(Proverbs 3:31) Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways, for the Lord detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.

May God grant comfort and peace to everyone in Nashville who lost loved ones. God understands loss. He knows how to deal with suffering. May His grace cover everyone who is hurting.

May God grant mercy and wisdom to all of us and keep us from foolishness. Let’s pray that we don’t respond to this tragedy with idolatry. Our lawmakers cannot protect us from evil. Weapons are powerless without a finger on the trigger. Wickedness is not found in firearms but only in the human heart. God alone changes hearts. Not government. Not churches. Not schools. Not protests or activism.

May God continue to patiently remind us that apart from Christ there is only darkness and death. No mandate, policy, or rule will stop criminals from harming the innocent. Lawless people are unaffected by laws. Without God’s help, we are ALL lawless. May God forgive us when we put our trust in anything other than Him.

May God keep us from compounding evil by using this tragedy to advance our own agenda. Let’s not find blood on the hands of anyone other than the perpetrator. May we place blame only on the one who pulled the trigger.

May God make us wise.

May God make us humble.

May God fill us with righteousness and truth. The way to stop these tragedies is to replace hearts of stone with hearts of flesh. Let’s ask God for that.

(Ezekiel 36:26) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.