Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. (Proverbs 21:2 ESV)
Sunday in Michigan a man with a truck, an explosive device, guns, fire accelerant, and an evil intent rammed his car into a church where people were gathered, shot into the congregation, and set the building on fire.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed new details about the gunman who killed at least four people and injured several others during a crowded Sunday service at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church in Michigan. Leavitt told “FOX & Friends” on Monday morning that, through conversations with FBI Director Kash Patel, she has learned that Marine veteran Thomas Jacob Sanford harbored a hatred for people of the Mormon faith.
“From what I understand, based on my conversations with the FBI director, all they know right now is this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith, and they are trying to understand more about this, how premeditated it was, how much planning went into it, whether he left a note, all of those questions have yet to be answered, but certainly will be answered by the FBI,” she said. The FBI is currently executing multiple search warrants at Sanford’s homes “to get the bottom of why he would commit such an act of evil,” according to Leavitt.*
The shooter is dead, the FBI is investigating, the politicians and law enforcement are having a news conference, at least four people are dead, and we are – again – astounded at what one person can do to hurt a community.
Some will blame religion, some will blame guns, some will blame the military training, some will blame God.
But, ultimately, this one man – for reasons we don’t know yet – made choices that led to the slaughter of innocent life. I assert that his heart was corrupted.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind]? (Jeremiah 17:9 AMPC)
The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful,
a puzzle that no one can figure out.
But I, God, search the heart
and examine the mind.
I get to the heart of the human.
I get to the root of things.
I treat them as they really are,
not as they pretend to be. (Jeremiah 17:9 MSG)
Did God know this man’s heart? Yes.
Why didn’t God stop him? I don’t know.
Will other incidents like this happen? Probably.
What can we do? Pray that the hearts of evil people would be turned to God’s truth and goodness.
Heavenly Father,
We praise you for your perfect creation, your sovereign plans, and your good purposes. We thank you that you search us and know us — we who are fearfully and wonderfully made in your image. We rejoice in your goodness, grace, holiness, and steadfast love.
Today, we come before you to intercede on behalf of the community in Grand Blanc, Michigan. We ask that you be near to the brokenhearted and save those whose spirits have been crushed by this horrific act of evil. May your peace — the peace that surpasses all understanding — guard their hearts and minds. May your comfort be tangible to all who are grieving, shocked, or suffering loss.
We ask that you bring healing and bind up the wounds of this community. May your Church rise up to surround them — meeting needs, offering encouragement, and bearing their burdens in love.
We pray against any spirit of fear or retaliation, and instead we release your peace, grace, forgiveness, and mercy into this situation. If there are others involved in this attack, we ask that justice would be done, and that truth would prevail.
God, in an age overwhelmed by violence that often seems senseless, we pray in the name of Jesus for an end to these attacks. In Jesus’s name, we take authority over the evil and violent spirits influencing hearts and minds, and we declare NO MORE. We bind their influence, especially over the impressionable and vulnerable.
We ask you to give all people clean hearts and renewed spirits. Remove any corrupt or wicked desires, and replace them with hearts that reflect your own — tender, just, and filled with the Holy Spirit.
In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN
O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 139:1–2 & 139:13–14, 16 ESV)
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18 ESV)
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3 ESV)
Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:24 ESV)
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10 ESV)
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26 ESV)
Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18:18 NIV)
* https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/michigan-church-shooting-9-29-25