Yesterday was overwhelming. September the 11th always is. Like so many others I remember where I was that day fourteen years ago. I had taken my second grade class to the library. The TV was on and I could see two skyscrapers and billowing smoke. The librarian, a grave look on her face, tried to explain what had happened. I grasped the magnitude but I didn't understand.
Yesterday morning I also woke to Facebook's sharing of threats to the Nederland High school through screenshots of teenage tweets warning peers to be ready to run in the event of a mass shooting. These threats were not credible, but unnerving nonetheless to a parent with memories of Columbine. I sent Hallie to school only after repeatedly asking her if she felt well enough to go to school when normally I'd send her with a stomachache.
Facebook also shared a graphic picture of a young Egyptian boy whose throat had been slit by Isis along with an appeal from a dying people for rescue. That image cannot be removed from my head.
Yesterday, like other days where I cower in fear and wallow in sorrow, I was reminded of the importance of and my reliance on prayer.
Today on a crisp, sunny morning, Jason and the girls and I are preparing to catch the movie "War Room". I'm reminded of the value of prepatory prayer; speaking with God when the day seems right but you have the feeling God's about to move you.
Here's my 9/12 prayer. Consider writing, and sharing if you feel lead, a prayer of your own.
Move within us. Impress upon our simple hearts the power of prayer; not so much the words we speak, but our recognition of you and our listening for you.
Teach us to pray without ceasing when life seems too heavy to bear and in mundane moments when we've been graced with a smile from a stranger or a sidewalk stroll with crunching fall leaves under our feet.
Teach us to pray like Hannah, pouring out our unintelligible plea.
Like Elijah who prayed boldly on Mount Caramel
Like Daniel who prayed seeking God's mercy
May we pray on all occasions.
Teach us that you can handle our questioning prayers that come in desperation, like why there are millions of refugees fleeing for their lives while countless others have lost theirs for knowing you.......or worse, without knowing you.
Teach us to be trusting when we don't understand.
Help us learn to be grateful in prayer for what we have.
Teach us to pray for those in need; impressing upon our hearts that the most important thing we can for the foreigner or the friend is to remember them in prayer; not in a checking off the list sort of way.
Help us to understand that prayer isn't the only recourse. Move us to action too.
Be our guide, when those closest to us are in pain and we can't fix it. May our prayers for our families be a continual offering; an acknowledgement that our loved ones belong to You. Help us to remember that your plan for them is good and not harm.
May we not only pray for people, but be better about praying with people.
Teach us to pray according to scripture. Give us a deeper love for your word.
Guide us in what you would have us do in a sea of people with overwhelming need. Give us a softened heart for our enemies; a greater love for the lost.
Impress upon our hearts to keep in prayer
those who are lonely, addicted, confused, living in fear, and are full of anger or hate. Convict us of our own chains.
In the midst of turmoil, let us never lose sight of your holiness.
In prayer, may our hearts never stop growing in adoration of you.
May we realize that time with you is greater than time itself.