Repost: A Prayer on Patriot Day

 

Graphic by Abby at Little Birdie Blessings

 It was 2017 when I first posted a link to a prayer for hope and healing on Patriot Day.  I seldom repost things, but this is so pertinent and meaningful that I've shared it several times since.  It's meaningful  not only for September 11,  but for the current troubling times in which we find ourselves.  Today I would again like to just share that prayer and quote a few lines from the accompanying post written by Paige at Dayspring.com. Again this year,  I was so encouraged by this post: A Patriot Day prayer for hope and healing that I just need to share it.

I would also like to share a link to this post: The Day Has Come, by Ivan Pentchoukov of The Epoch Times.  Ivan was a high school student in New York City on September 11, 2001.  His school was located across from the Twin Towers.  It has taken Ivan 25 years to come to the point where he can share his memories of that day.  As one of the thousands impacted by the attacks, Ivan and others like him are among those we should pray for on this day.

Paige wrote:

"On [the] anniversary of that sad day in our history, we honor the memory of those who lost lives and loved ones. And, we give thanks for those who had the courage to serve in the face of danger.

"And, while Patriot Day (9/11) is recognized as the official day of remembrance for this tragic event, we know that any day is a good day to lift those most impacted up in prayer.

"Dear Loving Father,

We pause to remember the great losses and courageous acts of September 11th. We lift up those who are still affected -- Families of the victims, police officers, firemen, first responders and all who were involved. We pray for the light of Christ to flood the hearts of people everywhere. We believe you desire to redeem all your creation, and we trust that beauty will continue to come from the ashes of our darkest days. Surround us with your mighty angels of protection, give us compassion for one another in all life’s circumstances, and the courage to answer your call.
 
Amen."

"So when we ask ourselves, even today: What is happening to our country? Are we safe? Is it going to be ok? Here‘s what I know: God was there in the chaos, and He is with us in this moment. His heart may break for His precious children, but He is never surprised by our struggles. He goes before us; He can be trusted with every detail; and He is our safe place today, and for all eternity."

So I exhort my friends today: oh, let us all take courage from those facts!  As His children understand, God is with us in chaos, as He is in each moment of our lives. And just as Paige pointed out so beautifully, "He goes before us; He can be trusted with every detail; and He is our safe place today, and for all eternity."

And I'd say to my readers and friends again today, that we need to be reminded of these facts now, in 2026.  Our country is in trouble and in chaos once again.  We need to trust fully in our God, and we need to pray fervently for our beloved country and all those still reeling from the  impact of 9/11.

Seen this morning

 

 I've been such a delinquent blogger as of late, but I just had to share this.  Mr. T were sitting on our back deck for our quiet times, something we love to do when the weather cooperates.  It had rained overnight, and all of the leaves on the trees and bushes were still wet.  As the sun rose, the leaves gleamed so beautifully in its light.  As we watched, we noticed that some leaves actually had one or more water drops suspended from them, and that these drops were gleaming like beautiful diamonds.  

I didn't feel I could take time to go get a camera to capture the moment, so I dug back through my photos later to add this picture of strawberry leaves similarly edged in water drops.

So lovely!  It always amazes me that God provides so much beauty in this fallen world. 

Sunday Scripture

 

Again today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today we're looking at Psalm 31.  We were to zero in on verse 1, but I chose to SOAP verses 1-3.

S= "In Thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed.  Deliver me in Thy righteousness.

"Bow down Thine ear to me; deliver me speedily.  Be Thou my strong rock, for an house of defense to save me.

"For Thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Thy name's sake lead me, and guide me."  (Psalm 31:1-3)

O= In the Scofield study Bible,  C.I. Scofield titles Psalm 31 "A plea for God's protection." 

"Psalm 31 is one of David's exile Psalms.  He wrote it when Saul was chasing him through the rough hill country of Judah.  David was going from cave to cave and from hill to hill."  -- Warren Wiersbe

Psalm 31:1-3 is very similar to Psalm 71:1-3 --

"In Thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion.

"Deliver me in Thy righteousness, and cause me to escape; incline Thine ear unto me, and save me.

"Be Thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort.  Thou hast given commandment to save me; for Thou art my rock and my fortress."

David commits himself to God in this beautiful, meaning-filled prayer:

• I put my trust in You, O LORD;

• Let me never be ashamed.

• Deliver me speedily in Your righteousness.

• Bow down Your ear to me; 

• Be my strong defense to save me.

• You are my rock and my fortress;

THEREFORE

• For Your name's sake lead me, and guide me.

Cross-reference for "Let me never be ashamed" -- "Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon Thee.  Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent to Sheol."  (Psalm 31:17)

Cross-reference for "in Thy righteousness" -- "Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications; in Thy faithfulness answer me, and in Thy righteousness."  (Psalm 143:1)

Cross-references for "my strong rock" -- "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."  (Psalm 18:2)

"I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge, and my fortress; my God, in Him will I trust."  (Psalm 91:2)

Cross-reference for "for Thy name's sake" -- "He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."  (Psalm 23:2)

A= I did something a little different with the application section this time.  It is mostly made up of quotes from various preachers and teachers of old.

  "In Thee, O LORD, do I put my trust." "Nowhere else do I fly for shelter, let the tempest howl as it may.  The Psalmist has one refuge, and that the best one.  He casts out the great sheet anchor of his faith in the time of storm."  -- C.H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David

And as believers we may (and must) absolutely do the same!

"If David prays against being ashamed, let us strive against it.  Lovers of Jesus should be ashamed of being ashamed." -- Spurgeon

"Deliver me in Thy righteousness." "For supporting thy faith, mark well when it may safely rest; even upon God's righteousness, as well as upon His mercy ... For we may be well assured that what God's goodness, grace, and mercy moved him to promise, His truth, His faithfulness, and righteousness will move Him to perform."  -- William Gouge

"In praying that he may be delivered speedily, there is shown the greatness of his danger, as if he had said, All will soon be over with my life, unless God make haste to help me."  -- John Calvin

"We must not set times and seasons, yet in submission we may ask for swift as well as sure mercy.  God's mercies are often enhanced in value by the timely haste which He uses in their bestowal: if they came late they might be too late -- but He rides upon a cherub, and flies upon the wings of the wind when He intends the good of His beloved."  -- Spurgeon

Concerning the phrase "A house of defense to save me", F.B. Meyer writes: A house of defence.--Hidden with Christ in God, the believer, apparently defenceless, lives, walks and has his being within an impregnable defence. You go into the day enclosed in God just as God's life is enclosed in you."

What an amazing thought this is.  As believers, we go into each day enclosed in God!

"For Thou art my rock and my fortress." "The two personal pronouns, like sure nails, lay hold upon the faithfulness of the Lord.  O for grace to have our hearts fixed in firm unstaggering belief in God!" -- Spurgeon

"For Thy name's sake."  "Every step involves the honor of God.  We plead for His name's sake. If God should begin and not continue, or if He should carry on but not complete the work, all would admit that it was for some reason that must bring reproach on the Almighty.  This can never be." -- William S. Plumer

And we know from Philippians 1:6 that the One who began the good work in us promises to complete it!

P= "Lord, what a blessing it has been to look closely at these three verses!  I am so thankful that I can put my trust in You and that You are my strong rock and fortress, my house of defense.  You have been these things for me so many times!  You lead me and guide me every day; You deliver me in times of trouble. May I never be ashamed to share my faith and trust in You!  Help me to be more bold in sharing the truths of salvation and the Christian life with others who desperately need to know.  I praise You for all You'll do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection Question: There is nothing that David trusts in, except God.  He was not ashamed of his faith but rather praised God day in and day out, no matter how hard his trials had become.

Do you struggle to let your faith in God be known?  Do you worry that God might not come through and somehow that will bring shame to yourself or God?  In what area of your life do you need to be more bold in your faith?

My response: I don't really struggle to let my faith in God be known.  In general I tend to be pretty vocal about my faith.  When I am hesitant, it's never because I worry that God might not come through.  It's more a concern, I guess, about my outspokenness negatively impacting my relationship with the person I'm trying to witness to.

As far as an area where I need to be more bold, I'd say it's in sharing the actual nuts-and-bolts of the gospel -- sharing the plan of salvation clearly and specifically.

And that wraps up our very simple study of Psalm 31:1-3.  Please dig deeper  into Psalm 31 for yourself for further encouragement!

A few goals for September

 

August went by in a blur in many ways.  There was a week of ministry at our volunteer jobs and then an activity-filled two-week visit from our daughter, son-in-law and six of their kids. And now,  here are some goals for September:

* Keep up with Flylady's homemaking zones of the week

* Get together with friends on Labor Day

* Attend a cookout at the home of other friends

* Get together with other friends for a meal and fellowship 

* Post in this blog as often as possible 

* Post in my Christmas blog as often as possible

* Continue planning and making Christmas gifts and decor

* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and crafting any handmade ones

* Continue studying and preparing for my Sunday Scripture blog posts

* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating

* Get early light each morning

* Get to bed by 8:30 each night we are at home

* Drink enough water each day

* Walk and/or exercise at least 4 times each week

*  Clean and reset our cottage following our NV family's visit

* Continuing preparing for and teaching a ladies Sunday School class

* Attend a ladies' retreat

* Work at our volunteer jobs as needed

* Seek to encourage friends by email and phone chats

* Figure out finishes for some completed cross-stitch and embroidery projects

* Prepare many new listings for my Etsy shop

HEALTHY HABITS FOR SEPTEMBER:  Drink more water/get more sleep/exercise daily/intermittent fasting/limit carbs/get morning light

WORD FOR 2026: Intentional

And there are a few goals for September 2026!

Sunday Scripture

 Again today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP a selected passage from each Psalm too. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 30, zeroing in on verse 5, but I chose to SOAP both verses 4-5.

S= "Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.
"For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favor is life.  Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."  (Psalm 30:4-5)

O= The biblical superscription for Psalm 30 is "A Psalm and Song at the dedication of the house of David".  C.I. Scofield titles the psalm "Praise for deliverance".

The Pulpit Commentaries offers this summary: "The particular occasion on which it was written is declared in the title to have been "the dedication of the house," by which it is impossible to understand anything but the dedication of the altar (with its precinct) on the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite, after the great plague sent to punish David for numbering the people, as related in 2Sa 24:1-25; 1 Chronicles 21:1-28. With this occasion its contents are in perfect harmony. It was probably sung at the thanksgiving service with which David inaugurated his altar."

Cross-references for "sing unto the LORD" --  "Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness."  (Psalm 97:12)

"And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to invoke and to thank, and praise the LORD God of Israel."  (1 Chronicles 16:7)

Cross-reference for "saints of His" -- "Gather My saints together unto Me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."  (Psalm 50:5)

Cross-references for "His anger endureth but a moment" --  "He will not always chide; neither will He keep His anger forever."  (Psalm 103:9)

"For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee.  In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD, thy Redeemer."  (Isaiah 54:7-8)

Cross-reference for "in His favor is life" -- "Because Thy loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee."  (Psalm 63:3)

Cross-reference for "Weeping may endure for a night" -- "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." (2 Corinthians 4:17)

"For a night" literally means "in the evening".

"Joy" literally means "singing".

Cross-reference for "joy cometh"-- "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy".

A= "Psalm 30 illustrates thanksgiving, highlighting the believer's gratitude for God's involvement in his daily life." -- Daily Walk Bible

David says:

sing unto the Lord.
Give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.

as saints of the Lord we are instructed to do this!

Because

God's anger endures only for a moment;
In God's favor is life;
Although weeping may endure for a night, joy comes in the morning.

"We remember, as David did, that God’s love and favor last for a lifetime. He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. When God’s love comes into our thoughts, our feelings of sorrow and dread flee. Our mourning is turned into dancing, our garments of sackcloth and sorrow are stripped away and we are girded with gladness. We can rise to greet the day with shouts of ringing praise for His mercy, guidance, and protection. We rejoice in His holy name (30:11-12)." -- David Roper, Our Daily Bread

What a great way to apply Psalm 30:5 is suggested above.  May we truly greet each morning (and close each evening, too) with praise for God's mercy, kindness, and protection!

 P= Lord, there is so much to thank You for! I thank You for Your daily mercies and unfailing goodness, Your reassuring presence with me, Your loving favor that endures for a lifetime.  For the pardon of my sin, for bringing me out of darkness into Your marvelous light ... and for so much more!  I thank You that each day is a fresh new beginning to walk with You and praise Your name.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection Question: David was expressing thanksgiving to God for rescuing him.  After a season of darkness and weeping, joy had come!  

The mercies of God are new every morning.  Every sunrise brings the hope of a new and better day.   How does a new morning, with a fresh start, wipe away your tears and give you hope?

My response: Thinking of David's thanksgiving to God for rescuing him, I also give thanks to God for rescuing me from darkness -- the darkness of sin and a dismal future.  He has brought me out of darkness into His marvelous light, and for that I am deeply and truly thankful.

Dave Branon writes: "There is a way ... to find reasons to be thankful during even the darkest episodes of life. When the curtain of struggles seems to block out all joy, we can choose to be thankful.

One way is to look into Scripture to see all the things we have to be thankful for, which have nothing to do with circumstances. Despite our trials, we can give thanks for God’s unfailing goodness (Ps. 106:1); for God’s holy name (Ps. 30:4); for deliverance from sin (Rom. 7:24-25); for victory over death (1 Cor. 15:56-57); for God’s nearness (Heb. 13:5)."

It's such a blessing, also, to remember that God's mercies are new every morning.  Each morning also brings, as Anne of Green Gables famously said, "a new day with no mistakes in it yet."  It's a fresh start with the Lord as I seek to walk with Him each day.

That is our very surface study of Psalm 30:4-5.  Please dig deeper  into Psalm 30 for yourself.  If you, or someone dear to you, is enduring a night season of weeping, may it encourage you to be reminded that for the believer in Christ, joy comes in the morning!

Sunday Scripture

Again today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today we were to zero in on verse 4, but I chose to SOAP verses 3-4.

S= "The voice of the LORD is upon the waters.  The God of glory thundereth; the LORD is upon many waters.

"The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty."  (Psalm 29:3-4)

O= This is another psalm of David.  In my Scofield study Bible it is titled "God's mighty power."

Here David exhorts: "Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name" and to "worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness".  He goes on in the next seven verses to describe the power of the voice of the LORD.  It is upon many waters (v.3); full of majesty (v.4); it breaks the cedars (v.5); divides flames of fire (v.7); shakes the wilderness (v.8); causes deer to calve and strips forests bare (v.9).

"Psalm 29 illustrates praise, which is God-centered, focusing on God's glory as revealed in His mighty attributes and works." -- Daily Walk Bible 

Cross-reference for "the God of glory" (v.3) -- "And [Stephen] said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken: The God of glory appeared unto our father, Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran."  (Acts 7:2)

In Gems From the Psalms, F.B. Meyer notes that Psalm 29 is "A perfect specimen of Hebrew poetry, giving a magnificent description of a thunderstorm, marching from north to south of Palestine ... We hear first the low, distant muttering of the thunder. The "many waters" may refer to the Mediterranean from which the storm arose . Coming nearer the tempest breaks on Lebanon and Sirion, the Sidonian name for Hermon. The cedars sway to and fro before the wild fury of the storm. Each thunder peal is accompanied by zig-zag forked lightning. The storm passes southwards to the desert Kadesh and to the rock-hewn cities of Petra."

So interesting!  So dividing flames of fire refers to forked lightning!  And we have all seen or heard of storms that lay entire swaths of forest bare,  What an amazing picture of a powerful storm these verses present!

Even though this little study does not go as far as the ending verses of the psalm, these are very much worth a mention.  Verses 9a-11 say:"...and in His temple doth every one speak of his glory.  The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever.  The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace."  God's strength is seen in the storm and also in the blessed peace that follows the storm.

F.B. Meyer continues, "In the Temple the gathered worshippers respond to the challenge of nature, and say, 'Glory! Every whit of it uttereth glory'.  He adds, "Oh that every whit of the inner temple of our hearts, and of the spiritual temple of the Church--each nail, and thread, and splint--might utter that same cry, 'Glory to God in the Highest'!" 

A= I love the idea that "every whit of the inner temple of our hearts" might utter the cry "Glory to God in the highest!".  Oh that we would grasp the truth that we are to do ALL to the glory of God!

"Where the word of a king is, there is power, but what imperial voice shall be likened unto the majestic thunder of the Lord?" -- C.H. Spurgeon

"Make it a pattern in your praying that before you get caught up in your own concerns, you get caught up in God's greatness.  Then you, like the psalmist, will be both praising and thanking the Lord." -- Daily Walk Bible

P= "Lord, I cannot even begin to praise You for Your majesty and power -- only a part of Your glory as revealed in Your attributes and works!  How awe-inspiring it is when we hear Your voice in the midst of a powerful storm.  I praise You that we can look to You in our own personal storms and know that You are sovereign over them.  We can actually hear Your reassuring voice: "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid." Help me to hear Your voice above the noisy world we live in as well as the noise of my own emotions.   I thank and praise You in Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection Question: In this Psalm, David speaks of hearing the powerful voice of God, through nature, over and over.  It caused David to worship God.

We live in a noisy world.  Technology runs 24/7.  How do you hear God's voice and see His power on display in nature -- and how does that speak to your heart?

My response: One of the ways I love the most is to sit on rocks near the ocean and listen to the surf crashing against the cliffs.  It never fails to remind me of God's power, sovereignty, and majesty.  In addition, the regularity of the tides always speaks to me of God's order, constancy, and faithfulness.

Thunderstorms like the one described in this psalm, not to mention typhoons, hurricanes, tsunamis and other extreme weather events also show His amazing power and His ability to destroy as well as to create.

And that's a very general look at Psalm 29.  Please dig into this psalm more deeply on your own if you get a chance.  I know you will be blessed as you consider the voice of the Lord.

Sunday Scripture

Again today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 28, zeroing in on verse 7, but I opted to SOAP verses 6-7.   

S= "Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my supplications.

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped.  Therefore, my heart greatly rejoiceth, and with my song will I praise Him.  (Psalm 28:6-7)

O= Back in verse 1, David said he would cry to the LORD, his Rock.  In verse 2 he asks God to hear the voice of his supplications.  

In verse 6, he praises the Lord for hearing the voice of his supplication -- for answered prayer!  In verse 7 he states:

* The LORD is my strength.

* The LORD is my shield.

* My heart trusts in Him.

* I am helped.

THEREFORE

* My heart rejoices greatly.

* I will praise him with a song.

Cross-reference for "my shield" -- "But Thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head."  (Psalm 3:3)

Cross-references for "trusted in Him" -- "In the LORD put I my trust; how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?"  (Psalm 11:1)

"Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he that trusted in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about."  (Psalm 32:10)

Cross-reference for "song" -- "I will praise the name of God with a song; and magnify Him with thanksgiving."  (Psalm 69:30)

David said, "My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped."  

"As far as feeling goes, David is already 'helped'.  He feels himself delivered out of his peril.  Therefore, he says, my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song -- literally, out of my song -- which is explained to mean 'out of my store of song' -- will I praise Him.  He is ready to offer thanksgiving for a mercy not yet received."  -- The Pulpit Commentaries

A=  The Lord is my Rock.  I can cry to Him in times of trouble as David did, and know that He will hear me.  He is my strength and my shield.  As my heart trusts in Him, He helps me.  [The Pulpit Commentaries notes that David says "I am helped" -- that he sensed God's help even while he might have still been in danger.]. 

I can rejoice in this (and in so much more that He does for me), and can praise Him with a song! 

P= "Lord, what a blessing it is to understand that even when we don't see You working in our situations, You are in fact still working behind the scenes to protect and care for us and to work out Your perfect will in our lives.  How delightful is David's thought that he could praise You 'out of his store of song'.  I too have a store of 'psalms and hymns and spiritual songs' out of which to praise You.  May I always be quick to do so!  I pray in the praiseworthy name of Jesus!  Amen."

Reflection question: David learned to trust God in difficult situations, even when the Lord wasn't answering his prayers.

Think of a time when you felt like God was being silent.  How did God eventually help you?  How can that encourage you today as you wait on God to answer your prayers?

My response: I can recall a few situations like this, and some of them were truly horrible.  In the end, the Lord provided wisdom and other people to help, even turning situations in such a way that something others intended to hurt us actually worked to help us.  it worked to our advantage instead of harming us.  This is something that only God can do.  

This definitely encourages me today.  God is always working in situations even though we can't see what He is up to.  The answer will come in His timing.  

And that's our very, very simple study of Psalm 28:6-7.  Please dig more deeply into this on your own if these simple thoughts are a blessing.  There is always so much more to learn!