Through the many different avenues online and in person, I frequently am told: “I am praying for you!”
These prayers mean the world to me. And they meant the world to the Soldiers that you pray for–even if they don’t know they are being prayed for. Their lives are continually impacted by the faithful prayers of the anonymous Christian praying in his or her closet.
The best way to pray for Soldiers is different from what most people think about when they first think about Soldiers.
First, pray for the Soldiers Soul.
This is critical. The dangers out here are many–but the biggest dangers are those which are unseen. These are the killers on the Spiritual Battlefield. In some ways they only will kill the morale of the Soldier, but other cases they may lead the Soldier to hell, by distracting him or her from knowing Jesus personally. There is truly a spiritual battle out there for the Soldier’s soul. I ask you to pray first for the soul.
Second, pray for the Spouse.
The Army is probably the only place in the world where the word Spouse is a common used word. The Spouse, of course, can be male or female. But the relationship between the Soldier and the Spouse is also continually under attack. Some of these enemies drawn the individuals into arguments with each other, financial distress, and even infidelity. There are dangers out there much more numerous to the Soldier than the IEDs or other physical dangers. The Spouse deals with the everyday tasks of life of the home. They are the ones who watch the kids, pay the bills, and sit at home lonely at night. The Soldiers have organizations that send care packages and advertisements on TV. Spouses support their Soldier with none of the recognition that they truly deserve. Please pray for these Spouses.
Third, pray for the Safety.
This area is, of course, the first thing we think about. We are in a dangerous business. We do dangerous things to secure the blessings of liberty. While the threats are subsiding, we must remain on alert for the dangers that exist. Not only is there dangers from enemy activity, but from accidents. As Soldiers, we are continually thinking about safety, because what we do is inherently dangerous. We work around large machinery, loaded weapons, and the fatigue of spending 9-12 months in a deployed environment. Pray for Safety.
I always welcome those who offer prayer for me and my Soldiers. Many people think that prayer is insignificant because it is free. But, prayer is hard work. To be truly in prayer for someone it means that you are taking the time to get on your knees before God to bring his or her name before the throne of the Almighty God. This prayer is important to the Soldiers.
Thank you for praying–never stop.
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Photo from Unsplash.com
This post is an updated rewrite of a post tilted “How to Pray for Soldiers” written in February 2009.