Before I found God, the idea of terrorism created much tension and anger within my heart. During September 11, I was sitting in class when all of a sudden the teachers rushed into the hall and began whispering to one another. Moments later, kids were being picked up by their parents and eventually my mother picked me up. It wasn’t until I got home and 
watched the news to see two planes fly into the twin towers. I was in complete shock! How could people kill so many others in such a horrific way? Better yet, how could they kill themselves? Questions like these and many more, kept me from seeking a relationship with God.
Terrorist believe in a God that demands destruction and death. (Not the God of Israel, of heaven’s armies or creator of the universe) These people were raised by brainwashing techniques, fear and punishment. These qualities are far from God’s truth and instructions for us on how to live in this world. They have accepted voice of man as the truth, rather than the voice of God. They walk the earth lost, confused and looking to kill. The thought of praying for murders, thieves or evildoers may seem wrong but the truth is terrorist may need our prayers the most. Terrorist allow Satan to use them to cause chaos, fear and confusion amongst the world. They follow their leaders, not realizing their leader are leading them down a destructive path. Those that are saved can walk by faith not by sight knowing that they are protected under the covenant of Christ. Believers must do more than say “Jesus is Lord”, they must LIVE like it. With over 50 foreign terrorist groups, it can be easy to live afraid. But we must fear not! The Lord did not create us with a Spirit of fear, but of power, control and a sound mind [2 Timothy 1:7].
When we allow fear to rule in our life, we miss out on living the life God created for us. As believers we need to pray for others and not to judge others.
5 Reasons to Pray for Terrorists
1.) Prayer changes the world: The power of prayer (Check out the ‘Pray.Play.Stay plan’) is the power to work within hearts of people. Terrorist, murders or thieves are human beings with lost souls and their sins are no greater than ours. Their minds have been brainwashed by corruptive leaders who have lead them down a destructive path. These perpetrators need our prayers so God can work within their hearts to help them understand the wrongdoings in their behaviors. In order to live in a world free from war and terror attacks, it starts with prayers.
2) The lost sheep: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth,he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish” [Matthew 18:12-14] Jesus said it himself, when he told us the importance of the lost sheep. Terrorists are like God’s lost sheep, they walk blindly by following corrupt leaders and believing in false realities. Our prayers are the only help that can bring them back into God’s will.
3) No wrong equals a right: “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. [James 5:16] The eyes of the Lord sees sin as one. There is no sin greater than any other sin because the truth is that sin is sin, no matter how big or small it is. Although terrorists live a wrong full life, we can not retaliate because two wrongs don’t make a right. God wants us to pray for each other so that we can be healed, not judge one another or seek revenge. The goal of a terrorists is to put fear into people, however as children of God we know we shall walk this earth fear of no man but God Himself.
4) Blind leading Blind: Every person who has not been planted with a mustard seed of faith will get uprooted at the time of judgement day. Jesus explains this parable to peter and goes on to say “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body?” Basically, Jesus let’s us know that we digest our own words. So, if we are not feeding ourselves God’s word and truth we will eventually starve to death. Terrorists do not know God’s word and truth because if they did, they would not be terrorists. They people worship and honor a false God and will soon discover the truth. We have to look at these people as bling leading blind. They are following non-believers and will eventually have to stand before God come judgement day.
5) God knows your heart: When we pray for others without judgement it pleases the Lord. He understands that sins are not a part of His creations and takes petty for our ignorance. How can a person do better if they do not know better? Only God sees a person for who they truly are because he looks past appearance and sees the heart. He knows our motives, deepest secrets and level of faith. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts – murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft false testimony, slander.” [Matthew15:19] Terrorists are human beings just as you and I. Their choices in life have lead them astray, but with prayer they can be brought back to the righteous path.