Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:13
The military regularly emphasizes the importance of each service member being ready and vigilant under all circumstances. The Department of Defense defines readiness as “the ability of military forces to fight and meet the demands of assigned missions.” Readiness is an important aspect of defense logistics and increases the chances that forces will be successful in conflicts.
The book of 1 Peter focuses on the importance of believers bearing up under unjust suffering yet continuing to prevail against all obstacles. In this way, 1 Peter might be called the Job of the New Testament, providing encouragement for the true believer to continue in the way that Jesus has laid out for all His followers. The endurance Peter called these believers to is similar to Job’s – a man who suffered despite his righteousness. Peter maintained that this was the kind of true perseverance that God expects from His people.
As a military spouse for 21 years, I learned that my husband had the responsibility of producing, generating, and sustaining “ready” service members under his command.
Instead of military readiness, I needed to pursue spiritual readiness. Military life can challenge marital and family harmony and health and produce conflicts in unique ways. I learned that cultivating spiritual disciplines in your life and family gives you the ability to persevere and overcome stress, loneliness, hardship, and tragedy.
The key to building spiritual readiness in the military spouse and family is through a powerful and persistent prayer life. James 5:16b says “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”
I learned to pray and trust God when my husband, an Army officer, was deployed to Iraq to serve in the Persian Gulf War. We had been living in Europe for only six months when he received deployment orders. Living in a foreign country far away from home with a preschooler proved to be an unforeseen challenge. I knew there were sacrifices that I had to make as a military spouse, but I did not expect him to go to war so soon. I had to learn how to drive on the Autobahn, maintain a home, and make new friends. I lost hope because I depended upon my husband for so many things. Thankfully, I was taught the discipline of effective prayer as a child and began to put what I learned into practice. Jeremiah 33:3 says “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
One of the most significant benefits of prayer is its ability to provide hope, fortitude, perseverance, a sense of inner peace and calm. In our fast-paced, Autobahn world, finding moments of serenity and reflection can be rare. Prayer offers us a designated time to connect with God. This tranquil reflection can be a refuge in a world filled with noise and distractions. Prayer is important to military spouses and families because it can help through the challenges military spouses face, such as deployments, frequent moves, and the loss of friends and support systems.
Each military family and spouse will encounter unique challenges and obstacles in life. Prayer will always be the master spiritual readiness plan. When you are feeling hopeless, under major attack against your marriage, family, health or career, surrendering these concerns thorough prayer reminds us we are not alone. It assures us that God never leaves, forsakes, or abandons us, and it provides a path to share intimately with him. “…When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 59:19b.
Spiritual readiness in prayer is a sure way to daily victory!
Father, You have commanded us to be strong and courageous. Help military spouses to not be afraid or discouraged when they encounter dark and difficult circumstances. Thank you for being with them wherever they go. May they rejoice in your confident hope, be patient in trouble and strengthened to keep praying, as we read in Joshua 1:9 & Romans 12:12. We pour out to You in prayer as our hope, and we are filled. In Jesus’ name, amen.
With Great Expectation,
Gwen Bradley
National Liaison For Prayer Mobilization And Partnerships