Prayer for Mass Murder Victims, Families and Communities
Praying for mass murder victims, families and communities is a powerful way to bring God’s presence into the darkness of grief and terror to bring God’s healing love.
Prayer for Mass Murder Victims, Families and Communities
Dear Heavenly Father,
Our hearts are broken today as we contemplate the numbing circumstances of another mass murder in the headlines. We pray especially that your healing presence will be with all of those who have been directly affected. We pray for the victims who have suffered physical and psychological wounds as a result of being attacked without warning while they went about a normal part of daily life. Heal their bodies, minds, souls and spirits and give them good caregivers who will listen to them, cry with them and pray with them. May the victims feel our love and your love.
We pray for the families whose loved ones have been killed. Be with them during this time of shock, grief and mourning. Bear them up as they lay to rest their loved ones and as they commend them into your heavenly care. Walk with them through their times of anger, their sorrow that they didn’t get to say goodbye and during the sudden agony of all of their tomorrows when they will be terribly aware of the empty places in their homes and hearts.
We pray for the communities where this tragedy occurred. Help your churches become refuges of comfort. Empower your people to become the hands and feet of Christ to reach out with your restoring love.
We are at a loss for words on how to pray for the person who committed this unimaginable act. Only You can understand the tormented state of mind that must have possessed them. Please restrain and foil the plans of others like them who harbor hatred, anger, homicidal tendencies, mental instability and evil intent. Have mercy on their families and friends who also suffer greatly as a result of their violent acts.
Finally, we pray for ourselves. Help us to pray with your compassion for those who suffer violence. Give us a renewed sense of what a gift it is to live each day in peace and freedom. Help us not to allow ourselves to be diminished by fear but instead let us draw closer to you. Make us instruments of your peace in our homes and communities.
Amen.
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Church Prayer for Mass Murder Victims, Families and Communities
Grieving Child Prayer for Adults Helping a Child Grieve the Death of Someone They Love
Copyright Karen Barber 2012 All rights reserved.
Photo courtesy of Peggy Baiad
