Almighty and gracious God,
Thank You for a day such as this that calls us to both remember
and honor the sacrifices of all our veterans who have served in our armed
forces. It is
good and appropriate for us to remember, for far too often we remember the
things we ought to forget and forget the very things we should always remember.
So we are both grateful and
humbled when we ponder the sacrifice of those who have given their lives in
order to preserve our freedoms and to establish or protect the freedoms of
others. We ask that You would bless their
sacrifices and the labors of their hands by upholding this nation in freedom
and justice and righteousness. And may we learn from their examples the lessons
of service, sacrifice, and selflessness, diligence and devotion, endurance, loyalty, honor,
and patriotism.
And oh Father, we pray
especially for Your comfort and strength for the families of those who have
died in recent days or years. And for the many who have
returned from combat with lingering injuries and wounds, whether in their
bodies or their souls, we ask for healing and solace in both mind and body.
God, like You, we all hate
war, violence, and bloodshed. And yet we know that the battle must sometimes be
joined in a world where injustice, greed, hatred, lies, oppression and terror endure.
So give us wisdom to ensure that our cause is ever just. Give us courage and
stamina fit for the task. And give us faith to look for the day You have
promised when You shall put an end to all war and will mercifully wipe away
every tear from our eyes, when all people the world over will beat their spears
into pruning hooks and their swords into plowshares. We know this promise is
sure for all who look to you, for You have given the down payment to that
promise by lovingly giving Your Son as the supreme sacrifice for sin and raising
Him from the grave, conquering death itself.
So it is in that beautiful
and matchless name of Your Son, Jesus, the coming Prince of Peace and Mighty
God that I pray. AMEN.
