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Today's events gave rise to what we never thought was imaginable in this country.
It seemed like a nightmare when I first heard on my radio at 7:45 in the morning that "the World Trade Center was bombed." I had this terrible sick to my stomach feeling as I lurched up in my bed. I jumped out of the covers and ran and turned on the TV. As I watched the first of the now non-existent World Trade Towers crumble, it was as if I was watching something that I knew couldn't happen.

But oh, I realized as I held my breath, that it was horrifyingly real.

It is saddening that it takes a tragedy to unite a nation. And it is even more saddening that thousands of innocent lives were brutally ended in the hands of terrorists. But I am convinced that the sorrow of God is even more unimaginable- God weeps over His people because we have rebelled against Him (Gen. 6:5-6) But He promises to restore us if we sincerely repent and turn back to Him.

   Solomon prayed to the Lord in humility, knowing that God listens and responds to prayer. In response, God appeared to Solomon at night and answered him, "and 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, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14)."
    Solomon was asking for repentance for his nation, and God was faithful to hear his prayer and heal their land! Heavenly Father, we echo this prayer of Solomon. We pray that we Americans will HUMBLE OURSELVES of our pride, that we will find rest in personal and corporate PRAYER, and REPENT of our sinful ways. We confess that we are just men; but You are God of heaven! Now is time that we place our hope and trust solely in You.

A CALL FOR PRAISE:
Though it is difficult, start with praise. FOcus on God's amazing character.
Praise G od that He is sovereign, that He has ultimate control over all, and that nothing takes Him by surprise (Is. 45:5-7).

Adapted from Sandra Higley, Lani Hinkle, "Praying for Senseless Tragedies."

A CALL FOR PETITIONARY PRAYER:

-Please pray fervently for the families and friends of the thousands of victims who died Tuesday; that they will be comforted by the awesome love of the Lord.
         Pray 2 Corinthians 1:1-7.   Ask God to fill us with empathy and love as we deal with those who are suffering.

-Pray for God's strength for the hundreds of rescue workers, firefighters, and rescue personel working to pull survivors out of the smoky rubble of lower Manhattan.

-Pray for wisdom and strong leadership for President George Bush, NATO, and world leaders.

-Pray that the people of America will unite in prayer and in faith in Jesus Christ! Pray that the church will rise up and be intercessors for the unsaved.

-Pray for the Lord's protection over the many Arab-Americans and Americans from the Middle East, that they will cease to be targets of hateful messages.

Pray that God will use this situation for His glory!

Thought I would close with a verse that I was reading in my devotions today...

"The name of the lord is a strong tower, the righteous runs into it and is safe." Proverbs 18:10