This autumn has been a tough one for our country and friends throughout the world. We’ve been hit with hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, floods, and the violence of humanity. I think to myself if there were ever a time for prayer it would be now. This week Manhattan lost 8 individuals in a horrible act of terrorism. We grieve with all those who have experienced this type of horrific lose. This is the time to come together to pray for peace in a world that suffers at the hands of extremism and hate. This is the time to pray for those who have lost so much that they might know God’s compassion and that in response the love of their national and local communities rise above such hateful acts to offer support, nurture, and care. It is time that God’s love reign supreme. It is time for God’s love to take hold and it can only happen through the prayerful actions of you and me.
So pray with me.
Heavenly God, our world is in so much pain. Violence is robbing the world of so much potential and holy life. It is time that the world come to know your love, your compassion, your care. Give us the courage to reach out to those who suffer offering our support and compassion. Cradle those who have lost so much in your comforting embrace. And remind everyone, that you only call us to love life as much as you have loved us. Help us to rise above the pain and the hate. Help us to come to a time when mutual care and support becomes the impetus for learning how to live into the potential you have placed upon our hearts together in community. Help us to learn how to place the respect and love of life in all forms first. Maybe then no more lives will be sacrificed to the hatred and violence of humanity. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
