A year ago, Dallas police officer Amber Guyger entered an apartment that she allegedly believed was hers after a long shift and assumed that there was an intruder in her abode. In her alleged self-defense, she fatally shot the intruder who happened to be a black man. It turned out that he was only sitting in his own apartment.

This past Tuesday, she was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Also, at that court was the late Botham Jean's 18-year-old brother Brandt Jean who took the stand. The victim's younger brother said that he forgave Guyger, that he didn't even want her to go to jail, and that he wanted her to "go to Christ." He shone the light of the gospel before the world. The judge was also moved, handed the convict a Bible, and told her to start with John 3:16.

Plenty of criticism has been expressed through social media--African Americans expressing frustration that people are going to use this situation to their advantage and expect minority groups to be the "bigger people" or "take the high road" when wrong is done to them.

The truth is, this sentencing upon this Caucasian police officer was meant to be a lot more divisive, anger-inducing, but also twistingly satisfying in the name of Generation Z-style justice. However, to the amazement of many, including the mother of the two men, Brandt's statement clearly quelled much of what would have been an even more explosive outpour of justice-ridden reactions from the public.

We have been praying for the forces of darkness to break down in the Dallas/Ft Worth region for some time now. Through this story, we got to witness quite clearly what it means to be able to use the name of Christ as our lever to overturn the works of darkness. The young brother's forgiveness, his proclamation of Christ on that stand, and the judge's gesture (although criticized for unprofessionalism due to the need to establish the separation of church and state) are all by God's hand and the movement of the Holy Spirit. This specific situation may not have any direct impact upon us, and perhaps, we shouldn't even count it as an answer to our prayers. Still, it is an answer, as a signpost for the next great answer of what happens when the name of Christ is proclaimed at the right place at the right time by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.