Bob Russell’s “Prayer for Our City” was recorded on April 12, 2023, the morning after a gunman opened fire inside the Old National Bank building in downtown Louisville, killing five people and wounding many others, including a police officer, before being shot and killed by police.
A Prayer for Our City
“God of all comfort, we need you today in Louisville, Kentucky. In the wake of this dreadful mass shooting, we don’t need news analysts bickering, politicians ranting–we don’t even need ministers preaching sermons about God’s will. – we need your presence right now. As C.S. Lewis said when his beloved wife died, I don’t need someone who looks like Jesus, I need Jesus.” You promised, “If you draw near to God, he will draw near to you.” Lord, we claim that promise right now.
Father, we love our city. We are privileged to live in a wonderful area. There are good people here. Please don’t let this horrific event divide us or scar us. Use it to unite us, pull us together. Thank you for the courage and swift response of our police department. Heal the wounded. Thank you for the tender heart of our governor and the leadership of our new mayor. Fairest, Lord Jesus, help us to be one as you are one with the Father, that we may take a stand against the increasing schemes of the adversary.
Your word says we’re to bear one another’s burdens. Help us to band together as a community and comfort one another. And help us to have a ministry of presence for the grieving. We all grieve, but some among us are absolutely crushed, buckling under the shock that their loved one is not coming home. Would you honor their bent knee, dry their wet eye and heal their broken heart? Lord, we pray for the devastated family of the shooter, this former coach, and his wife, who are distraught at what has occurred. We claim your promise for them, “Blessed are those who mourn; they shall be comforted.” Lift them up right now by your Holy Spirit.
We’re frightened, Lord. There are so many burdens, toils, and snares in our world. We’ve turned away from you and arrogantly thought we didn’t need you- now we discover we can’t restrain evil. We can’t dodge the gunfire, we can’t escape the violence, and we feel very unsafe – insecure, in the face of the demonic behavior that surrounds us. We tremble for our kids going to school and our mates going to work. Help us to cast our anxiety on you, confident that you care for us. O, Rock of Ages, may we hide ourselves in you.
We remember how Jesus interrupted every funeral He ever attended. He once saw a mother weeping for her deceased son and tenderly said to her, “Don’t cry.” Jesus cared. His heart was touched with her grief. He did more than bring comfort. He raised the boy from the dead and gave him back to his mother. They went home arm in arm, rejoicing.
Remind us there is coming a day when Jesus will do the same for us in our grief. The only variable is time. The dead in Christ will rise first because, on that first Easter, Jesus became the first fruits of those who sleep in Him. May we hear the One who conquered death whisper to us, “Don’t cry. It’s going to be right someday. Someday soon, the graves will be opened, and there’s going to be a great, great meeting in the air.” Comfort us with that promise right now.
Until that day, give us strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. even though we don’t understand everything. Help us to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for our labor is not in vain in the Lord.” We pray this in the strong, healing, consoling name of Jesus, Amen.”
