9/11 | My TEA CUPP Prayers

God is a just judge,
And God is angry with the wicked every day. Psalm 7:11 (NKJV)

Every age needs Jesus. Every age needs Jesus, not just every age of person, from babies to grandparents, but also EVERY AGE as in every time in history. Recently I was reading the book of Judges where people did “what was right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25). In this Bible book, God’s people continually strayed away from Him, so God sent prophets to call them back. Reading the book of Judges is much like reading a newspaper today, so many heart-breaking stories.

A long time ago, I made a list of Bible Stories I don’t like and Judges 19-21 was at the top of the list. If you want to ready the bizarre, you should read these passages. This story brings up so many questions, like why didn’t the man protect his wife? Why did he cut her up into 12 pieces? Why did the Israelites think it was okay to steal wives for the Benjaminites? These questions might spark your curiosity enough to read this Bible selection! Yet the answer for every question is the same, the people did “what was right in their own eyes.”

Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end,
But establish the just;
For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds. Psalm 7:9 (NKJV)

Hundreds of years after Judges, Acts 25:13 shows us more wickedness. In this passage, the Apostle Paul was brought before King Agrippa and Bernice. This royal couple was another example of people doing “what was right in their own eyes” for Bernice was King Agrippa’s sister. Their marriage was against God’s law. Paul, like the prophets before him, took full advantage of his time before the king, giving his testimony and declaring, “…repent, turn to God, do works befitting repentance” (Acts 26:20).

Many times in the Bible we see where God honors the faithful and the wicked are punished. Jeremiah 35 is such a place. The Rechabites had been told by their father Jonadab to live in tents and not drink wine. They were obeying their earthly father. Jeremiah told them, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts and done according to all that he commanded you, therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before Me forever” ’ ” (Jeremiah 35:16-19). What a blessing for this family because of their faithfulness!

Dear One, Let God’s Word reassure you. When Jesus was born, the Romans ruled that part of the world. Joseph and Mary had to travel miles to be counted by those Romans. And just at that time, the Father had His Son be born to a virgin, in a stable, because there was no room in the Inn. God sent GREAT HOPE at a time when it was needed most, to a poor couple, in a barn with animals, all living under Roman rule. That precious Baby grew to be the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ who gave His life for us on the cross and rose again on Easter morning, opening the door of heaven for all who believe in His Name.

Dear One, don’t you think He can do the same today? This certainly is another time in history when people are doing “what is right in their own eyes.” Ungodly marriages, abortion, murders, rioting, sinful leaders… As we look at the tragedy in Afghanistan, the damage of hurricane Ida, the fires and smoke in the West (shrouding our beautiful mountains daily), the continuation of vaccines and Covid, we might lose hope, but we won’t! We hold onto God’s promise to send His Son Jesus to right the wrongs and reign on high eternally! For every age needs Jesus!!!

Today’s TEA CUPP: Please pray with me…Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth we cry to You. Our hearts are overwhelmed for the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished! We claim Your promise that the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, for You are coming on the clouds. You are with us in every trial and tribulation, through every fire and storm. You are our Great Hope and Healer and Savior. Come, Lord Jesus, come. (Psalm 61:1-2, 2 Samuel 1:27, Psalm 49:14, Matthew 24:30, Revelation 22:20)

...We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God. Acts 14:22 (NKJV)

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Revelation 22:20-21 (NKJV)

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God will shine forth. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent;
A fire shall devour before Him,
And it shall be very tempestuous all around Him. Psalm 50:2-3 (NKJV)

My prayer friend Shannon shared this inspiring devotion from Dutch Sheets! Please check it out and find great hope for America. As we remember the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 this Saturday, there are many opportunities to join others in prayer. Check out these sites… Behold He Comes, The Return: Africa, American King Foundation, and others.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. Psalm 95:6 (NKJV)

Eighteen years ago today, September 11, 2001, the lives of Americans, as well as citizens of the world, were changed forever. For on this day terrorists chose to take innocent lives, countless courageous citizens gave of themselves, and our nation was brought to its knees for a time.

What happened? Why aren’t we still on our knees? Some articles say church attendance increased for only a few weeks after 9/11, continuing a trend for decades of declining participation. Yet other articles say at the very heart of the tragedy, Evangelical churches sprouted and have flourished. Why aren’t we all still on our knees?

Why aren’t we still on our knees over the threat of the enemy?

Why aren’t we still on our knees over babies dying?

Why aren’t we still on our knees for unsaved family and friends?

Why aren’t we still on our knees for lost youth?

Why aren’t we still on our knees for our pastors and missionaries who give of themselves every day and need protection from the enemy?

Why aren’t we still on our knees?

I remember the first time I saw someone on their knees in prayer. It was my Grandma Margaret Applequist. Grandma was visiting us for a few weeks and was sleeping in the bedroom belonging to my sister and me. We were sleeping in the basement to give Grandma some peace and privacy. But I caught a cold, so they put me back upstairs in the extra bed in my own room. A few hours after going to sleep I awoke. A small crack of light coming from the hallway shone on my Grandma, kneeling by her bed in prayer. What an impact that picture made on a sick, young girl’s heart. I wanted to be like Grandma!

And yet, when I have My TEA CUPP Prayers, I sit curled on the sofa; when we pray at meals, I’m sitting at the table; when I say good-night prayers with my kids, I’m sitting on the edge of their beds, or standing by their bunks…when am I on my knees? Though I know He hears all those prayers, God really started impressing these kneeling prayers upon my heart, so I asked Him to show me in Scripture where it says I should be on my knees, and guess what, He did!

…he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God… Daniel 6:10 (NKJV)

...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... Philippians 2:10 (NKJV)

But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed…. Acts 9:40 (NKJV)

And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. Acts 20:36 (NKJV)

…And we knelt down on the shore and prayed. Acts 21:5 (NKJV)

…and fell down and worshiped Him. Matthew 2:11 (NKJV)

And so, now, every evening, when my husband and I say our goodnight prayers, instead of lying in bed with one of us dozing off, we are on our knees beside the bed, pouring our hearts out to the Lord.

We hear of faithful Christians like Reverend Billy Graham wearing out the toes of their shoes or the knees of their pants because they knelt so often in prayer. My friends, we need to do the same! Wear out your knees for your family! Wear out your toes for your neighbors. Wear out the rug next to your bed for your country. Let’s get on our knees and pray!

Today’s TEA CUPP: While researching this devotion I came across another great devotion you might enjoy by Dr. David Jeremiah. And also this one about Reverend Billy Graham. Let’s follow their godly examples. “Do it again, Lord, do it again!”

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 3:14 (NKJV)

And so it was, when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and supplication to the Lord, that he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. 1 Kings 8:54 (NKJV)

O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend! Fanny Crosby, 1875

My TEA CUPP Prayers

Praying God's Word … Inviting Ladies to TEA with the King of kings!

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Every Age Needs Jesus

On our Knees