Cities across the United States broke all-time homicide records in 2021 as the spirit of violence continues raging in America and beyond.
According to CNN, at least nine major cities have broken their previous annual homicide records. As of late December, the network reports, here have been 513 homicides this year in Philadelphia, higher than the previous total of 503 in 1990. There have been 230 homicides in Indianapolis, breaking the previous record of 215 set just last year.
Other cities with record homicide totals include Louisville, Kentucky; Columbus, Ohio; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Tucson, Arizona; Rochester, New York; and Portland, Oregon, CNN reports. Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Nashville are also on pace to reach record homicide numbers. Nations with the highest murder rates include: El Salvador, Jamaica, Honduras, Belize, South Africa, Lesotho, Brazil, Saint Lucia, Guatemala and Dominica.
Of course, murder is not the only violent crime being tracked. The FBI reports a violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Nations with the highest rape rates include South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Bermuda, Sweden, Suriname, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Grenada and Saints Kitts and Nevis.
We are living in a time like unto the days of Noah, described in Genesis 6:11-12, “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.” Remember, Jesus said, “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:37).
LAUNCH A PRAYER HUB OR JOIN A PRAYER HUB AT AWAKENINGPRAYERHUBS.COM.
Victory Over the Spirit of Violence
We need to pray. In January 2022, Awakening Prayer Hubs theme is Victory Over the Spirit of Violence. You can join a hub or launch a hub—or sponsor a hub—and help us make an impact in over 40 nations around the world this month and beyond. Let’s pray:
Father, we lift up our cities, regions, and nations. We ask for Your will to be done and Your Kingdom to come. Flood our cities with the light of the gospel (see Matt. 6:10).
We decree deep darkness shall not overtake our cities. We decree the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (see John 1:5).
We apply Your precious blood over our cities. We decree we will overcome the spirit of violence by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (see Rev. 12:11).
We decree Isaiah 60:18, “Violence shall no more be heard in your land, destruction nor calamity within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates praise.”
We bind the spirit of violence that is bringing destruction, turmoil, strife, division, murder and hate to our world (see 2 Cor 4:4).
We bind murder, mass murder, premature death and violence see (Mark 3:27).
We take authority over our regions and declare Jesus shall have His way in our areas of influence and where our feet are planted (see Matt 18:18).
Give us the grace, Lord, to be bold as David against Goliath with regard to the enemy working to destroy our cities. We shall be bold as lions and take the battle to the enemy in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel (see 1 Sam. 17:45; Prov. 28:1).
We stand firmly against all the immorality and evil happening in our cities. We put on our whole armor each day as we take our stand (see Hos. 4:2; Is, 60:18; Eph. 6:11).
We break the powers of demonic unity organized against our cities (see Ps. 143:12).
We break the powers of the evil satanic confederacies plotting and planning against our cities and regions (see Prov. 24:17).
We decree they shall not come near our regions (see Acts 20:28).
We pray for all those in darkness following after the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, and the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience have their eyes opened, ears unstopped (2 Cor 2:4; Heb. 2:14; John 6:38).
Let purveyors of violence in our cities have radical encounters with you Jesus, like Saul on the Road to Damascus (Deut. 28:2).
Father, make us glory carriers as we move out about in our cities. We decree we will arise and shine, for our light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon us (see Isaiah 60:1).
We decree that we are protected in our comings and goings. Our household is protected from the plans of the enemy, and so no disaster will strike us, no violence will come near our home (Ps. 91:10; Luke 11:21; 2 Sam. 22:30).
We break the curse of violence over our cities (Is. 54:17).
We pray blessings over our cities, as well as our homes (Deut. 30:1).
We call out the original design and purpose for each city. We call each city out of sin and darkness (Deut. 30:19; Num. 6:24-26; Prov. 10:11).
We pray the peace of Christ over our cities. We pray a blanket of peace over our regions (see Jer. 29:7).
Let us be an example to the lost of what unity looks like, and how to be in unity with others (Ps. 133:1-3; John 17:21).
You can join our prayer call here.
Awakening Prayer Hubs is focusing intensely on praying against the violence manifesting in cities. You can join us by launching a hub, joining a hub, or sponsoring a hub at www.awakeningprayerhubs.com.
