Difficult Times
Philippians 4:6-8
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
This is one of my favourite verses in the Bible and I find to be true as all God breathed scripture.
The anger and revulsion felt in recent times when a local friend, brother, son, community member, hard-working member of the police force lies in the hospital fighting for his life because of murderers determined to fight against the will of 99.99% of the population and think they are fighting for a united Ireland is certainly hard to bare even as a Christian!
I know we must forgive as we have been forgiven. We must pray for strength in the difficult times and for peace and love to overcome all as Christ died to forgive our sins, we pray firstly for John Caldwell, his family, friends, colleagues in these difficult times. That each be given the strength they need by the grace of God and even to find Christ in the midst of such horrendous circumstances.
The Scripture in Philippians 4:6-8 tells us to pray and trust in the Lord. Having done so time after time and so many times God has never been unfaithful and is always true to his word. Let us trust in him that not only John make a great recovery and get back with family, friends and colleagues but would seek justice done and those perpetrators of the horrendous murderous plans that have failed by the grace of God, thanking Him for the community being so united against those perpetrating such acts with abandonment of regard for those children and others in the area where such a heinous attack took place.
Let us put our trust in the Lord that he guide the investigation and bring to justice all those even remotely connected to such a heinous attempt on an upstanding citizen fighting to bring justice to a country that is sick of its murderous past and striving through work in the community, giving up his valuable free time to work with others and make this country a better place.
Dear God, we ask you to uphold and bring John from the struggles he fights hard against to come through this ordeal and know your hand upon him, and his family. That you uphold and strengthen his family, friends and colleagues who suffer in different ways in the midst of these trials as they need.
We pray that this unites the country against terrorism in all its forms and we pray that it bring an end to animals such as those who perpetrated this attempted murder and thank you that by your grace you have spared John and united the province and beyond against the abhorrent people as those disillusioned souls who have been fooled into thinking they will make a difference through murder and bloodshed.
We ask that this may be the last we see of any act of terrorism in our land and that this organisation and any others may be brought to the point where they cease to exist and realise nobody wants them or their actions.
We remember all those who have suffered over the years and is similar circumstances and pray that you hear our prayers as we ask, pray and thank you in Jesus precious name. Amen