A PRAYER FOR VETERANS DAY

Loving God, we remember all those who have served in our country’s armed forces to preserve the freedoms You have granted us. We ask Your blessing for the men and women who currently serve in the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and National Guard. Bless also the family members who have made great sacrifices in order to make it possible for their loved ones to be on watch at home, or around the world, or to go into harm’s way.

For all those veterans who have been willing to lay down their lives for us, for the veterans of past wars who bear scars in their bodies and spirits, and for veterans who came home but couldn’t “fit in” with their families or communities anymore, we ask Your healing grace, gentle comfort, and abiding strength.

Keep all our veterans in Your care today. Grant them the peace they sought to preserve for others. Teach all Your people the ways of peace, so that those who have sacrificed so much will not have done so in vain. We pray all these things in the name of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

-- Adapted from “Litany for Veterans Day” by Eileen Norrington 

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A MEMORIAL DAY PRAYER

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.”  (John 15:3 NIV)

Dear Heavenly Father,

We are grateful for the ultimate price of freedom paid by those fallen men and women who have served our country. As we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy every day, we think of how they have followed in the footsteps of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Please encircle and comfort their families as they remember their loved one’s sacrifice.

We also pray for our current men and women now serving in the military. Please hold them in Your strong arms. Cover them with Your sheltering grace and Your presence as they stand in the gap for our protection. We also remember the families of our current troops. We ask for Your unique blessings to fill their homes and for protection of their children. We pray that Your peace, provision, and strength will fill their lives.

May the members of our armed forces be supplied with courage to face each day and may they trust in Your mighty power to accomplish each task. Let our military brothers and sisters feel our love and support. In the name of Jesus we pray.

Amen.


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