Weekly Watch Focus: Terror in Manchester

FRIDAY, May 26, 2017 Our hearts go out to the city of Manchester, UK. At least 22 people have been killed and 59 injured, many of them children, in a suicide bombing at the Manchester Arena on Monday, May 22. Pray for those injured in the bombings and for the families of those who lost their lives. Pray also for God's Spirit of comfort and shalom to rest over the city of Manchester. Finally, pray that law enforcement agencies will quickly find and arrest those behind the planning of this barbaric act of terror. Bind back the spirit of murder and violence behind Islamic jihadist terror. Pray that ISIS, Al Qaeda, and every other extremist terror group be utterly defeated.

Part II: Memorial Day

On this Memorial Day weekend, we recall the debt we owe to those in our armed forces who fought and laid down their lives to preserve the precious freedoms we all enjoy. Let us set aside time to honor the U.S. men and women who lost their lives serving their country. We also honor the many allied soldiers who fought and died by their sides. We salute them all. Continue to cover in prayer all our armed forces presently serving. May the Lord of Hosts cover and protect those deployed in harm’s way around the world as they stand in the gap to protect our nation. May they feel our love and support; may their families be blessed with provision and strength. We thank them and their families for their sacrifice.

Jn 16:33, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Deut. 31:6, "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Rom. 8:35-37, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

Ps. 20, “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob defend you; may He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion; may He remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah. May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose. We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions. Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright. Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call.”

Is. 61:1-3, Ps. 46:1-3; Ps. 109:4

Heather Harris, 5/25/2017