Pray For Your City

Last night as we were getting ready for bed we heard 7 loud gunshots coming from outside.  We then waited, slightly shocked, for the sirens.  A few minutes later the brigade of sound and lights began.  We saw 3 fire trucks, 1 ambulance and at least 5 cop cars come zooming down Othello to 46^th Ave, two streets down from us. 

This morning I searched on my phone to find any news of what happened and this is what I found:

Just after 10 p.m., two people were shot in South Seattle and sent to Harborview Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Seattle Police Department. The shooting happened in the 7200 block of 46th Avenue South near Othello Playground.

Police said the shooting occurred at a “known gang house.” They think the suspects may have fled in a light green van.

The two victims were teenage boys, according to the Seattle Fire Department.

It is funny how normal and uneventful the news makes this sound- when you know lives where changed, effected and damaged. 

Watching the multiple of emergency vehicles go flying down our street reminded me to be praying for the area I live in.  I encourage all of you to do the same of praying for your city, area or neighborhood.  Even if you don’t live in an area that shootings and gangs are the norm- something most likely is…pride, materialism, gossip, jealousy you name it.  The suburbs may be physically safe but they are just as spiritually dangerous as anywhere else to the soul.  No matter where you live there will be something to battle that can either pull you further away from Jesus or closer to Him.  Choose the latter and pray for your city.    

Romans 13:8-14

⁸ Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. ⁹ The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰ Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. ¹¹ And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹² The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. ¹⁴ Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.