“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” — Psalm 23:6
After coming home from worship services on the Sunday after the shootings in Ohio and El Paso, while I relaxed and watched my Hallmark movies, I got a quick phone call from my 75-year-old brother, telling me to call all of my children and tell them to stay away from malls and shopping centers now because there is too much violence in the world.
He said, “I know we cannot make them listen, but as parents, it is up to us to warn them about these unsettling times we are living in today!”
Panicked, I jumped on my cellphone, and sent all three of my children and my grandchildren a text, suggesting they stay away from malls and shopping centers. However, it didn’t feel right to me. You see, at church that morning, I went up to the alter as I do most Sundays and I prayed for every one of my children, grandchildren and others, asking God to surround them with His goodness and mercy angels.
This column is a reminder to each of us, even to myself, to pray without ceasing. We must remain vigilant, and lean and depend on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He said in Psalm 91:4: “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
As Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Isiah 40:31 says, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
We must cover ourselves, cover our families, our congregations and all of our co-workers. If you are someone who has not been going to worship services, go back to church again. This is a time when we all need to pray.
Here is my personal invitation, extended to you, to come to my church, All Nations Baptist Church, 2001 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, D.C., 20002. Our pastor is the Rev. Dr. James Coleman. He preaches and teaches the Holy Bible in a way that the Lord is pleased! We all need a earthly father to lead and guide us.
“Scripture teaches us the Lord is stay close to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit,” he said, referencing Psalm 34:18. “We seek comfort in those words, for we know that God lives in the hearts of those who grieve.”
The psalm he quoted is among those that Bible readers have turned to after mass shootings like we continue to have:
John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Romans 12:19: “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
Psalm 11:5: “The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.”
These Scriptures are ones we must all cling to these days with so many outbreaks of gun violence in the world, especially in the United States of America. Join me in praying that God will surround you and your family and friends with his “goodness and mercy” for all the days of your life.
Lyndia Grant is a speaker/writer living in the D.C. area. Her radio show, “Think on These Things,” airs Fridays at 6 p.m. on 1340 AM (WYCB), a Radio One station. To reach Grant, visit her website, www.lyndiagrantshow.com, email lyndiagrant@gmail.com or call 240-602-6295. Follow her on Twitter @LyndiaGrant and on Facebook.