Prayer to commemorate Memorial Day
Written by Lynette Kittle
Bible reading:
“And walk in the ways of love, just as Christ loved us and offered himself for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” – Ephesians 5:2
Listen or read below:
As a child, I remember walking through cemeteries with my parents and grandparents on Memorial Day to decorate family graves. As a child, wearing my best Sunday clothes and holding my grandmother’s hand, I never really understood the importance of what we were doing. Yet, I experienced the comfort and peace it brought me as part of a Memorial Day decoration event.
My heart is grateful to you for teaching me about the sanctity of life early in life, for taking the time and effort to live it out in front of me, for teaching me and setting an example of how to respect and honor those who gave their lives for the safety and security of our country.
We should respect men and women who were created by a holy and perfect God and whose human lives are sacred, as recorded in Genesis 1:27.
Each of these people received the breath of life from God, as recorded in Genesis 2:7. “Then the Lord God formed a man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
We may not think of living sacrifice as including laying down our lives for our nation, but God values those who do. “I therefore urge you, brothers and sisters, to be mindful of the mercy of God, and to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1).
The beginning of the anniversary
“The annual American Memorial Day celebration can be traced back to the end of the Civil War, when more than 500,000 people died. Southern women sprinkled spring flowers on the graves of Northern and Confederate soldiers,” writes historian and speaker William J. Federer, author of The Miracles of American History.
A day set aside to remember loved ones, mourn their deaths, and decorate the graves of fallen soldiers. Originally called Decoration Day, it was later renamed Memorial Day. The day was established to remember and honor the countless men and women who died in the service of their country, and was first celebrated nationally on May 30, 1868.
“Memorial Day is an opportunity for all Americans to be grateful for the freedoms we fought so hard for,” said Dr. Jerry Newcombe, executive director of the Providence Forum. Remember the bloody footprints left in the snow at Valley Forge as they endured the winter. Jesus said, ‘There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ (John 15:13).
must not be forgotten
Commemorating Memorial Day is critical to America’s future and to remembering the military men and women who served and fought for our country over the decades – to reflect, remember, remember, and recognize the struggles, sacrifices, sorrows, sacrifices, and sacrifices they gave with their lives so that we can live and enjoy the blessings of freedom today.
The years of grief and sadness have been immense for many. This is especially tragic for close family members and friends, and wars and global conflicts have caused a deep sense of sadness and loss for countless American families who have lost loved ones who served in the military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard.
Ronald Reagan, the 40th president, spoke to the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce on March 30, 1961, before taking office. “Freedom does not disappear beyond one generation. We did not pass it on to our children in our bloodstream. The only way they can inherit the freedom we know is if we fight for it, defend it, defend it, and then we teach them well how they lived their lives.” We must do the same for their lives, and if you and I do not, we may spend our lives telling our children and our children’s children what it was like when men were free. ”
American freedom endures when we take the time to express our gratitude for God’s hand in guiding our nation and recognize the countless individuals who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we enjoy across our nation today.
Let’s pray:
Dear father,
Guide us to commemorate Memorial Day in a way that honors you and the life you created. Recognize the sanctity of life and the priceless value and value you have given to the lives of each fallen military member.
We are grateful for each and every person’s life in the U.S. military. Help us never to forget their sacrifices as they gave their lives for the cause of their friends and nation.
Similarly, Lord, bring physical, emotional, and spiritual healing and restoration to those who have been injured in the service and have experienced the loss of a fellow serviceman or woman.
Please join us in comforting all families who are suffering great pain and grief as they face and remember their loved ones who have passed away.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
Share your thoughts on today’s devotion in the Daily Prayer discussion in the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo courtesy: ©Church & Culture Team/Alli Main
Lynette Kittle is married and has four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her work has been published in Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and elsewhere. She holds a master’s degree in communications from Regent University and is an associate producer at Soul Check TV.
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