Prayer for a Nation in Crisis

Stonebridge Family, 

I've prepared a guiding prayer to use as we process the tragic events yesterday: the loss of Charlie Kirk, the school shooting in Colorado, along with other horrific events and losses of life in the recent history of our country. May we be in prayer for their families and lean on Christ as our comfort. May we continue to move forward with boldness about the good news of the gospel that can transform lives and hearts. As we navigate the days and weeks ahead, let's be the body of Christ to one another, helping bear each other's burdens and extend this same care to our neighbors. Most importantly, let's turn to scripture in our time of need and not rely on our own understanding.

In Christ,
Pastor Brandon


Gracious Heavenly Father,

As we are reminded once again of how broken our nation is, how fallen our humanity, how dark and corrupt our world, we cry out to you for justice and mercy. We join the Psalmist in praying Psalm 10:

Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? 
  Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? 

2 In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; 
  let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised. 
3 For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, 
  and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD. 
4 In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; 
  all his thoughts are, "There is no God." 
5 His ways prosper at all times; 
  your judgments are on high, out of his sight; 
  as for all his foes, he puffs at them. 
6 He says in his heart, "I shall not be moved; 
  throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity." 
7 His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; 
  under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.
8 He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. 
  His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; 
9 he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; 
  he lurks that he may seize the poor; 
  he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. 
10 The helpless are crushed, sink down, 
  and fall by his might. 
11 He says in his heart, "God has forgotten, 
  he has hidden his face, he will never see it." 

12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; 
  forget not the afflicted. 
13 Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, 
  "You will not call to account"? 
14 But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, 
  that you may take it into your hands; 
to you the helpless commits himself; 
  you have been the helper of the fatherless. 
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; 
  call his wickedness to account till you find none. 

16 The LORD is king forever and ever; 
  the nations perish from his land. 
17 O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; 
  you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear 
18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, 
  so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

Pour out your Spirit on this nation. Reveal the emptiness, evil, and brokenness of life without you. The utter folly of rejecting and resisting reality. And the devastating effect on human souls and the culture around us. 

We recognize that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12). So give your church the grace to keep preaching the gospel. To announce the good news of Christ’s reign and redemption. To weep with those who weep (Rom. 12:15). To love our enemies and pray for them, as Christ calls us to do (Matt. 5:44). Help us not to be overcome with evil, but to overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21).

In the name of Jesus, Amen.