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How could this Cat prayer be changed to focus on God's glory?
"Lord, I just heard the news report about the shooting downtown and how many innocent lives were taken! Oh God, how can people get to such a place they do things like that? It seems that none of us are safe anymore... If it's not snipers shooting people getting gas, it could be a student in a school, a worker walking into any workplace or even someone taking people in a church hostage! God, I'm so scared -- please help us find a place to go where life can be the way you intended and the way we want!"
Here's what we think:
Dog Prayer: Lord, with every news report we hear more and more about the depravity of mankind. You warned us that times would evidence that very thing -- and Your word tells us this wasn't your design. God, you asked us to be the salt of the earth... we haven't kept it from decaying. You asked us to be the light of the world... but it's growing darker. God, please don't abandon us... call us out and raise us up to proclaim Justice. Give us a determination to set right examples, to reach out to victims and offer comfort. It's difficult to see your glory shining through this kind of darkness -- so empower and equip us. Give us wisdom of thought, comfort of heart and firmness of spirit. God - send your Holy Spirit to give the world a conscience again...
Our Analysis
It's true, the latter days will show the fall of man in more obvious ways. Crime upon the public isn't a stranger to history though -- every generation has a time of crisis. Could some of it be avoided if believers lived the life of faith instead of just studying about it? -- Maybe. The first prayer shows the condition of mankind, but it also exhibits an attitude of escape and only asks God to relieve them of their fears, while the second assumes some personal responsibility for some events and then asks God to demonstrate His glory through the darkness of the sin of man.
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