Those who walked in the dark have seen a bright light. And it shines upon everyone who lives in the land of darkest shadows. Our Lord, you have made your nation stronger. Because of you, its people are glad and celebrate like workers at harvest time or like soldiers dividing up what they have taken.
You have broken the power of those who abused and enslaved your people. You have rescued them just as you saved your people from Midian. The boots of marching warriors and the blood-stained uniforms have been fed to flames and eaten by fire.
A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“I am praying with everything I’ve got -Our church’s bishop, Gary Mueller, wrote this prayer as part of his morning devotional titled “A Sunday Prayer”. In his writing, he noted the court decision handed down late last night acquitting a man who shot and killed Florida teenager… claiming he felt his life was in danger. There is great controversy on both sides of this case, and the Bishop began his note with the comment that there is once again a huge divide in our nation. He also noted that this breaks his heart… but it break’s God’s even more. So he begged God to send more and more of His love to us today… to bind us together and once again strengthen our nation.
Send your love today.
Then send it more and more and more.
Not just to others. But to me.
So I can do what I often feel incapable of doing.
Lead with your love in everything I think, feel, say and do.
Walk a mile in others’ shoes.
Understand in new ways.
Get on board with you.
Change in the ways I need to. And go to work -
Until your will is as real on earth as it already is in heaven.
So children can walk the streets safely.
And there’s no need to carry guns.
And no one will die from hunger.
And hatred is erased from human hearts.
Hear my prayer, Lord.
Hear our prayer, Lord.
Hear your prayer, Lord.
Amen.”
As I read over this passage in Isaiah, I felt a sense of encouragement. Isaiah foretold the coming of Jesus… the “Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God…Eternal Father and Prince of Peace”. We have all that we need in Him… we just have to tap into His power… grace…mercy… forgiveness… and abounding love. Because of Jesus, we can set our own feelings and opinions aside and operate in His love. We can try to see people and situations as Jesus sees them. We can go to work to erase hatred and unkindness… to lead with Christ’s love in everything we think, feel, say and do.
There are no winners in this situation. As is often the case, every person involved has lost in some way. We must turn to Jesus and find our victories in Him…discover triumph in the knowledge that Christ sacrificed His very life that we might live – abundantly and peacefully. We must focus on the love of Jesus and incorporate it into every single minute of our day. We must see each person as God’s creation, precious in His sight and fully entitled to the same love and care that He affords us. Only then can we fully experience peace and confidence.
I cannot imagine what it must be like for either family involved in this case… for the parents of these two men – both the son who was killed, and the one who has been acquitted. But we must not let disappointments and even perceived injustices define and disrupt us and take our focus off of sharing Jesus’ love. We must allow God to handle vengeance and serve as the Ultimate Judge. And we must ask God to fill us with His love and peace. Pray for God’s peace today and in the days ahead… for yourself and for our nation and the world at large.
"Hear our prayer, LORD… Hear our prayer."©2013 Debbie Robus
“A Sunday Prayer” – Bishop Gary Mueller, Arkansas Conference – The United Methodist Church
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