"God, Help Us Americans "
According to one news reporter, crowds in our churches across the U.S. on September 16 ". . . rivaled those at Christmas." Our hearts ache for victims and those whose lives have been disrupted by recent terrorism. God’s word says we are to "love our enemies" and to "bless those who curse us." How does this apply in our country in these recent weeks? Do we have hearts that are full enough of God’s love and Spirit that we can actually pray that those terrorists will find Christ? Can we pray for those who "hate" America and what Americans stand for? Can we pray for those around the world who cheered at the news of the World Trade Center towers collapsing? Are we able to SINCERELY pray for their souls? Of course we all pray for justice...that comes easily. But do we pray that God will SAVE them? –that one day they may share heaven with us?
Oh, Christians, may we be slow and careful to answer such questions as these. In our hearts, we Americans are angry --and I think rightfully so. In our hearts, though, we as Christians are also called beyond that anger to forgiveness. God’s word is clear that we cannot hate or be angry with our brother ---no matter what he (or she) has done to us... Oh God, teach us to love like that –as You did when Your Son was mutilated and crucified, . . . an innocent man who did harm to no one! God, how we felt on September 11, 2001, must have been a tiny bit like how You felt that day at Calvary. Somehow, God, teach us to love like that...
Let us continue to pray across America that God’s hand will be upon our leaders, that we will bring justice only as God would will it. Let us pray that we will do nothing out of anger or in rashness of our emotions. May we be careful to love our Arab American brothers and others of Middle Eastern decent who live here among us and are feeling the same pain we are. In the book of Acts, salvation was sent out to all, --no matter what their origin or decent. Jews and Gentiles were enemies, and God sent many of His Christian witnesses to cross those lines and share God’s love to ALL. We must do that also. May God’s Spirit empower us not to become trapped in our own emotions of revenge or racism. Oh God, Help us Americans...help us to love as You loved!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dear Heavenly Father,
We pray today for those aching and hurting in the recent attacks on America. May You comfort and somehow bring relief. May all Americans turn to You for strength and help and comfort. May we each learn from our pain and our frustration. Life doesn’t make sense. It hurts. You Lord, You must help us just to trust in You and stop trying to understand it all... Your love is bigger than our problems. It’s bigger than our pain. Oh, help us to feel that! Please forgive America for her sins. Please bring America back to You!
God, just bless America. ---------------