PLUS

II Timothy 2:3-4 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

Ephesians 6:10-11 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

In the same General Order in which General Washington directed the reading of the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Army (see previous post), he ordered the following:

“The Honorable Continental Congress having been pleased to allow a Chaplain to each Regiment, with the pay of Thirty-three Dollars and one third per month – The Colonels or commanding officers of each regiment are directed to procure Chaplains accordingly; persons of good Characters and exemplary lives – To see that all inferior officers and soldiers pay them a suitable respect and attend carefully upon religious exercises: The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times of public distress and danger—The General hopes and trusts, that every officer, and man, will endeavour so to live, and act, as becomes a Christian Soldier defending the dearest Rights and Liberties of his country.”

General Washington knew that God must be involved if the American revolutionary cause was going to be successful, and that Christian leaders were necessary to direct our soldiers towards the Lord.

Washington knew that God must be involved for success in any endeavor.  After all, “the blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary.”  As an addition, Washington provided an important qualifier – the necessity of God’s protection and blessing is “especially so in times of public distress and danger.”

Public distress and danger succinctly describe our current domestic and international environments. Our context demands our compliance. We are to turn to God.  We are to live and act as becomes a Christian Solider. The defense of our dearest Rights and Liberties depends upon our faithfulness.

PLEASE PRAY FAITHFULLY AND FERVENTLY FOR NATIONAL BLESSINGS AND PROTECTION IN A DISTRESSED AND DANGEROUS WORLD.  Especially so, in the midst of confusion and conflict!

See a related thought in this previous post:  https://prayatlunch.us/a-christian-soldier/

Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound”

On July 9^th, 1776, General George Washington ordered that the newly-signed Declaration of Independence be read to the American Continental Army.  On that evening on their parade grounds in New York City with the British Army closing in on them, 30,000 American soldiers heard those words proclaiming liberty and announcing separation from tyranny.

General Washington’s rationale for doing so was clearly described in his General Order from that day:

“The General hopes this important Event will serve as a fresh incentive to every officer, and soldier, to act with Fidelity and Courage, as knowing that now the peace and safety of his Country depends (under God) solely on the success of our arms: And that he is now in the service of a State, possessed of sufficient power to reward his merit, and advance him to the highest Honors of a free Country.”

Indeed, this proclamation had its intended impact.  Even on that same evening, a large statue of King George III was torn down in New York City and melted into bullets to add to the revolutionary arsenal.  Though it was several years before victory was ultimately achieved, the spark of freedom that was lit on that evening caused the sacred fires of liberty to burn within the hearts of every soldier warming their passions throughout the conflict.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SACRED FIRE OF LIBERTY TO BURN WITHIN YOU AS WE SERVE OUR NATION AND OUR SAVIOR. Like our forefathers, may we proclaim liberty to the captives in bondage around us while fighting our every battle with fidelity and courage.

I Corinthians 16:13 “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

Psalm 37:23 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD:  and he delighteth in his way.”

Edmund Burke, the conservative British politician of the 18^thCentury and long term Member of Parliament, is often credited with the following: “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”  Regardless of who said this powerful and thought-provoking quote, it lists two things that are necessary to stop the triumphing of evil:

• We need good men
• We need them to act to counter evil

On this Father’s Day weekend, may we recognize the importance of being good men, acting against evil, cultivating good men, and prompting them to act against evil.

God directs us to watch – to diligently seek out the battles in which we are to engage.  He commands us to stand fast in faith – to act in an unwavering way in support of Biblical principles.  He orders us to quit like men – to live as Godly men in all ways and in all areas of our lives.  He encourages us to be strong.

Burke also reminds us of the following:

“When leaders chose to make themselves bidders at an auction of popularity, their talents, in the construction of the state, will be of no service.  They will become flatterers instead of legislators; the instruments, not the guides, of the people.”

Our steps are to be ordered by God, not by the dictates of popular society.  If we let culture order our steps instead, then we will be of no service to Him nor to our fellow man.    We will be flatterers and instruments instead of legislators and guides.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIAN MEN TO BE GOOD AND USEFUL.  If America is to have a hopeful future, we must be the good men that God intends for us to be and to act for Him against the evil around us.  American males – Quit You Like Men!

NOTE:  I will be taking the next two weeks off of posting to enjoy a much needed vacation.  Please keep praying daily and fervently for our nation and our leaders!

Psalm 126:1-3 “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.  Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing:  then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.  The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”

Early in the morning of May 10^th, 2018 three Americans stepped onto the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews to celebrate their freedom from brutal captivity in North Korea. They were met by the President and the Vice President, among others, and the freed prisoners gave Vice President Pence a small 3 x 5 notecard with Psalm 126:1-3 inscribed on the back.  That Psalm celebrated the freedom of the Israelites from their captivity in Babylon, and the release of Israelites was a dream come true.  Their mouths were filled with laughter and their tongues with singing.  They praised the Lord for the great things He had done for them, and they were glad.

These freed Americans felt the same way upon their release from North Korea, and happily praised God as they shared their testimonies with our Vice President.  He considered it a moment that he would never forget.

As our nation’s leaders meet in Singapore with the North Korean delegation this next week, may they remember that there are millions more who need to be freed from captivity. May these leaders also remember that they must rely upon the Lord Himself who is the One who can do truly great things for all of mankind.  He can turn away captivity and make dreams come true.  He can spread gladness that fills mouths with laughter and tongues with singing.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR NATION’S LEADERS AS THEY SHAPE THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION OF A WORLD IN BONDAGE. Through them this week, the Lord can do great things!

I Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”

This week marks the 74^thanniversary of what is commonly known as D-Day, the Allied invasion of mainland Europe at the beaches of Normandy during World War II.  It was a daring, but necessary step towards victory against entrenched German forces.  It was also a finely choreographed military operation that ultimately saw over 120,000 Allied troops cross the English Channel on that day, June 6^th, 1944.

Such an operation required extensive planning and practice in utmost secrecy.  The Allies found a large area along the southern British coastline that closely matched the coast of Normandy, especially replicating the Utah Beach area, and had it carefully evacuated and sealed off from public view for the months leading up to the real invasion.  Here, at a place called Slapton Sands, the Allies performed practice invasions.

As a culmination of their practice, they designed an extensive week-long drill at the end of April 1944 that was named Exercise Tiger.  Unfortunately, during the early morning of April 28^th, 1944, a group of German torpedo boats stumbled across the exercise and brutalized the surprised and defenseless force.  On that morning, 749 Americans lost their lives, ironically more American lives than were lost on Utah Beach on the actual D-Day.

It is relatively easy to counter an adversary that we are expecting.  Yet, we are at our weakest when we are surprised because we are often defenseless.  The deadly experience at Slapton Sands provides a stark reminder of the importance of constant vigilance and enduring sobriety.  Like a group of German torpedo boats, our adversary is looking to sink our ships, destroy our lives, and devour us.

PLEASE PRAY THAT OUR LIVES WOULD BE CHARACTERIZED BY VIGILANCE AND SOBRIETY.  May we never be surprised and defenseless.