We celebrate Memorial Day as a nation this Monday. On this day, we remember in a special way those men and women in the armed forces who have made the supreme sacrifice in defense of our nation. We pray for the repose of their souls, and for all those who mourn their passing from this world. Many of them died in wars and terrorist attacks. Some were military chaplains who faithfully served the spiritual needs of our men and women in the armed forces and also served the spiritual needs of their families. They all sacrificed their lives and their freedom and helped make it possible for us to enjoy our lives and our freedom. They were prematurely separated from family members and friends, and a grateful nation pays them homage and respect.
The following prayer of remembrance by Micah Klug, was provided by the media outlet “Home Faith Family” for this special day.
As we reflect on this prayer, we are reminded to truly appreciate our precious faith and freedom which we should never take for granted. This is especially important in these difficult and uncertain times when we have witnessed dramatic changes in the fabric of our society and our world over the last few years. These changes were due primarily to the wars in Ukraine and Israel, tensions with Russia and China and other nations, concerns over immigration policies and a rapid increase in crime and illegal drugs in many of our large cities and even in many of our small rural areas. Such changes have caused us to view our faith and our freedom in a different light and made us more acutely aware of the reality that there are events and circumstances that are beyond our control.
Dear God,
on this day we offer this special prayer of remembrance
for all those who have given their lives in service to our nation.
We thank You for the courage and strength they showed in defending our freedoms,
and we remember them with admiration and gratitude.
Please bless their families with comfort and peace
as they think about the ones they love on this day.
In Your name. Amen.
As we consider these changes, and as we celebrate this day and take time for picnics and various forms of recreation, we are encouraged to also make time for prayer. We can join our brothers and sisters who pray for the repose of the souls of these men and women who have gone before us. In addition, we can pray for stability in our nation, and we can continue to pray for peace in our world, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts.