A PRAYER FOR ACTIVE AND INACTIVE
U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL

 

SCRIPTURE READING:
Psalm 76, James 4:1-10

 

REFLECTIONS OF THE HEART:
Self-centeredness is the essence of the worldliness in wars. Humility is the opposite of the proud selfishness and self-centered ambition which characterizes this present evil warring age. Therefore, let us seek peace, for the Seed of the righteous, even in our military, will conquer the gates of the wicked.

 

SCRIPTURAL PRAYER:

Mighty Father, let praise flow from our lips, for You have taught us Your decrees. We will praise You as long as we live, lifting up our hands to You in prayer. God, You are our rock, in whom we find protection. You are our shield, the power that saves us, and our place of safety. You are our refuge, our Savior, the One who saves us from violence. Father, we praise and honor Your Name. Your Name is the Lord and we rejoice before You. You have been the home of the righteous throughout generations. We praise You, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen! Lord, we thank You for our active and inactive military personnel. Thank You for blessing the cause of our armed forces and our people throughout history. Thank You for making our nation a mighty power in the world. Lord, You are a faithful, loving and compassionate God and we bless Your Name.

 

Abba Father, no greater love have You expressed to the world than to shed Your blood and die on a cross as a sacrifice for the sin of mankind. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Heavenly Father, we confess that our brothers and sisters in Christ who commit themselves to serve in the military of the United States of America to protect our nation are in this world, but not of it. They are Your chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, Your very own possession. As a result, they can show others Your goodness, for You called them out of the darkness into Your wonderful light. Father, we stand united against the spirit of satan who causes quarrels and fights among nations which come from evil desires at war within men and women. They want what they don’t have, so they scheme and kill to get it. Evil people are jealous of what others have, but they can’t get it, so they fight and wage war to take it away from them. Lord God, we declare that You are the rock of our military personnel and it is You, who trains their hands for war and gives their fingers skill for battle. We declare that You, Lord, are their loving ally and their fortress, their tower of safety and rescuer. You are their shield, and they will find refuge in You. Almighty God, we decree that every nation must submit to You. In the Name of Jesus, and by the power of Your Holy Spirit, we proclaim that the righteous men and women of our military will be encouraged to know that You will never forsake them. Therefore, they will not be afraid of the people of the lands where they are stationed who are only helpless prey. They have no protection, but You, Lord, are with our military personnel. You are a shield for all who look to You for protection.

 

Holy Father, we ask You to place Your shield of protection over our active military personnel as they move about in obedience to the commands of their superior officers. Holy Spirit, give them a keen awareness of the dangers around them so they can keep out of harm’s way. Send messengers to advise our military leaders so that they will take the right course of action. Specifically, we lift up Generals Petraeus and Odierno and Lieutenant-General Stanley McChrystal, newly appointed Deputy Commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, as well as all of the Joint Chiefs and Defense Secretary Gates. Give them Your wisdom in making their decisions. Merciful Father, we pray for our inactive military personnel who have been in harm’s way and have suffered greatly from either physical or psychological trauma caused by their service in wars. Gracious Father, heal their wounds. Remove feelings of guilt and shame. Reassure them of Your love and tender mercies. Please help them to overcome the anxieties and torment caused by war. We lift up to You, God, those military personnel who have been so emotionally damaged that they have turned on their fellow soldiers. They need a miracle. Restore their total health so that they may return to life either as civilians or as active military with full confidence and hope. Holy Spirit, help the medical personnel to use the mind of Christ and His hands to bring about healing and comfort to those who have been wounded in battle. Give strength to our military families, so that they can support their loved ones who have suffered so greatly. Inspire our governmental leaders to provide the services and support that our service-men and service-women require. Inspire in all Americans gratitude, empathy and compassion for both active and inactive military personnel who have served us all with courage and obedience.

 

Holy Spirit, if there are ways I can serve our military personnel, please bring them to my remembrance. (Now, write down what the Holy Spirit shows you and begin to act upon it.)

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

 

Forgiving Father, forgive our active and inactive military personnel for their sins. Please forgive them for not always trusting You for their safety. Forgive those service persons who may be envious, jealous, selfish, disobedient or rebellious. Forgive military leaders for any decisions that may have caused unnecessary injury or loss of life. Forgive those who have taken out their frustration or anger on those who have answered the call to military service. Holy Spirit, if any in our military have harmed innocent civilians in the theaters of war, speak to their hearts to repent and help them to forgive themselves, as well. Lord, forgive me for (list any sins that you have committed). Holy Spirit, remind our military personnel of those they need to forgive and help them to be quick to forgive. As for me, Holy Spirit, bring to my remembrance those I need to forgive (take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to show you names or faces of people that you may need to forgive. As He shows you, say aloud, “I forgive name of person(s).” Now, trust the Lord to heal any wounds in your soul caused by unforgiveness).

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

 

Eternal Father, help our military personnel to not yield to temptation; but deliver them from the evil one.

 

How great are You, Lord, how deserving of praise, in the city of our God, which sits on Your holy mountain. Lord, You are King! Let the nations tremble! You sit on Your throne between the cherubim. Let the whole earth quake! Lord, You sit in majesty in Jerusalem, exalted above all the nations. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

Scripture References for the Written Text:

Psalm 119:171, Psalm 63:4, II Samuel 22:3, Psalm 90:1, Psalm 41:13, John 15:13,19 I Peter 2:9, James 4:2, Psalm 144:1-2, Numbers 14:9, Psalm 18:30, Psalm 48:1, Psalm 99:1-2

 

Today, I will trust God to:

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

© Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. ©2010 Caldwell Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved — No reproduction of the material is permitted without the expressed permission of CMI.

 

 

CLICK HERE to join the Power Connection and get your prayer Power Guide!