A Wonderful Prayer for Our Country About This Page:

[AKLRULZ]

Dear Lord,

We're still hoping we'll wake up. We're still hoping we'll open a sleepy eye and think, "What a horrible dream." But we won't, will we, Father? What we saw was not a dream. Planes did gouge towers. Flames did consume our fortress. People did perish. It was no dream and, dear Father, we are sad.

There is a ballet dancer who will no longer dance and a doctor who will no longer heal. A church has lost her priest, a classroom is minus a teacher. Cora ran a food pantry. Paige was a counselor and Dana, dearest Father, Dana was only three years old. (Who held her in those final moments?)

We are sad, Father. For as the innocent are buried, our innocence is buried as well. We thought we were safe. Perhaps we should have known better. But we didn't.

And so we come to you. We don't ask you for help; we beg you for it. We don't request it; we implore it. We know what you can do. We've read the accounts. We've pondered the stories and now we plead, "Do it again, Lord. Do it again."

Remember Joseph? You rescued him from the pit. You can do the same for us. Do it again, Lord.

Remember the Hebrews in Egypt? You protected their children from the angel of death. We have children too, Lord. Do it again.

And Sarah? Remember her prayers? You heard them. Joshua? Remember his fears? You inspired him. The women at the tomb? You resurrected their hope. The doubts of Thomas? You took them away. Do it again,
Lord. Do it again.

You changed Daniel from a captive into a king's counselor. You took Peter the fisherman and made him Peter an apostle. Because of you, David went from leading sheep to leading armies. Do it again, Lord, for we need counselors today, Lord. We need apostles. We need leaders. Do it again, dear Lord.

Most of all, do again what you did at Calvary. What we saw here last Tuesday, you saw there that Friday. Innocence slaughtered. Goodness murdered. Mothers weeping. Evil dancing. Just as the smoke eclipsed our morning, so the darkness fell on your Son. Just as our towers were shattered, the very Tower of Eternity was
pierced. And by dusk, heaven's sweetest song was silent, buried behind a rock.
But you did not waver, O Lord. You did not waver. After three days in a dark hole, you rolled the rock and rumbled the earth and turned the darkest Friday into the brightest Sunday. Do it again, Lord. Grant us a September Easter.

We thank you, dear Father, for these hours of unity. Christians are praying with Jews. Republicans are standing with Democrats. Skin colors have been covered by the ash of burning buildings. We thank you for these hours of unity.

And we thank you for these hours of prayer. The Enemy sought to bring us to our knees and succeeded. He had no idea, however, that we would kneel before you. And he has no idea what you can do.

Let your mercy be upon our President, Vice President, and their families. Grant to those who lead us wisdom beyond their years and experience. Have mercy upon the souls who have departed and the wounded who
remain. Give us grace that we might forgive and faith that we might believe. And look kindly upon your church. For two thousand years you've used her to heal a hurting world.

Do it again,Lord.Do it again.
Through Christ, Amen.

[ 09-18-2001: Message edited by: Dadtojbj ]

[Disnygirl]

Amen! An absolutely beautiful and inspiring prayer! Thank you for posting it!

Disnygirl
God Bless America!

[MagicLover]

Thank you so much for sharing that! It was wonderful.

[Lady and the Tramp]

Thank you for sharing your prayer with us. It is very moving, so moving that even now after I've shared it with my DH, I still can not find the words to tell you how it has touched me. May God continue to bless you and work through you. God Bless America!

[Janet 46]

Steve, did you compose that yourself? It was absolutely magnificent! I thought I was through with tears but that prayer was beautiful. Thank you.

[AKLRULZ]

Gosh, I wish I could take the credit for composing this prayer - it was actually sent to me by a friend who is in full time ministry via email last night - I'm unsure who composed it, but I will find out. I've sent it to every email address I have in my address book - both personal and business - and I thought that everyone here would find it as uplifting and spiritually moving as I did. I found true peace reading and citing this prayer, and it also brought me to tears when I read it. I have printed it off and placed it in my Bible in Proverbs 18:10, which states "The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe". I have found so much comfort in that verse over the past few week.

Anyway, I'm glad this prayer was able to touch you all - hopefully other folks on this newsgroup will also read it, and be able to find comfort. God Bless!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

[Kruggie]

This prayer is so very touching, I am moved beyond words. Thank you Steve. Thank you.
God Bless us all.

[MrsPotts]

Amen! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I too found peace in this prayer, and will print it out and keep it in my heart!

[All Ears]

Steve,
Just wanted to thank you for sharing such a touching prayer.
Michelle

[lab3]

My sister sent this to me yesterday. It was written by Max Lucado who is a minister from San Antonio. He also has written some of the most touching and profound books I've ever read. It is a wonderful prayer, and just what we need at a time like this.

[AKLRULZ]

Yep, I did find out it was written by Max Lucado. You can access his website at http://www.maxlucado.com/ - by the way his website says "As written by Max Lucado for America Prays, a national prayer vigil held Saturday, September 14, 2001. Permission to copy not only granted but encouraged."

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

[Las17]

Thank you so much for that inspiring prayer. It makes me feel so secure to have friends like you and everyone else here to cheer each other up.
Laura

[patty c.]

Amen, and I am praying in agreement with that prayer because, in Jesus' words "that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven." (Matt. 18:18).

Steve, Prov. 18:10 has come to my mind so often also. I brought home a beautiful necklace from Israel with that verse written in Hebrew. We need to remember that the U.S. support of Israel is a component to this world hatred. And as Psalm 122:6 commands, we need to also "pray for the peace of Jerusalem."

[Cruella]

Thank you for sharing that inspiring prayer. I especially appreciate the phrase 'Give us grace that we might forgive...'. As my parish priest said, this is probably the most difficult thing we will be called upon to do, and yet forgiveness is the way to destroy the hate that caused this atrocity.

May we all find the grace, in our hearts, to forgive and to go on, with courage, helping each other along the way.

[Ursunique2001]

Amen