Prayers for Our City: December 10, 2018 – Family
“Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.” Psalm 140:4 KJV
We are crying out as Your people on behalf of Huntsville/Madison County for the ending of murder and other violent crimes. We ask that first our hearts be cleansed and freed of any bitterness, prejudice or hate as we humbly offer ourselves to be distributors of Your peace. May our prayers and love link together as a shield about this region and may Your angelic army form that wall of fire to protect.
[The FBI reports a murder in Alabama every 26 hours. As of November 2018, there have been 27 homicides in Huntsville (the highest number in a given year in our city records was 28). In Huntsville, the majority of homicides are related to drug crimes, mental health, or domestic abuse.]
We ask that You, Lord, empower our police, public safety partners, mental health organizations, and area non-profits with wisdom and strategy to work together to prevent these tragedies. Thank You for the Crisis Intervention Training program they received and the creation of a mental health unit of six trained officers to respond to crisis situations involving the mentally ill. Enable the community to provide the resources needed in this battle.
Thank You for the Homicide Survivor Program whose mission is to identify survivors in need of practical intervention and support following the murder of a loved one and to provide emotional and grief support. Cause Your love and healing to flow to those they help as they provide victims’ advocacy and assist survivors as they navigate through the criminal justice system.
Especially during this holiday season, we ask You, Lord, to pour out Your love, hope and comfort to all the family and friends of those who have died in violent crime situations. We pray Your abundant blessings on Donna Howell who lost her 16 year old son to murder four years ago. She has established a foundation to help other families of homicide victims; decorating her yard with the photos of teens and children (Huntsville Angels) lost to violence, providing funds to help with funeral expenses, and giving memorial gifts at Christmas to grieving mothers. See Donna’s story here.
Lord, we ask for praying people to rise up to cover every family, street and neighborhood in Huntsville/Madison County with the protection and power of the blood of Jesus!
“O Lord, deliver me [everyone] from evil men. Preserve me [our children] from the violent,” Psalm 140:1 TLB
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