but God is good and He will heal those that are left behind.  I would rather choose for His glory to be done and healing throughout a nation rather than worrying about why.

I can't change the events that occur all over the world.  I wish I could.  I would love if women weren't tortured, raped and molested.  I would love if the wars would stop and people could find peace.  I would love if everyone in Africa and all underprivileged countries had enough food.  I would love it if the killing would stop.  Unfortunately, I don't get to choose.  I get to live in a fallen world, where there is evil.  I get to be part of a movement that spreads the Gospel and teaches that God loves us.  I get to be a woman praying for a nation and the nation of others.  Why?   This world may be evil but we bow down to a God that loves us and that will have victory in the end.

I don't want to be afraid to send my kids to a movie, drop them off at school or watch them travel the world.  I must raise my sons to look at the world as a canvas and they are the painters.  Of course, the minute I heard the news, I stopped.  Do you know that my sons, when out of school, attend all the premiers like the Batman one.  What if?  I don't want to play the game of russian roulette.  There is no game for me.  This is Christ's will on my life and theirs.  I don't want to walk in fear that tomorrow the sky will fall and life will be different.

Satan wants us all to fear the unknown.  He plays on it and right now is hoping we are scared to go to the movie theatre.  He's hoping that women are watching the news and they are paralyzed.  It wouldn't be hard.  We want to protect our own and yet, we can't.  Our protection comes from our Father.  He knows the time we will live and die.  He knows every circumstance.

Today, I am having faith that my sisters in Christ will unite and pray for the victims of this tragedy.  They are all victims but in the dark there were chosen heroes, saving others, instead of themselves.  Those are the stories I want us to remember.  Let's thank Christ for those that survived, may they do unbelievable things in their lives through their testimony, like those that came out of Columbine.  Many of those children chose Christ and I'm sure they are still thankful that they are here to share their story.

Massacres are never easy.  Senseless killing is just not right.  But we follow a king that knows what tomorrow will bring.  We need to lift our brothers and sisters up and ask that God would do a miracle in their lives.  Please pray for the children that attended.  That they will see the hand of Christ and that they will walk in the light and not fear evil.  Children are resilient and they see God so much better than we do.  Pray for all of them please and remember that even though evil lurks, God is here!

1 John 3 16-23 NKJV:

      By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.  And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
     My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
     And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.  For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.  Beloved if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.  And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.  And this is His commandment:  that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

There are no assurances in this life.  We could walk out our doors today and perish.  We don't know what the next hour holds, let alone tomorrow.  Our only assurance in anything is our belief and love of Christ Jesus.  He knows everything and as I write, He has control of every word, every deed and every person.  I take comfort that He is present in this tragedy.  I also take comfort that He is present with all of us.  He is our guide, through His Spirit, He is revealed.  If you don't know Him today, please come before Him and ask Him into your heart.  People will let you down but He won't.  He is the only sure thing on this earth.  May God bless all of you as you reach out in prayer for the victims throughout the world.  They aren't just in Colorado, they are in every nation.  God will have victory but first, we have to believe.

My prayer today:

O, Lord, I come before You asking You to heal a nation.  We ask that You would bring comfort to the victims in Colorado and that You would be present with them as they deal with the events of July 19, 2012.  They are Your people and I'm sure that many came to know You that fateful night.  The testimonies of the heroes are about sacrifice and You know sacrifice better than anyone.  I'm asking that You protect those that survived and feed them through Your body.  I pray that women in every nation would unite and pray that Your will be done on the lives of these victims.  I pray that You would have victory in the battle and that people all over the world would come to You, crying that You are king.  I ask that Your Holy Spirit minister and pour out to the people of Colorado and that this senseless killing would represent more than lost lives.  I pray that there would be an outpouring of love and that we would all respond by lifting these people up.  You are the only one that can heal a nation.  You are the only one that can save a woman from being stoned.  You are the only one that can protect us and keep us all our days.  I pray right now that we would see that and we would claim that You are the chosen Son, who came and died for us.  We are sinful people, Lord.  People will judge the shooter's parents. They will judge the parents that took their children to the movie.  They will judge!  Please keep us from judgement and help us turn toward You.  The judgement comes from our fear and Lord, we don't want to fear.  We come before You, Your women asking for You to do miracles in every nation in the world. War will come, people will die but please help us to pray through it, so that we can see Your victory.  In Jesus name, AMEN

Until tomorrow...

No comments:

Post a Comment