This past Saturday, amazing people– people who served in unthinkable wars, and survived some of the world’s most brutal trauma– were celebrated, during Veteran’s Day.
But, honestly and sadly, as much as I hate to admit it, Veteran’s Day was not a holiday that I held in the forefront of my mind– at all. Reading BeautyBeyondBone’s post on how this holiday was basically ignored, I felt both convicted for not truly observing this holiday, and inspired to, once again, write on warfare in honor of Veteran’s Day, all at once.
But what was I to write?
After prayer and the Holy Spirit showing a couple of things to me, I believe I am led to write a short post of appreciation for all of my fellow Americans in the military, while also praying for their safety according to Psalm 91. Here it is.
Dear Fellow Americans in the Military– and those who are now out of it as Veterans,
From the deepest part of my heart, thank you. Thank you for mustering up the courage, bravery, and seflessness to do such a thing as put your lives out on the line for our freedom: freedom to speak our opinions, freedom to pursue the lifestyles and careers we want, and most importantly, the freedom to worship.
We all know that in other places in the world, Christians are not allowed to even openly believe in Jesus and His Work on the cross, much less meet together to celebrate, worship, and learn from Him through the Word being taught by pastors and teachers. It amazes me that Christ would plant me in America, born in the west, so that I might know Him from an early age, and grow in my relationship and walk with Him with little to no persecution. He could have planted me, planted us, in so many other places, all around the world, but He didn’t.
In Revelation 19, Jesus is called “Faithful and True,” the One who will rain down divine judgment and war (Revelation 19:11). This Mighty Warrior, Jesus, once called an ordinary man– one just like you and me– to fight for the liberation of Israel. His name was Gideon.
Gideon was scared at the thought of fighting against those who were oppressing Israel, the Midianites. But, in the midst of this man’s doubts, fears, and weaknesses, God said this.
“The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
(Judges 6:12, NIV)
Whether you believe in Jesus or not, dear friend, I pray you would understand that Jesus is not a religion. He is a person; a person who deeply Loves and Cares about you. Every anxiety, every fiery trial full of gun fights, and every moment of PTSD-like memories you have, Jesus is right there, waiting for you to call on Him as Lord and Savior, for help. Please do not refuse His Help. For, with Him alone as your Lord and Savior, you have the ultimate victory.
I pray that this has blessed, and encouraged you. I wanted to bless you, by praying Psalm 91 over you.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Please bring these men and women to come to know You, so that they might rest in Your Shadow, and call you their Refuge and Fortress.
Please help them to trust in You when they are afraid (Psalm 56:3).
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
Please save them from falling into temptation, and the traps of their physical and spiritual enemies.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
Jesus, please cover these active men and women with Your Feathers.
When all of the fighting and memories get to be too much, please be their refuge.
Please show Your Faithfulness to them– for it is great, Father God.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
As they are in the middle of the worst of the worst, Lord Jesus, I pray that You would protect and safeguard each man and woman who is fighting. I pray for amazing miracles, Jesus, to happen on the battlefield– miracles that will speak even to their enemies of who You are, so that all might come to know You!
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
Please give these men and women the faith to call upon You as their Refuge, dear Jesus.
Remove the lies and fears that their own minds and their enemies give them; make them strong and bold in You.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
Dear Jesus,
Do amazing things before the eyes of these men, women, and the people they are fighting to protect. Do supernatural, awe-inspiring things in their midst, so that they will know that You are LORD alone.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Dear Jesus,
Please bring back these men and women safely! Over EVERYTHING, dear Jesus, may they know You alone as their Lord and Savior!
I pray that they would have a humongous testimony of Your Faithfulness and Help in their lives, Jesus. May they call upon You, and always rely upon Your Love for them and Your blood– nothing else.
Please help those who are struggling with what has happened to them– who feel it is impossible to reconcile the fact that You are a Good, Loving God, with the things they have seen. In their doubt and anger, may You show Yourself to be real to them, despite their questions.
Thank You, Lord Jesus.
In Jesus’ Name I pray,
Amen!
You are all very Loved by Jesus, and by those who are calling upon Christ for you.
Thank you, again, for your service.
With Love, in Christ,
Annalee
Do you know Jesus?
This same God– this “Mighty Warrior,” called the “Lion of Judah” (Revelation 5:5) — is also called “The Lamb that was slain, for the sins of the world” (John 1:29; Revelation 13:8). But why did Jesus have to die? Why did He willingly become a man, to be sacrificed for your sin and mine? Read more about Jesus– and why He did what He did– here.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
(John 15:13, NIV)
Thank a Veteran or member of your military for their service, today. Thank you for your love and prayers!!!
ISAIAH 62 PRAYER MINISTRY 
One response to “Thank You: An (Apologetically Late) Letter to Veterans & The Members of Our Military”
Reblogged this on ISAIAH 62 PRAYER MINISTRY and commented:
I wrote this last year for Veteran’s Day. More than anything, these men and women need to know the Salvation and Healing that only comes through Jesus– the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Sovereign over every nation. May they be blessed this year for their service, and may they know Jesus as their Lord and Savior!
LikeLike