September 11, 2001, we all remember that day so well! We know exactly where we were and what we were doing when the planes crashed and forever changed our lives. I was getting ready to homeschool. The kids were finishing their breakfast and I was setting up. The TV was on Good Morning America. I passed by and saw footage of the first plane crashing into the first tower. I thought, “What a freak accident, I can’t believe it! ” I sat down to watch for a few minutes and saw the 2nd plane dive into the 2nd tower. At that point, I knew it was no “freak accident”. About that time, the other two planes crashed and I called my husband at work to see if he had heard about it. And I told him we were at war. I did not hear that on the news, I just decided that on my own. I watched TV compulsively that day, as did all of America, and we never did do our school work.
Fast forward, twelve years, we know who our enemy is (for the most part) and are still fighting. We have been in Afghanistan for 12 years, fought a war in Iraq, our embassy in Libya was attacked one year ago today, and we now face a possible showdown in Syria.
What have we learned? Well, right after 9/11, people were praying, seeking God and began to work together. Our congress was on the same page and we didn’t have the bi-partisan bickering we have today. Unfortunately, we seem to have forgotten this. Today, some people like Bush and some don’t and the people who like Bush don’t like Obama and visa versa. And it’s more than dislike, it’s hate, very nasty, unkind hate.
Keary and I were talking after President Obama spoke to the nation last night and he summed it up by saying, “It’s complicated.” That is simplistic, yet true. On one hand we have the Assad regime gassing one group of rebels and the Al-Qaeda rebels are attacking Christian villages demanding that the Christians convert to the Muslim faith or they will behead them. And when thing are complicated, what should we do? We need to pray and pray like our lives depend on it, because they do. We need to pray for President Obama, pray for wisdom and that he would seek godly counsel and most importantly that he would seek the “wonderful counselor,” Jesus. It doesn’t matter if we like Obama or not or if we are happy with the direction this country is going or not. So let’s remember 2 Chronicles 7:14,
“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways , then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Also Paul instructs Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:1-4,
“ I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ..”
Rebeca Jones says
Well said. It’s all too easy to forget to pray for those in authority with whom we disagree. Great reminder!