Praises and Prayers for our Service Men and Women ~ Memorial Day

Remembering Those Serving Our Country

Photo by: Cindy Boykin Faulkenberry

 

PRAYERS AND PRAISES

 

Tomorrow is Memorial Day and I want us to take the time to pray for our country's service men and women and to remember those who have lost lives fighting for our country.  The Brave, The Strong, The Willing.   Amazing children of God willing to sacrifice all for our country.  I vaguely remember Vietnam, but remember the MIA bracelets people wore for soldiers missing in action.  However, the past several years are forever engraved in our hearts as we have watched so many be deployed to the desert ~ so many lose lives ~ and so many come home injured.  Lives forever changed while representing the United States of America.   Although we are all fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), a solder is made special for his job.  So special, not everyone can be a soldier.

God blessed these men and women with traits that the average person can only imagine.  He built them strong, and brave, and courageous and filled their lungs with the breath of power and might.  Psalm 18:32-26 says it best:

It is God who arms me with strength
    and keeps my way secure.
³³ He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
    he causes me to stand on the heights.
³⁴ He trains my hands for battle;
    my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
³⁵ You make your saving help my shield,
    and your right hand sustains me;
    your help has made me great.
^{36 and} You provide a broad path for my feet,
    so that my ankles do not give way.  

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"   Isaiah 6:8

A soldier cannot fight alone ~ there is a brotherhood we can only imagine and never truly understand. No man left behind. Yet how many of these men come home after losing a brother in battle? How many live with incredible pain day after day because they could not save their brother, and lived when somehow they just didn't feel worthy?

the bible says in John 15:13:

The fallen solders died doing what they were built to do; what they trained to do ~  what they LOVED to do.  It is my prayer that those that lived understand that their work is not done yet. Although God has called some men home early, the others are being used ~ and have a purpose; a job not yet done ~ it may not be on the battlefield, but work remains. 

Some solders sustain massive injuries ~ many lose limbs, eyes, suffer with traumatic brain injuries and have scars that they will live with for the rest of their lives.  Battle wounds that cause PTSD and in so many today, suicide. Since 2009, more American troops have died from suicide than combat.
An active duty soldier commits suicide every 36 hours. That rate jumps for veterans – one act of suicide every 80 minutes, according to the CDC.

https://www.stlbeacon.org/#!/content/26723/mental_health_vets_suicide

Pray today for these men.  Although their bodies may not be 100% and they have life long injuries - our God is bigger than any injury.  We serve a mighty God and he created these amazing heroes that serve our country daily, but His work is not yet done.  He has plans for each and every one.  (Jeremiah 29:11).  May our soldiers reach out to the one who provides mercy and grace, who provides strength, who provides freedom from the bondage these men have in their hearts and minds - with Him they can do anything.  They can overcome.  Our God is a God of restoration.  Of healing.  Although it is hard to understand - hard to trust or have faith in this God who allows destruction - war.   May our men and women surrender to Him.  Remember, He is who created them to be the soldiers they are today.  I pray that they will allow Him to transform their hearts and renew their minds and discern His will for their lives.  May they reach out to Him and ask "What can I do Lord? Here I am, Send Me".  May they be the hands and feet of Jesus and use their testimonies, their stories to help their struggling brothers and sisters.

When you see someone in uniform, remember how special they were made.  Remember how God perfected them for the work they were molded to do.  Reach out to them, love them, encourage them, and build them up.  Remind them that they were oh so fearfully and wonderfully made!  Some of us will never understand the paths these soldiers choose to walk ~  it is so amazing that they choose to sacrifice all they do to represent our country, to protect our country, and to work to maintain a freedom that many other countries will never have. 

May we keep these men and women in our prayers every day!

Dear God,

Today we thank you for each and every person that serves or has served for our country.  Father we lift each one up to you now and ask that you cover them with your presence providing them with whatever their needs may be.  Father, for those that are struggling, we pray for a breakthrough - for healing, restoration, recovery, strength, comfort, peace - for a transformed heart and mind.  May they fight for freedom from whatever their bondage may be and may they begin to work with others, being your hands and feet.  Although they may not be serving their country today, they can serve you and help others fighting many of the same demons our military continues to fight every day.  Be with those that continue to serve today and those that have signed to serve the future - I pray  a hedge around each one and pray that their hearts may be open to you for every need they have.  With you, they can do anything.  Provide a peace that surpasses any understanding.  We ask these things in your precious and Holy Name.  Amen.

Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
 
Thank you to each and every person serving in our military and for those that served. Thank you DOES seem so inadequate, but from the bottom of our hearts - we thank you. We love you. We pray God blesses you with whatever your need may be.  Let HIM be your guiding light, through Him we can do anything.


In God's Holy Light,
<3 Kelley and all the Jesus Girls from Tackling the Temple