A Prayer to Honor Our Fallen Servicemen and Women - Your Daily Prayer - May 26 

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A Prayer to Honor Our Fallen Servicemen and Women
By Lynette Kittle

Bible Reading:
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” - John 15:13

Listen or Read Below:

Why do we commemorate Memorial Day? Sadly, many in our nation today don’t really know why Memorial Day was established. They view it primarily as a day off work and a three-day holiday full of family outings and outdoor fun, with no clue to its meaning or remembrance of our fallen military.

Miracles in American History author, historian, and speaker, William J. Federer, notes, “Memorial Day in America, as an annual observance, can be traced back to the end of the Civil War, a war in which over half a million died. Southern women scattered spring flowers on graves of both northern Union and southern Confederate soldiers.”

Originally called Decoration Day, it was a day for loved ones to decorate the graves of their fallen soldiers. Later, Memorial Day was renamed, and it was established to remember and honor all servicemen and women who died in American wars. In 1868, it was formally designated for May 30th by the Grand Army of the Republic, a Union veterans’ organization.

“It’s a time to honor the fallen. To honor those who have paid the last full measure of devotion to our nation,” explains Dr. Jerry Newcombe, Executive Director of Providence Forum.

Freedom Isn’t Free
Countless families have paid the dearest,  most costly price on earth for America’s freedom; the loss of a family member in the Armed Forces, an overwhelming loss, grief, and sorrow for their families and friends.

“We are free in large part because others sacrificed on our behalf so that we might be free. Memorial Day is an annual reminder of the debt we owe to those who died while serving our country,” explains Newcombe.

Whether a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or U.S. Coast Guard, their deaths are tragic and don’t make their dying as a fallen hero any less painful to those who love and miss them. Their sudden passing can be extremely difficult for parents, spouses, and children to accept and process, often coming without warning, unexpectedly, and without an opportunity to say goodbye.

For Armed Forces Members Who Died In Christ
As Christians, although families know their fallen soldiers are with Christ, there can come a crisis of faith, trying to understand how their prayers for safety and protection seemed to fall short—wrestling with trying to understand why their prayers seemed to go unanswered for their military loved ones. The Apostle Paul offers some comfort, assuring us in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

As believers in Jesus Christ, fallen servicemen and women have gained eternal life in Christ, with their lives beginning anew and forevermore in Heaven. As explained in John 11:25, “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die.”

Revelation 21:3-4 describes the life they entered when they left this earth. “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Let’s Pray:

Dear Father, We thank you for the many brave armed forces men and women who lost their lives in service to our country, for the time they spent away from their loved ones to protect and secure our nation, and ultimately laying down their lives on our behalf. Today, we want to honor them for placing their lives on the line and their tremendous sacrifice for our nation. We also pray for their families who have experienced the heartbreaking loss of their fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, and sisters, asking You to comfort them, to relieve the sorrow and grief, and fill them with Your peace. Bring healing to their broken hearts, O Lord, we pray, and let them experience joy in the cherished memories of their armed forces family members. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Brandon Bell/Staff 

Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.

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