20 Prayers for the 20th Anniversary of 9/11

1 Chronicles 7:14 – “If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Lord, we humble ourselves before You and confess that we are a sinful people too. Were it not for your grace, we might also be deceived by our enemy and influenced to do evil things. As a nation, we have rebelled against You, God, and deserve wrath. Yet You offer forgiveness to those who repent. We ask that Your Holy Spirit call all our nation to humble repentance so that You can heal our land.

2. A Prayer of Confession

Acts 3:19 – “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”

Lord, we need times of refreshing. On this 20^th anniversary, we know that our adversary, Satan, still roams like a roaring lion, seeking to devour and destroy. We repent of our independence from You. We ask Your forgiveness for the sins of our nation and pray that Your Holy Spirit will be poured out on all people, so that we will turn to You, and You alone, as the One True God.

3. A Prayer of Forgiveness

Matthew 6:14-15 – “For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.”

Lord, we ask You for the strength and ability to forgive those who have taken much from us. We are a forgiven people; let us recognize that all sin is against You, and we have no right to withhold forgiveness from those who hurt us.

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Romans 2:4 – “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”

Lord, teach us to be patient as we wait for Your justice, knowing that You are patient, and you give time for repentance to all people. Lord, we know that your plans are perfect, even if we don't understand what you are doing in the moment. Help us to wait on you.

5. A Prayer for Justice

Psalm 37:28 – “For the Lord loves justice and does not abandon His godly ones; they are protected forever, but the descendants of the wicked will be eliminated.”

Lord, we trust that in Your time, You will execute justice on the earth. We anticipate the day when You will set all things right.

6. A Prayer for Understanding

Psalm 73:16-20 – “When I thought of understanding this, it was troublesome in my sight until I entered the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end. You indeed put them on slippery ground; You dropped them into ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, Lord, when stirred, You will despise their image.”

Lord, we need Your understanding. Remind us that when it appears that evil is winning, we only see what is happening in the moment. Give us a heart that weeps for the destruction that awaits those who reject You.

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Romans 8:18 – “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Lord, we know that our life is a vapor, and the suffering in this world is temporary. When our hearts grieve over the losses, remind us of the joy that waits for us in our glorious future with You.

8. A Prayer for Security

Psalm 91:1-2 – “One who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will lodge in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!’”

Lord, we recognize that our security is in You alone. You only are able to protect us from the evil in our world. We ask for You to keep our homes and lives secure; we rest in the Almighty power of God.

9. A Prayer for Trusting in God

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Lord, in our human understanding, it is difficult to accept suffering, death, and evil. We know the bad things that happen are a result of sin. We understand that Jesus came to conquer sin and death, but until all things are restored, and You rule on earth again, we will experience suffering. Teach us to trust Your heart and see the greater purpose in the pain.

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Romans 15:13 – “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Lord, thank You for the hope we have through believing in Christ. Death and destruction are not the end for those who have put their faith in You. We can have joy and peace because we have an eternal hope. Help us live in hope and share that hope with others who are struggling.

11. A Prayer for Restoration

Psalm 23:1-3 – “The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be in need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.”

Lord, we know that one day You will restore all things. Everything the enemy, our adversary, has taken from us will be given back in eternity with You. But until then, we need You to restore our souls daily, filling us with Your presence and Your peace. Take away all fear, all anxiety, and anything we might think or feel that keeps us from enjoying the quiet waters and green pastures of the abundant life You came to give us.

12. A Prayer for Healing

Psalm 147:3 – “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Lord, so many hearts are still hurting, even twenty years later. We ask You to heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds. Where there is loneliness or anger, replace it with faith and hope. Let Your promises and Your presence be the healing balm that those in pain need today.

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Matthew 5:43-45 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

Lord, are You sure we ought to love our enemies? It seems so hard and doesn’t even make sense to our human thinking. Yet, we were Your enemies, and You loved us while we were still sinners. Teach us to love those who would hurt us – those who have hurt us. Let us love You first with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love others as ourselves.

14. A Prayer for Leaders

1 Timothy 3:1-4 – “First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made on behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Lord, we need godly leaders. We need people who know You to make decisions for our lives. Remove all those in authority who set themselves above You and replace them with men and women who love Jesus and will guide our nations according to Your wisdom. You have chosen and established our leaders, Lord. Guide them according to Your will.

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Psalm 92:1-2 – “It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, Most High; to declare Your goodness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night.”

Lord, we believe You are good, and You can do nothing that is not good. When You allow suffering and evil to continue for Your sovereign purposes, help us to trust in Your immutable goodness. We praise You, and declare to the watching world, You are still good, even when evil is allowed to exist.

16. A Prayer for Vengeance

Romans 12:19 – “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

Nahum 1:2 – “A jealous and avenging God is the Lord; the Lord is avenging and wrathful. The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies.”

Lord, You alone are a righteous judge, and You alone can take vengeance on Your enemies. We lay down our desire for revenge and ask You to act in Your time, in Your way, and according to Your purposes.

17. A Prayer for Dependence on God

Isaiah 37:16 – “Lord of armies, God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made heaven and earth.”

Lord, we know that no military army, no matter how well supplied or trained, can keep us from the evil one. We depend on You, and You alone. You rule over all earthly nations, and they are in Your hand.

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Psalm 121:5-8 – “The Lord is your protector; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not beat down on you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time and forever.”

Lord, we ask for Your protection for our nation, our families, and ourselves. May we walk confidently, trusting that the Most High God is watching over us.

19. A Prayer for Salvation

2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”

Lord, we know that You desire all people to come to faith in Jesus, and that You do not want anyone to perish. We pray for the salvation of all who reject You. May all false religions and faiths be revealed as lies, and may all people see salvation in Jesus.

20. A Prayer for God’s Kingdom

Isaiah 9:7 – “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness, from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of armies will accomplish this.”

Lord, You taught us to pray, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Oh, Lord, may Your kingdom come today! We long for You to be on the throne of all the nations, and for all things to be set right. Until that day, we trust You, and will continue to invite all people to receive You as King.

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