Grief at Virginia TechTuesday, April 17, 2007
"Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."(Matthew 5:4)
We know you are watching the news coming out of Blacksburg, Virginia, just as we have been. The slayings of 33 students at Virginia Tech, and the wounding of many others, have indeed been horrific.
Because this news is known to all of us in our Prayer Partner network, we will not repeat it here. Instead, tonight, we have come to pray . . .
PRAYERS FOR THE VA TECH COMMUNITY
PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILIES
In Jesus' Holy Name we pray,
Amen"
(Submitted by: Bettye Seilye; A Lamp Unto My Feet)
· Pray for the students at Virginia Tech to experience the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit this week as they mourn the loss of fellow students and friends.
· Pray for the churches in the area and the Christians on campus to be a source of strength and encouragement to others in this time, demonstrating Christ's love to those who are grieving.
· Ask God to protect the schools in our nation from further attacks of this nature.
· Pray for a revival among the youth of America, that they would come to know Christ and receive the good news of the Gospel.
'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4).
(Submitted by: The D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship; Washington, D.C.)
More Prayers for the Families
Father, the lives of many families changed forever following yesterday's tragedy at Virginia Tech. We ask You to comfort those families and bring emotional healing. We ask You to physically heal those who were wounded in the shooting incident. We ask You to bring emotional and spiritual healing to the students, teachers, and administrators at Virginia Tech. We ask You to use this tragedy to have America unite in prayer. We ask You to bring something great out of what seems so terrible, as only You can do. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
(Submitted by: Randy Peck, Your Daily Blessing; April 17, 2007)
PRAYERS FOR OUR YOUTH AND COUNTRY
May God protect our children. I claim the following scripture:
"So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50:21)
And I pray:
"To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me." (Psalm 25:1-2)
(Submitted by: Rita Villa; Los Angeles, CA) Rita Villa
PRAYERS FOR REVIVAL AT VIRGINIA TECH AND ACROSS THE NATION
To All,
Along with all that we are praying concerning the tragedy at VA Tech, let us DECLARE that what the devil has meant for evil, death and destruction, GOD will turn to GOOD (Genesis 50:20 & Romans 8:28)
Out of death - let us call forth LIFE: Out of tragedy - let us call forth full-blown REVIVAL on the campus of VA Tech.
Our God is a God of Redemption, Resurrection, and Restoration!
" God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble... There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn." (Psalm 46:1, 4-5)
Sovereign, Loving God - full of mercy and grace,
May Your River of Revival flood this campus with life, hope and faith.
May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done - here and now - as it is in heaven . . .
AMEN - So be it.
(Submitted by: Barbara Potts, Fort Washington, MD)
A Prayer of Repentance for the Slaughter of the Unborn
We pray Lord for the families of everyone affected by this tragic incident. Lord, we pray that our nation will go back to You and Your righteousness so that this violence will cease! Lord as we repent of the slaughter of our unborn, please end of the abuse and the killing of our children at all ages!
· "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)
(Submitted by: Anita LeDuc, Houston, TX)
PRAYERS TO AVERT FURTHER ATTACKS
[Note: As we prepare to offer up this prayer, please be advised that, earlier today, campus threats forced lock-downs and evacuations at universities in Texas, Oklahoma and Tennessee and two public schools in Louisiana on Tuesday, a day after a Virginia Tech student's shooting rampage killed 33 people.]
"Father God, We cry out tonight, asking for Your undeserved Mercy and Grace to be manifest among us in this great nation.
We thank You that it is written that "it is not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord," that these things shall be accomplished.
We ask You to loose Your ministering angels to go across this nation and to visit every campus of every size, to stand guard at the gates of the city. We ask You to grant the school authorities and security personnel unusual watchfulness in this hour, quick to note any behavior of a suspicious naturethat should be reported and addressed.
We ask that, if there are any "triggers" in the minds of any disturbed individuals, You would cause Your angels to disarm those triggers -- and those individuals -- before any other harm is done to our youth.
We thank You, dear Lord, that we can ask this in Your Mighty Name, and through the power of Your Shed Blood.
In Jesus' Name, Amen."
President Bush Offers Condolences at Virginia Tech Memorial Convocation
President Bush on Tuesday said, "And on this terrible day of mourning, it's hard to imagine that a time will come when life at Virginia Tech will return to normal. But such a day will come. And when it does, you will always remember the friends and teachers who were lost yesterday, and the time you shared with them, and the lives they hoped to lead. May God bless you. May God bless and keep the souls of the lost. And may His love touch all those who suffer and grieve. "
Honoring the Victims of the Tragedy at Virginia Tech
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
Our Nation grieves with those who have lost loved ones at Virginia Tech. We hold the victims in our hearts. We lift them up in our prayers, and we ask a loving God to comfort those who are suffering.
As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on Monday, April 16, 2007, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, Sunday, April 22, 2007. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty- first.
GEORGE W. BUSH
