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A PRAYER FOR THE BRAVE
by Veronica Mello Dear Lord, While our extraordinary men and women fight for the cause of freedom in a foreign land, allow the spirit of discernment to rest upon them regarding the true cause of this warfare: hatred. Deeply rooted hatred. Millennial hatred. This form of hatred is released from the mind of Satan himself. What else could blind a human so thoroughly as to justify insurgents to bomb dozens of their own women and children, just to kill one of our brave soldiers? This is madness, Lord, and it's spreading. On the news each night, I watch them burning American flags and Israeli flags with a frenzied climax. They compress themselves in mind-numbed mobs that can think only one thing, death to the infidel! But, Lord, forgive me when I chuckle every time I see them burning old glory. Again and again their hatred makes them hold onto the flag long enough for the flame to rise up and scorch their hands or set their sleeve on fire. It's as if we reached out and touched them every time one of their most devoted lights one up. It is madness, Lord, and it's spreading. The hatred has traveled like a virus to our country and has infected our people. In all my life, I have never seen such vitriol for a President of the United States. This hatred infects some of our Congressmen and Senators as well; they proclaim to worldwide television cameras their utter contempt for our Commander and Chief. They call our brave soldiers 'cold blooded killers'. Their hatred has blinded them, Lord. For they refuse to see how the enemies of our country use their words to fuel the cause of evil. Many of our elected officials are blinded, and cannot see how deeply our soldiers are demoralized by their rhetoric, slashed by their allegations and shamed by their accusations. And though a hundred million of us know it's untrue, and love our troops as if they were our own sons and daughters, we can do little to stop the spread of this insidious cancer. Send a word to our brave ones of our abiding gratefulness and appreciation, dear Lord. Let them feel our love and deep, undying respect. So many in our country want our soldiers to know how we honor and treasure their sacrifice, and weep every time one of them falls in combat. Send your holy angels, Lord, millions of them. Encamp around our troops and touch each one with your Holy Spirit. 'For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers in high places.' Yes, the principality of hate has stolen the reins of sanity, and threatens to bring darkness into your Holy Chambers-- the body of Christ. Let your divine love conquer hatred and rule in the hearts and minds of soldiers and citizens alike, who've been pierced with the arrows of abhorrent words and malicious, politically based lies. For we know it was from the root of your love that our brave ones chose to believe in a cause greater than themselves, and fight for freedom. They put their life on hold, and volunteered to endure the ultimate sacrifice, if necessary, to protect the rights of the very people maligning their good name. This is what makes every one of them a hero. Let them know what burns in our heart, dear Lord, for if you do, they will sleep sound, fight hard, and come home victorious in body and soul. In Jesus name I pray, amen. A prayer by Richard W. Koestler / New Jersey: Father, Grandfather, Baptist Minister, Viet Nam Vet. This is a multi-author labor of love. It is a collection of prayers, poems and letters in support of our military members and their families written with respect and love. The title of the collection is WITH LOVE AND PRAYERS TO THOSE WHO SERVE. Each author's name will be included with their indiv Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |