September 11, 2026

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18.10)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

I am taking a time out from Abraham for a national prayer and mourning and a time for being resolved to hold on to the future trusting in what is eternal and beyond the control of humankind.

Twenty-five years ago, this nation, and by extension the whole world, suffered the tragedy we all know as 9/11. Three jetliners were hijacked by terrorists under the direction of Osama bin Laden. They were ordered to take down the Trade Towers in Manhattan, New York City, as well as the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. If this was “just” a terrorist attack, the outrage of the public would be most understandable. 2,977 lives were lost that day. The futures of those individuals, their families and their communities forever changed. The ache of that loss still throbs in our hearts, minds and souls. Bitterness still fouls the taste in our mouths for peace, though peace is what we sincerely desire. We also desire justice. In such a tragedy as this, I am not sure if justice will ever be fully served until the Day of Judgment which will come upon us all for reasons each of us know personally.

It was not, however, just an act of terrorism. Some will say it was an act of Jihad, a holy war, against the United States and Israel, as well as those who would support Israel globally. An act of terrorism is an expressions of controlling the narrative of a person or people. Such expressions have roots in all kinds of thoughts, philosophies and ideologies. Most of them are political. 9/11 was not limited to a political statement. Osama bid Laden had little to gain politically as a world power. His desire was to make a statement of truth as he saw it. He indeed was implementing a “holy war” pitting the will and desire of Allah over every other “god” known to man. He reduced the United States and Israel into heretics and hypocrites worshipping the gods of mammon, political power, greed, hatred, Judeo-Christianity and self before his god. The Twin Towers were representative of the enemy of his god who bore the four faces as a griffin: eagle (US), lion (Israel), bear (the market) and man (self-serving). It was a threat to his way of life and understanding. It was more an act of terrorism. It was an act of heroism, in his mind, defending Allah. By taking down the “towers of strength,” he saw it as an act of god (I will always keep that word in lower caps except when speaking of and addressing Yahweh Elohim, the God of all gods). In a visit a few years before 9/11/01, he reported to newspapers after visiting the UN, “it [the World Trade Center] must come down.”

He was wrong, of course. The towers fell. The Pentagon was damaged. Lives were lost in both cites at the cost of 2977. There was the other flight which true heroes died defending their country in overpowering the terrorist pilots over Pennsylvania. However, what could not be defeated and brought down was the resolve of this nation at that time. Lives were rescued, remembered and served as empowerment to rebuild, regain and restore. It is something we must remember to this day because what the terrorists have learned is that the only way to defeat us is from within. The attack on the heart, mind, spirit and body of America is in full force. We cannot turn a blind eye nor a deaf ear to the “watchman on the wall.” Moreover, we must pay attention to the true spirit of this nation which will never be defeated. Its presence is what Solomon called the days of his reign over Israel was “a strong tower; that is the name of the Lord.” That is why I always make sure to use the capitalization of the name of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit as nouns, pronouns and even attributes. More than that, the name of the Lord signifies a singular attitude and nature that will never be defeated. Why? Because in Christ that battle has already been fought and won. Those who believe in it know full well, they lived in the Kingdom of God on earth as it is already being lived in Heaven. Those who believe in it and claim its identity for themselves, will never taste of eternal death. Sadly, many others shall; fewer if we who believe will look unto the hill from which our help comes from. It comes from Calvary. In history to us, it is a hill far away in Jerusalem. In reality, it is a hill upon which we are called to live and die on daily. We will not be defeated by the enemy of man nor God. He who is for us will never stand against us.

Mighty ones of God, we are thinking today of another day in the history of this country that will live in infamy. We are refined by it but not defined by it. Our true definition will always be “the name of the Lord; blessed be His name.” God bless the America we are meant to be: humble and strong towering above all others on bended knee to protect and to serve those who are given to us. It is our destiny and our legacy.

TODAYS’ PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness endeavor, but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.