05/25/2026
A Prayer Of Gratitude For Those Who Serve in the Armed Forces
Father – we acknowledge with sadness that we live in a world marred by the power and presence of sin. We grieve the ways in which sin affects not only us as individuals, but even nations and governments. We hear, each day, of the fighting in Ukraine, and in Iran; less-publicized are the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Nigeria, Myanmar, and other regions around the world. As we move into Memorial Day weekend, we remember too the conflicts and wars that our nation has been involved in.
Sovereign Lord, in a fallen world, it is sometimes necessary to take up arms to defend the innocent, and to fight for the preservation of freedom. You remind us in your word that the epitome of love is for one to lay down his life for another – and throughout history, the men and women in our armed forces have done just this. They have put themselves in harm’s way to save the life of a fellow soldier, or to give their lives for the cause of preserving a society free from tyranny and oppression. For this, Lord, we are thankful to you – for them.
For those families still grieving and mourning a loss that never fully goes away, we ask your presence to comfort and sustain them. We pray, too, with hope – that the day will come quickly, when swords will be turned into ploughshares, when wars and fighting will cease, and when your kingdom will come in its fullness. Until that day, Lord, help us to fix and focus our eyes entirely on you.
It’s in Jesus’ name that we pray, AMEN
Photos by Pastor Rob, taken at Utah Beach, and the Normandy American Cemetery, in France
