The events of September 11, 2001 brought terrorism to the backyard of Americans. Last week’s horrific bombs in London resulting in unnecessary death and devastation helped me understand how God responds to my prayers about terrorism. After the events of 9-11, when Americans flooded the gates of the church, my church asked me to prepare a prayer guide. We quickly threw it together. It is not necessarily the most attractive bookmark the church communication department ever created. Yet, it has remained in my prayer journal since the day I received it at church. Every day I pray for the War on Terrorism. I’ve been praying about it for our four years. Some days I wondered when it would be time to throw this prayer guide away and move on to other issues that need prayer. I didn’t’ see the value and importance of my prayers.

Last week, God deepened my desire and understanding about praying for the war on terrorism. The day of the bombing in London I was reading in Genesis 18. This chapter is the record of when the three visitors (one a Theophany of Jesus) came to Abraham to confirm that Sarah would have a son by Abraham at ninety-years-old. Before they left the Lord decided to tell Abraham what was going to happen to Sodom and Gomorrah. In verses 20-21 it says; “Then the Lord said, The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me.” As I read, I realized that I am doing something important when I pray about the War on Terrorism. I am bringing an outcry to heaven. I was deeply encouraged to continue with my prayers. I will not stop praying about the War on Terrorism until the war is ended. You may wonder what you can do to help. You can send money to the Red Cross. You can look for specific names of victims from the London bombing and pray for them. You can join me in prayer. I want to print the prayer guide that was written in September of 2001. Perhaps God will lead some of you to join me in one voice in an outcry to heaven as we do our part to fight this war.

On the backside of the bookmark are the verses:
Zechariah 4:6—Not by might, nor by power, but by my Sprit says the Lord Almighty.
Matthew 18:19-20 (The Message)—When two of you get together on anything at all and make a prayer of it, My Father in heaven goes into action.”

Prayer Guide

1. Unite your church in its effort to reach the world with Your truth. John 17:21—Jesus Himself prayed, “That all of them may be one Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
2. Awaken the people of the world to the true spiritual realities that are taking place in our time. Habakkuk 3:2 “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds. O Lord, Renew them in our day in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.”
3. Forgive our sins and the sins of our nation. Nehemiah 9:2 “…They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the wickedness of their fathers.”
4. Lead our nation and its allies into Your wisdom about the correct response to terrorism. Proverbs 21:1 “The kings’ heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.”
5. Expose these terrorists and bring them to justice. Psalm 79:10 “Why should the nations say ‘Where is their God?’ Before our eyes, make known among the nations that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants.”
6. Overcome the evil one and his strategies that try to keep God’s love from touching the lost. Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
7. Protect our armed forces as they serve our country and protect believers, both nationals and foreigners, living in countries that are antagonistic to Christian beliefs. Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
8. Comfort those who mourn the losses created by this war and lead them to the truth and peace found in a personal relationship with you. Jeremiah 31:13 “…I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.”
9. Protect, guide and lead George W. Bush. Protect his wife and children as he takes a stand against terrorism and for prayer in our nation. 1 Timothy 2:1-3 “I urge, then, first of all, that requests prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and for 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.”
10. Praise God who hears and answers our prayers according to His will. 1 John 5:14 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”