The Las Vegas Shooting and the Lord’s Prayer

The words of the Lord’s prayer, taken from Matthew 6:9-13, are in purple. My feeble attempt to apply this mighty prayer to the tragedy in Las Vegas is in italics.

9a "This, then, is how you should pray:

O Lord, even in the simple things of life we often are at a loss as to how we should pray, how much more so when facing the massive evil of over 500 people being injured in the worst mass shooting in our nation’s history. Yet, we thank you for teaching us how to pray. Help us to take the prayer you taught us to pray and apply it to the terrible tragedy of the Las Vegas shooting. And beyond that, please fulfill your promise to have your Holy Spirit intercede in deep ways which go beyond our words (Romans 8:26).

9b"'Our Father in heaven,

How thankful we are at a time like this to have you as our Heavenly Father. The gunman’s father was a criminal and an unfaithful father. Did that influence his son? We don’t know. But Lord, we do know that you are willing to be a Father to any who will accept Jesus as their Savior. You are a Father who loves, and gives, and protects, and disciplines us for our good, and transforms us, and You protect Your children. Oh, how great is your love that we should be called your children (1 John 3:1)!

Lord, right now many thousands of your children who have lost loved ones or who have loved ones injured by bullets, or who have been traumatized, need to be reminded of your great, faithful Fatherly love. Remind them, Lord! Help them “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:18).

Lord, we pray that even through this tragedy others will be drawn to Christ, and having heard the gospel, will believe and be adopted into your family.

9c hallowed be your name,

Oh God, please don’t let people listen to the lies of the devil and believe in any way that the evil in Las Vegas indicates any evil, or lack of love and power, in You. Rather, let Your Name be lifted up as the source of hope and comfort. Let people see in us Your great love, compassion, and goodness.

10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Lord, we long for you to be in charge, for you to rule in all that’s going on. Intervene, Lord. In every aspect of this tragedy come and rule. In every hospital room, be with the wounded. In the homes and hearts of every grieving person, reign with your love and mercy. Come and do Your good will through the police, FBI, and others as they seek truth and justice. Reveal truth. Bring justice here on earth, amidst all the pain and hurt and confusion brought by evil. Reign! Come and act as our King. And Lord, how we long for You to return and to end all the evil and pain and suffering and to establish Your New Heaven and New Earth, a home of eternal righteousness (2 Peter 3:13).

11 Give us today our daily bread.

Heavenly Father, provide all that the suffering need. Give the wounded healing. Grant the mourning comfort. Provide them with courage. Give those who are called to minister the right words that come from Your Holy Spirit. O Lord, thank you for being our mighty faithful provider.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Forgive us! We remember with trembling Your words, “. . . unless you repent, you will all perish as well” (Luke 13:3). If You “kept a record of our sins, O Lord, who could stand?” (Psalm 130:3). We confess that all of us deserve every hurricane and every bullet. But Lord, thank You for Your mercy! In Christ we are forgiven! O Lord, thank You. Cleanse us and purify us and bring revival and healing to our sin-stained land.

And give us forgiving hearts. Let us forgive as we have been forgiven.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. '

In our grief, our anger, our fear, and our confusion, protect us from temptation. Don’t let our feet stumble. Keep us from the pits and traps prepared by the evil one. Rather, let us hear Your voice and be led by Your Spirit through Your Word.

And keep us safe from the evil one and the evil in this world. We are reminded of the evil all around us. Watch over us, our families, and our church families. We trust You to shield us by Your power until we see the completion of Your salvation (1 Peter 1:5).

Do all this for Your glory Lord! “For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen,” (Matthew 6:13b, NKJV).