11 Sep, 2007

Another 9/11 anniversary

Do you have hope for the future?

What do you think about and feel when you see the 9/11 images?

Do you wonder where God was on 9/11?

photos courtesy images.google.com

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT)

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

How does today's God's Story scripture give us hope for the future?

Today's passage is written about the time when God's people were captives in Babylon. It's ironic that today's free world is fighting terrorists in modern day Babylon - Iraq. Jeremiah was letting the people know that God had not forgotten them. God loved them and planned to give them a new beginning! Even though they were captives, they could call upon God with courage because God's presence and grace would carry them through this difficult situation.

Today we remember 9/11. You will see many images and be reminded of the stories of heroism during one of America's darkest hours. You will be reminded of this country's lack of spiritual direction as politicians cast blame on each other for the reality of terrorism.

But I encourage you to remember that there is a war going on between Satan and God. Sin is the problem and Jesus is the solution. No matter how discouraging the future of this world may look, GOD IS IN CONTROL!

Are you trusting the loving, sovereign God in spite of the world around you? Are you relying on Jesus in the middle of a difficult situation in your personal life?

God has a promise for you. If you will seek Him with all of your heart, you will find Him no matter what! Call upon Him with confidence because nothing can ever separate you from His love.

How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?

  • Thank God for His ultimate purpose for your life and this world. Ask God's Spirit to give you the faith you need to seek Him every day with all of your heart.
  • Pray that God will use the difficult situations in your life to cause you to trust Him completely for your future.
  • Pray that God will use today's anniversary of 9/11 to cause our country and people around the world to seek Him and His Truth.
  • Pray for the safety of the men and women fighting terrorism. Pray that they will seek God in their difficult situation.
  • Pray for the Islamic terrorists to seek after the one and only true God - the Father of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?

  • Ask Jesus to give you opportunities to share your story and God's Story as your have conversations in school, at work, and at home about the anniversary of 9/11.
  • When you talk to someone in the middle of a difficult situation, share the hope you have because of the promise of Jeremiah 29:11-13. Offer to pray with this person.
  • If you have a "deep thinker" friend who is questioning God's presence in our world, you may find the following quote from Christian author Ravi Zacharias helpful:

Why does God not make His presence more obvious? Many arguments are offered for why God “hides” in a world that seeks to see Him. The answer is ultimately found in the divine purposes of God. It is not that God has absconded or is absent; it is that there is a divine purpose behind His visibility or invisibility. If one can rightly read the clues, the mystery is opened up in profound ways. Just as evil can be understood only in the light of the ultimate purpose, so also must God’s presence or seeming absence be judged on the basis of His purpose.

quote courtesy: Light in the Shadow of Jihad: The Struggle for Truth by Ravi Zacharias (Multnomah Publishers, 2002)

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God's Story is brought to you by Youth for Christ. YFC works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.

Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been with YFC for over 30 years and has served as Campus Life Staff, in leadership for DCLA, and as an author and speaker. Byron is available for speaking at youth or adult events and conferences. For booking, write to byron@3Story.org.

Byron and his wife Linda live in Minnesota and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, a grandaughter, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.