Prayer for Our Country

Veteran's Day comes up this Wednesday.  Today, the city of Simpsonville held its annual Veteran's Appreciation Ceremony in front of the Veteran's Monument on Main Street.  I was honored to be asked to offer the benediction.

Even though November 11 is my birthday, when I read that date or hear it mentioned, I always think first that it is Veteran's Day.

I want to share with you my brief prayer from today's gathering:

Father, we approach you with full assurance of faith today based on the promise you made when you said,

"If my people who are called by my name

will humble themselves and pray

and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,

then will I hear from heaven, I will forgive their sin

and will heal their land."

How appropriate it is, Lord, that we celebrate our Veterans and Thanksgiving in the same month. 

We certainly owe a debt of gratitude to those who have sacrificed and paid dearly for our freedom. 

We ask, O God, that their sacrifices not be in vain

and that we and our children would cherish and honor

the freedom they have provided for us.

May we never take for granted

those who still make freedom possible.

We ask for Your continued blessing on those who serve us

and on their families who make equal sacrifices.

We pause today to remember those affected by the tragedy

at Fort Hood this week

and ask that you would provide them with

the peace, strength and comfort

that they need during these difficult days.

Your word tells us that

the nation is blessed whose God is the Lord.

May that ever be so of the United States of America.

We ask these things in the name of Your Son, Jesus,

our precious Redeemer.

Amen.

Scripture from 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Psalm 33:12