Are things getting worse in Afghanistan? August is now the deadliest month yet for U.S. forces fighting the longest war in our nation’s history. Meanwhile, the Israeli army is arming Jewish settlers in the West Bank in preparation for Palestinian unrest and violence. And Libya’s interim leaders have given pro-Gaddafi forces until Saturday to surrender or face military reprisal. Many are concerned that the uprising in Libya may lead to enhanced al Qaeda activity in the region.
Ten years ago, none of us imagined a “war on terror” that would consume our daily headlines. Then came the Tuesday morning that changed the world. In an hour and 18 minutes, 19 men killed more people than died at Pearl Harbor or D-Day. As we near the tenth anniversary of that tragic day, how can we find hope in horror?
One way God is redeeming 9/11 is by calling his people to pray for America more fervently than ever before. Abraham Lincoln said, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day.” When we have nowhere to go but up, that’s a good place for our souls to be.
I believe that God is calling us to pray passionately for our nation in these difficult days. There are two ways you can join me in this intercessory initiative. First, please consider using the prayer guide I have written for the upcoming week. Redeeming 9/11: Building God’s Kingdom Today contains meditation and prayer suggestions for each day from September 4 to September 11.
You can download the prayer guide for free from our website, www.denisonforum.org. You can also order copies in print from the website. I am creating video content to accompany each day’s reading; we will give you access information later this week when the content is completed. The guide and video series are designed to be tools for spiritual awakening in our nation. I invite you to share them with your friends and church family.
Second, our ministry is forming a “9/11 Prayer Pledge” team. Those who join us will commit themselves to pray each day next week for America’s leaders, military, and people, and especially for the survivors of 9/11. You can join our prayer team by leaving a comment to this commentary on our website.
If you’re on Twitter, please post your prayer pledge using the #911PrayerPledge hashtag. An example: I pledge to pray for the families of the 9/11 victims, our nation’s leaders, our military, and all who are affected by this tragedy. #911PrayerPledge. Facebook users can post your prayer pledge to our Facebook page. Example: I pledge to pray that God brings a swift end to the war on terror. #911PrayerPledge. Please encourage others in your social network to participate.
A dear friend sent me this note yesterday: “I found God’s address—it’s at the end of my rope.” Will you join me in redeeming 9/11 on our knees?