DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
OUR PRAYER FOR AURORA
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© photo source
Today, we lift up Aurora, Colorado and all the families who have loved ones who were senselessly murdered and injured early last Friday morning in the movie shooting.
Before Friday, whenever I heard “aurora”, I pictured the beautiful and colorful display of an aurora borealis (northern light) or aurora australis (southern light) dancing against a night sky.
Now, unfortunately, “aurora” will bring up different images.
We’ll see the faces of victims and their loved ones, assault weapons and a booby-trapped apartment. We’ll think movie theaters, tear gas and gun control. We’ll try to figure out what went horribly wrong in the mind of a 24-year old student who recently withdrew from a neuroscience Ph.D. program.
On Friday evening, a CNN anchor commented that he would use the alleged mass murderer’s name as little as possible as not to bring fame to his name. I agreed with that. When I preached yesterday, I merely referred to him as ‘the shooter’. We all know who he is.
Yesterday, I shared some of Paul’s letter, 2 Corinthians 5, in which he talks about our groaning for our heavenly dwelling. When we’ve been given God’s Holy Spirit in Christ as a deposit for the eternal life that we have to come, we yearn for that heavenly place where there is no more death, mourning, pain and sorrow. We instinctively know that this gross display of sin we currently experience has to come to an end.
This ain’t it.
This is not paradise yet.
This is not the new heaven or new earth.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5: 9-10, “So we make it our goal to please him (the Lord), whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
Each one of us – the shooter, me, you – will have to give an account one day for the things we have done, good or bad. I am so humbled and grateful that we have an advocate in Jesus on that day of accounting. Our sinless Messiah, who took the penalty of our sins upon Himself, made it possible for each one of us to believe in Him as the only way and have eternal life with our Heavenly Father. I pray for each one of us – the shooter, me, you – to come to know fully our triune God: Father, Son and Spirit, repent for our wrongdoings, and trust Jesus as our advocate.
I don’t know about you, but my heart is still pretty busted for the families. I feel their grief and sorrow. Will you pray with me today?
PRAYER FOR AURORA
Heavenly Father,
Your word says that you are the Father of compassion and the God of all Comfort who comforts us all in our troubles. Will you please saturate Aurora, Colorado right now with your compassion and comfort? Please comfort fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, husbands, wives, children, families, friends, theater employees, first responders, hospital workers, city officials, students, all who were present, and all who have been deeply affected by this horrible act of violence. Please be near each person as he/she processes and grieves and tries to make sense out of the senseless.
Please comfort broken hearts and hear the cries of your children. Please give us a glimpse of your broken heart as well, as you so desire for us to turn to you, resist evil and not commit such heinous acts. Please reveal truth to the shooter that he would know the heartache he has caused and ask forgiveness.
Where darkness tried to take the city of Aurora out, please shine your brilliant aurora and heal the land.
Please heal the families in the years to come. Please heal Aurora in the years to come. Please heal our land in the years to come. We know that the blood of the innocent cries out to you for justice. We know that you are a God of justice, and justice will occur in this case. We also ask you for mercy, because all sin is unacceptable to you, including our own. We all need an advocate in your son, Jesus. So, please help us, Lord.
Help us.
Heal us.
In Jesus’ name,
Naima
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My heart was so heavy with sadness upon hearing of this horrible tragedy. I just can’t understand how anyone could be so hateful. Your prayer was truly heartfelt and I sanction that all will be well with all persons involved in this tragedy. God Bless.
Blessings to you as well, Theresa. Thank you.