June 7, 2022
On June 6, 1944, President Roosevelt did not announce the D-Day invasion with a press briefing, but instead with a call to prayer and he actually led the nation in prayer. You can read the entire prayer here, but I want to share this portion:
"... in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:
Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph...
...Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts...
...With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace, a peace invulnerable to the scheming of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.
Thy will be done, Almighty God.
Amen."
D-Day is remembered as the day the tide of war turned. It is also a day remembered by the inscriptions upon thousands of tombstones. Unfortunately, the tombstones erected because of that day are still only a portion of the tombstones of those who fought in battle prior and since. We set aside a day each year, Memorial Day, as a time to honor them all. For Memorial Day, Dutch Sheets in his "Give Him 15" prayer time, shared his friend William Ostan's (retired Major) Memorial Day thoughts. They are very much worth reading and listening to.
These events and days have brought some thoughts to mind in light of where we stand in our nation today, especially as it pertains to the spiritual warfare most all of us acknowledge that we are in. The war was being lost until the U.S. finally realized we could avoid it no longer. The war could not be won unless the U.S became fully committed to winning. I believe this is true in our spiritual battle today for our world. Our nation as a whole must be committed to winning this spiritual war and especially "THE" church, every Body, every believer.
I was thinking of those soldiers on the ships and landing craft headed to the beaches. It was unrealistic to think there would be no casualties. They knew men were going to die that day and it could well be them or their friend next to them. They knew they were headed into a fight against well-equipped forces who were entrenched in positions that gave them tremendous strategic advantages. Their only hope of winning was overwhelming numbers of soldiers storming the beach as well as effective air cover. They were soldiers on assignment and there was no turning back. They knew they were risking their lives. Any doubt about that was removed once they hit the beach and saw their comrades falling on either side.
But forward they went. Few of them would have considered themselves heroes. They were each doing the job they had been given and then doing the next thing that had to be done right in front of them, unsure what the next step would bring. Tragedies occurred that day and miracles occurred that day.
The one thing they all must have had in common was the conviction that winning the battle was more important than what happened to them personally. Dying in achievement of a win was better than living through a loss. Warriors understand that. That's what makes a hero.
And this was not a significant battle in a regional war. This was a pivotal battle in a world war. The stakes were too great to be satisfied with anything less than total victory. Everyone shifted into battle mode, both at home as well as on the battle field.
In our current spiritual war, as on D-Day, we are facing an enemy who for years has been fortifying their positions of power in strategic places they have already conquered. We Christians - as America did in World War II - are coming late to the game. At least it seems so from my perspective, but I must believe that God has His own timing and now is the time.
As on D-Day, we must steel ourselves for battle. We have landed at the beach and are advancing. Some of us are providing air cover, some are climbing the dunes and others are providing support services. All are in the battle and we must all be as committed to winning as those soldiers on the beach. We cannot afford to lose.
However, there are at least two very important differences in this spiritual battle. Difference #1: Ultimate victory is assured. This is not our battle. This battle is the LORD's and He Who sits in the heavens laughs at those who scheme against Him. Plus, He is not coming back for a weak, dispirited, defeated church/Bride, but rather one that is united, powerful, victorious and ready to reign with Him. This is not a world war, but the Battle of the Ages and we are in for the ride of our lives! Difference #2: There will be soldiers wounded and individual defeats, but in this spiritual battle no defeat is permanent and no casualty is fatal. There will be no tombstones erected. There will be resurrections, miracles, healings, deliverances and things the eyes have not seen nor even entered into the heart of man. Are you ready?
It is fitting to end with God's word to the Church at Thyatira in Revelation 2:26ff. "To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations - that one 'will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery' - just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Blessings to you all,
Randy
Comments