September 11 Remembered

            As I sit here this morning, I am taken back to that day in history when You, Lord, showed my very proud America that pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.  We had been founded on principles from Your Word, but in our arrogance had decided more and more that we did not need You as the head of our country.  Like the Israelites of old, we had become complacent with our own abilities and in our prosperity had forgotten You.  You had been kicked out of our schools and were being assaulted in many ways within the populous.  Sin was blatantly thrown in Your face as the homosexuals declared that they should be accepted as "normal" because You made them that way, premarital co-habitation had become the norm, divorce in the church was on the same level as it was outside, and a record number of unborn babies were being put to death daily in abortion.  There was financial corruption at high levels, and even the national sport teams were involved in illegal practices.  Drug abuse and alcoholism were rampant even among teenagers and children.

            Then in one fateful day, Lord, you got the attention of our country and for one brief period, Americans turned back to You.  I remember that the whole congress, who up to that point had been in bitter battles with each other and were almost to the person more obsessed with their own agendas than with finding out what Your will was for our country, stood on the steps united together singing "Amazing Grace".  Churches that had been largely empty filled several times over with folks joining together for prayer.  Schools that had not allowed prayer in classrooms opened gymnasiums and auditoriums for public prayer services.  Even the liberal seemingly anti-God media was calling folks to pray for America.  Neighbors who might never have spoken to each other before were coming alongside each other offering assistance if needed.  America was deeply wounded and the sleeping giant was awakened to her own vulnerability.  Pride stripped away, She fell to her knees to ask for Your mercy, grace and, in some instances forgiveness.  The splintered, self serving, America again became a country united...almost.

            So what has happened to all of that unselfishness and brotherly love, unification, and turning back to God?  I believe we as a nation are more like the Israelites of old than we would like to believe.  I read the book of Judges and see that they were delivered, became corrupt, You sent judgment, they cried out to You, and You delivered again.  Over and over again this cycle took place.  And the Scripture states that everyone did what was right in their own eyes.  So it seems to be here in my America.  People outside the faith declare that truth is relative and there are no absolutes.  What may be true for you is not true for me because our circumstances are different. Lawlessness, fornication, adultery, abortion, pornography, divorce, pedophilia, drug abuse, alcoholism, homosexuality, crimes of greed and passion, and the me first entitlement mentality has returned in just ten years, and with a vengeance.

            What will it take this time, Lord, to get the attention of the American people?  What will it take before hyphenated nomenclature no longer divides us?  What will it take for us to see ALL of our citizens as important and with the right to live, from our precious unborn to our elderly?  What will it take, Lord, for Your church to awaken and be about Your business in this country?  What will it take, Lord for America to see her need of a Savior and to not take her freedom for granted?  What will it take, Lord, for our citizens to awaken and for them to be discerning again so they can determine what is true and what are lies, to see evil as evil?  What will it take, Lord, for us to cry out against the violence and evil (werewolves, zombies, witchcraft, etc.) that floods our television and children's books, movies, video games, and media in all areas?

            I feel we are at the brink of yet more disaster.  We have experienced things in this country just over the past ten years in frequencies that surprise and horrify us: earthquakes, devastating tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, draught, and pestilence, pollution of our air, food and water supplies.  When will we awake and call on You voluntarily as a nation again?  Will it take another 9/11?  Dear Precious Lord, I pray not, but it would not surprise me either.

            Church of the Living Risen Lord, awake!  Lord, revive us!  Turn us as a nation back to our roots.  Christianity is under attack like never before in our beloved America.  At some point soon it may be the only religion in America that is illegal to practice because it calls sin sin and folks see that as hate speech.  Our young folks are being called on to fight the war on terror and are being regularly killed by Your enemy.  When will we awaken, Lord?  When...?

            Most Holy God, please have mercy on this nation.  Our sins are great and our arrogance and ungodly behavior deplorable.  We do not deserve Your mercy and grace, Lord, but I thank You for what You give every day.  Comfort those who have lost loved ones either in the 9/11 events or in battle since that fateful day.  Be gentle if You can, Lord, I personally ask that You do whatever it takes so that our children and grandchildren do not have to live in a nation corrupted by the enemy that lies within our borders.  I do not speak of any other religion, Lord, just our own selfish, arrogant, sin prone selves, as we are our own worst enemy.  Help us to awaken and to again have the brotherly love, concern for our neighbors and their spiritual state and welfare as we did on that fateful day in September.
For Your good and glory, I beg of You in the name of our precious Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen