Our Gracious Heavenly Father, As our forefathers did in founding this great nation and as our fathers did in a similar time of national tragedy and senseless violence, we turn to you now in prayer. Today, we are still in shock...filled with deep sorrow, grief, and sadness at the loss of life. We don't even know how to pray... but we know you care for us, your children, and are more than ready to answer than we are to pray...We, like those who have gone before us, come now to put our trust in you, to forgive us our sins, to draw us closer together, to help us to do what is right. We pray for the families, there are so many, who have lost loved ones that you would be with them in a special way and give them your grace. We thank you for the heroes...over 300 firefighters, policemen, and emergency personnel who sacrificed their lives seeking to help alleviate suffering. And we pray for their families. May their grief be softened some and they be comforted in remembering their heroism. We thank you for all those who through several days have sought to rescue anyone still alive. We pray you will give them your grace. We thank you for the doctors and medical personnel who are trying still to save lives. We pray you will give them strength and wisdom beyond their own. Lord, help us in the midst of this to use this as an opportunity to seek your forgiveness for taking for granted all your blessings. Help us with the anger and hate we feel; the same kind of seeds of hate that allowed to continue erupted in this horrific act. Rather, help us to be drawn closer to you and to one another unifying us as a nation to rebuild, to heal, to do the right thing, and yes, to seek justice...not vengeance. We thank you for our land which has been so blessed. We pray for our nation and our leaders that you will give them wisdom how to guide us through this time and how to offer a wise, prudent and just response to those who did this. We pray you will give us the courage to be the nation we ought to be...to live morally right...not to give into fear but to put our trust more resolutely in you and to follow you in true freedom. We thank you for your love for us as we know it in Jesus, your Son, who gave His life for us all in order that we might abide in Him now and always! Help us to rise from this stronger...more determined to live as your children in this land of the free. May we use this freedom to share and care for others and to overcome evil with good. In the name of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. Amen