“Then one of the young men said, ‘Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the LORD is with him.’” 1 Samuel 16:18 NAS
On Tuesday June 6, 1944, under the leadership of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, American troops joined Canadian and British troops and Polish and French Resistance collaborators in the Allied invasion of Normandy now known as D-Day. The beaches were covered in traps, mines, wooden stakes, barbed wire, and glass meant to impede the troops as gunfire poured out on them from beyond the beach. The rough seas, harsh weather, and heavy casualties that day slowed the success of the mission but not the fight in the hearts of these mighty men willing to step up and fight the evil enemy, Adolf Hitler.
The fighting filled the land, sea and air as these warriors fought on for days until the secured sections of coastline were connected, higher ground was captured, and the enemy was pushed back. Paratroopers took their very first combat leaps out of planes while other soldiers were forced to wade through the waves, thousands of feet from shore and with water up to their necks as they watched many of their transport ships sink, taking their tanks down with them. The circumstances of the day would probably not have led you to say, “This is the beginning of victory!” but it was. Victory in Europe came with the unconditional surrender of Germany on May 8, 1945, and Victory in the Pacific finally coming in August of 1945. Victory was not immediate, but all the planning, preparations, and passion paid off with warriors who refused to give up the fight.
This week as we honored those who fought on the anniversary of D-Day, we got to hear many stories of those who fought at Normandy. Much like the description the young man gave of David in 1 Samuel 16:18, these men had families, hobbies, talents, a reputation, and personality that preceded them and their days at war. They had people at home who loved them, leaders who trained them, buddies who fought next to them, and a nation that prayed for them and owes a deep debt of gratitude to them as well as the mighty men and women of valor who fight evil and defend freedom today. When we pray of our Military, think of people and their families sacrificing and thank God for them. Picture faces in hard places and circumstances that may seem dark and discouraging like those on D-Day and pray fervently that victory is on the way.
Would you please pray with me now?
Lord Jesus, thank You for the courageous men and women who serve in our Armed Forces. Thank You for their families and for their willingness to make so many sacrifices for the sake of freedom and people here in America and around the world. Please continue to comfort the families of those who did not come home. Cause our hearts to remember and tell the stories of Your great heart and hand and the people who were willing to lay down their lives for others. Thank You for our military. Thank you for the victories. Help us to never overlook small beginnings that lead to great victories.
Help us to remember that in the battles we face each day that we are at war against one enemy, Satan, the father of lies, the accuser, the counterfeit lion prowling about looking to steal, kill, and destroy, but the VICTORY has already been won with the shed blood of our Savior. Therefore we battle on in the search and rescue mission You have given to us, to snatch our neighbor and nation out of the fires of hell, out of the captivity and deception of the devil, and bring them to home to You. In the Mighty Name of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords we pray, Amen.
Serving Him with gladness,
Kathy Branzell
President
