Today, let’s pray for those affected by last Wednesday’s mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, in which four people died, and nine others were injured. This marks the 45th school shooting among at least 388 mass shootings so far this year in the US. (Gun Violence Archive)
Father God, please comfort those who mourn and heal the minds and hearts of those traumatized by this tragedy. Bring Christians to them to love and counsel them, and hold every heart gently in Your hands, peeling away the many layers of anger and sorrow and placing a hunger for LIFE that can only be found in You. Meet them each in powerful ways, showing them Your truth and love and inviting them into Your kingdom.
Thank You, Lord, that all nine of those wounded (eight students and one teacher) are expected to recover. Thank You, also, Lord, for each of the brave students and teachers who helped save lives that day.
Please wrap Your arms around the friends and families of students Christian Angulo, 14, and Mason Schermerhorn, 14, and of teachers Cristina Irimie, 53, and Richard Aspinwall, 39. Let them feel You near, and comfort them with Your love. Surround them with Christians who will care for them and help them through the difficult weeks and years to come. And draw them to Yourself. Save those who are lost and increase the faith of those who are saved.
Pursue the shooter, Colt Gray, with Your love. Fight for his heart, Lord. Raise up Christians from among those who mourn or were wounded who will go to him and tell him they forgive him, and then share the gospel with him. Bring Christians to him to give him a Bible and share the message of salvation with him at the juvenile detention center where he is being held, who will walk alongside him showing him Christ until he can see Him clearly. Break his heart with fear of the Lord and remorse over his sin. Open his mind to seek You desperately and find You. Break the chains that bind him to Satan’s purposes. Set him free from the demons that led him to this act. Lift the fog from his mind and show him who You truly are and who You created him to be. Break down every wall of anger, fear and evil. Burst through with Your Love, conquering every lie with Truth.
We ask the same for his father, Colin, who faces severe sentencing for handing his son the gun. In his sorrow and desperation, draw him to Yourself. Bring Christians to him to forgive him openly and share the good news of salvation with him. Put a Bible in his hands. And show him Your love and grace. Turn his life around. Tell him, Colt, and Colt’s mother Marcee that their lives are not over. In fact, life can begin now for REAL with You.
From out of this terrible tragedy, O God, bring forth great good for Your purposes. Give every student, every teacher, everyone who has heard the tragic news a deep, deep longing for You. Save the lost. Bring the prodigals back home to You. And grow Your church. Spark a revival in Winder and beyond that spreads to other counties and states. Awaken Georgia and awaken us all to Your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Join us daily as we pray through the news for our nation, the world and our own hearts to awaken to God’s love. Enter your email above and get each new prayer guide in time for your morning quiet times with God.
Mikaela Vincent and her husband are missionaries who live by faith, trusting in God to provide for their needs as they pray for and share Christ with the nations. If you would like to help their ministry through a donation, or by shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, click the buttons below:
For the deep devotional Bible study workbooks and accompanying journals for tweens and teens on walking in the power of Christ’s love, 1-2-3 Walk in Step with Me (ages 8-12), Dare to Become a Man of God (ages 10-13), Dare to Be a Man of God (ages 14+), Delight to Become a Woman of God (ages 10-13), Delight to Be a Woman of God (ages 14+), and the power-packed Pure-As-Gold Seal series Chronicles of the Kingdom of Light, visit MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com
When you click on the above links, all proceeds the author receives from the sale of the books featured in this post go to shining Christ’s light to the nations.
Thank you for your support! If you’d like to know more about how you can help the Vincents’ ministry, please contact Mikaela.
PRAYER WALL 