A Prayer for London Tonight

Eternal Father, Defender of those oppressed by evil, who sent Thine only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to break the bonds of Satanic darkness, we turn to Thee again, this time, at the unholy sight of pedestrians covered in blood, crowds running in fear through the commercial districts of a global city, sirens suddenly wailing through the soft summer air, and an ordinary evening in London suddenly, tragically, transformed into a war zone. Dear Father, grant courage and resolve to our Mother Country, Great Britain, so that a shocked nation, still reeling from the horrors of the Manchester attack, from a London Parliament attack, will know Thy Spirit’s comfort in mourning, Thy Son’s ascended glory in perseverance, and the confidence of faith that their brothers and sisters in Christ are lifting them to our God in prayer; and in the midst of our struggle against the great evil of our age, Jihadist terrorism, we pray, O Lord, that the British authorities—indeed, all of our allied nations—can confront this singular enemy with courage, wisdom, and with speedy victory, so that we may live a quiet and peaceable life, in repentance and faith, in truth and love, and work together with people of all nations and all religions for mutual forbearance and respect, until all of Thy children across the world are brought safely into the Kingdom of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. And Father, help the people of that most fair and lovely green island, where so many of our hymns were composed, to sing in the sanctuary again. In Jesus’ name we humbly pray. Amen.