Dear Reader,
I’m not sure how my words will find you when you read them, but I pray that they find you well and bring you hope and perspective.
One should always strive to use their anger in a productive way because anger can become a productive conduit for change. Anger without productivity will always be unproductive. Is it a sin to be angry? No, it is not a sin to be angry. In fact, the Bible tells us in Ephesians 4:26 that we can be angry but sin not. You see, anger becomes unproductive when it leads to rage. This harbors bitterness and hostility, which then in turn can lead to resentment and ineffective communication amongst one another. It also can hinder progress and change.
In moments like these, one can often feel a deep sense of rage and grief as well as many other arrays of emotions. But I would like to, for a moment, take time to pray with you, and I pray that my words will bring comfort and perspective to your heart. In Luke 18, Jesus tells us that we “should always pray and never give up,” and I truly believe in tragic moments such as these that we should always do so (ref. Luke 18:1 NLT).
Prayer is not just a talking point that should be given in moments of crisis, because prayer in fact is the solution that guides us to solutions. The very essence of prayer is productive, and the very essence of its effectiveness will lead us to a place of productivity.
Prayer is a place that we go into to seek guidance, counsel, and wisdom, because we, in fact, are seeking God for His direction and wisdom. You see, in prayer we understand that we don’t have the answers, and we are seeking God from this position because we need them. He is just, and His righteousness is unbiased, and He, in fact, will always advise us to do unto others as we would have done unto ourselves. So, as we reflect on the recent tragic events and begin to talk with our neighbors, friends, and families about them, let us remember the words of this scripture that states, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40 NLT).
Let us pray as we think of our neighbors near and far.
We pray to You, O God, that the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts will be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. We also pray now for the grieving families and the precious souls that were lost. We ask that You send them comfort, peace, and strength, and we ask, O Lord, that You be their shepherd in the midst of their valley. May they know Your rod and staff, and may it bring them abundant comfort, peace, and strength. Our hearts, minds, and prayers are with these families, and our prayers have also been placed on Your altar concerning the hearts, minds, and moral compass of our leaders, politicians, and officials, whether they be federal, state, or local. May they know Your wisdom and guidance, and may they know the moral productivity of Your justice.
Dear Reader, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims of the recent mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York. We bid you all blessings and favor, and we pray now that God will grant us all comfort, peace, and strength. I want you to know that you are not alone, and it is my prayer that this column will make you feel as though you have a place to belong and somewhere to call home.
Share your story and prayer requests below and at SenecaHoward.com/contact, and our team will be sure to keep you lifted in our prayers.
P.S., Yours Truly,
The Writer, Seneca Howard
www.SenecaHoward.com
Seneca Howard, The Writer
About Seneca Howard
Seneca Howard is a pastor, author, mentor, and motivational speaker who inspires the lives of others through crisis ministry, counsel, and personal development.
