Today our nation pauses in collective silence to remember
the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
I still remember the unbelievable shock and horror I felt,
on that fateful September morning twenty years ago,
when, without warning, hijacked planes smashed into
the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, and a jet airliner
crash landed in a lonely field in Pennsylvania,
obscuring the bright blue skies of that morning with
plumes of thick black smoke. Buildings burned
and crumbled, along with the remains of the
downed plane. The loss of life was tremendous
and an unbearable sorrow for those left behind.
My fervent prayer today is that there will never be
an attack on our nation and people like this ever again.
I also implore God for His continual mercy and grace to
remain on America in these uncertain and perilous times
which we are facing today.
"FOR GOD'S GRACE IN OUR HELPLESSNESS"
We know, our Father, that at this desperate hour in world affairs,
We need Thee.
We need Thy Strength, Thy guidance, Thy wisdom.
There are problems far greater than any wisdom of man can solve.
What shall our leaders do in such an hour?
May Thy wisdom and Thy power come upon
the President of these United States,
the Senate and Congress,
to whom have been entrusted leadership.
May the responsibility lie heavily on their hearts,
until they are ready to acknowledge their helplessness
and turn to Thee.
Give them the honesty, the courage
and the moral integrity
to confess that they don't know what to do.
Only then can they lead us as a nation
beyond human wisdom, to Thee,
Who alone hast the answer.
Lead us to this high adventure.
Remind us that a "Mighty Fortress Is Our God"
and not a hiding place where we can
escape for an easy life,
but rather an arsenal of courage and strength-
the mightiest of all,
Who will march beside us into the battle
for righteousness and world brotherhood.
O our God, may we never recover from
our feeling of helplessness and our
need for Thee!
In the strong name of Jesus, our Lord, we pray.
Amen.
"For God's Grace In Our Helplessness"
Reverend Peter Marshall Sr.
(1902-1949)
Scottish-American preacher
Twice-appointed Chaplain of the United States Senate
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