An Encouragement to Pray for Our Veterans

Veterans have given of themselves to serve our country. Some were physically hurt during their tour of duty. Some were psychologically hurt in Vietnam by the actions in our country. There has been some healing here—but scars remain. Some have what is called Post Traumatic Syndrome. Some of our pastors are veterans—and that includes some of you and others are Veterans too. I too am a Veteran and share this request as a Veteran.

Why don’t we ask God to be close to all our Veterans and their families and to Bless them with a knowledge of His Word. That the Lord may be especially close to those who have survived battle and give them an understanding of His protection to them during the battles. Also, thank God for their service to this Nation. In Jesus’ Holy Name, AMEN!!!

May we through God’s help show the Love of Christ to all of our veterans – a love that lifts up Christ. Christ said that if He be lifted up He would draw all men to Himself!! John 12: 32 It was love that made Jesus go to the Cross and on the Cross was He was literally lifted up. When we show the Love of Christ to them -- What a way to reach them for Christ!

Precepts of Prayer

1. Foundation of prayer is based on God’s love. I John 4:8 says “God is love.” If God’s is love, then our prayers should be based on God’s love.

Why? The greatest two commandments are: To love the Lord our God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Matt 22:38.

Prayer should reflect that love.

Let’s briefly look at this concept further. These two commandments are relational. God’s desire for us is that we operate in His love, which is His law is based on love- that love for others will bring kingdom action. ‘By this shall all men know you are my disciples if you have love one to another’ John 13:35. When we show that love, we are lifting up Jesus. Lifting up Jesus is lifting up God’s love. When Jesus is lifted up, a wonderful thing happens. He draws men to Himself. John 12:32 says ‘And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.’ That is a wonderful promise.

Because of the Love Christ showed to us on the Cross, that love has made a relationship with God possible and can help our prayers. Therefore, if we want to see of God’s love, then we must let God’s love must be a motivating factor behind each prayer we pray. When we do, prayer is an act of love which lifts up Christ, and we will se many people drawn to Christ.

2. Humility: Humility is an area that many of us often overlook, and it is one the Lord keeps reminding us about. Humility for many people might be compared to penance or contriteness. However, humility is much more, and penance and contriteness are only one part of humility. In addition, humility also includes confession, cleaning of issues, and learning to submit to Christ. Humility also includes building up, and serving. I would encourage studying the resource on humility at www.wheatlandministries.blogspot.com and also II Chronicles 7:14.

3. Forgiveness: In Matt 6:12, 14, & 15, and Mark 11:25 the Lord instructed us to forgive when we pray. Why? Unforgiveness is sin, and sin can block our prayers. If we want to see our prayers be effective, we must clear sin and forgive. Justification of our position is an excuse not to forgive. Christ said to forgive.

Note: To many people, forgiveness means letting people off the hook. This concept of forgiveness is not completely true. The Bible teaches that we reap what we sow (Hos 10:13). There are consequences to sin. Therefore I do not believe that forgiveness let’s us off the hook of consequences. If you smoke all your life and ask the Lord for forgiveness, He will forgive, but you may still develop lung cancer because the smoke was detrimental to you. The consequences are still there.

If forgiveness is not letting off the hook, then what is it? It is the releasing from the bondage of sin. Prov 5:22. The sin still occurred, but we choose not to bring it up again. That is what Christ did when He removes our sin (Transgressions) as far as the East is from the West. Ps 103:12,

There is another attitude I have seen which people have about forgiving. People often tell me that they equate forgiving with forgetting. When you forgive, you will not forget, but with true forgiveness there is a releasing from the bondage of the offense. Releasing from the bondage reduces the urge to bring up the past item that was forgiven. Fortunately there is a way that that urge can be further reduced if it keeps coming up. That way is to bless the other person personally, or in prayer. A good source of prayers that contain blessings are Paul’s prayers found in Eph 1 and 3. As you further study scriptures, look for blessings that can be prayed. Use them as appropriate and as the Lord leads you. They will help reduce the urge to bring up past issues. I have to admit, I do not understand how or why it works, but blessing others does work. You may find more about blessing others in RT Kendal’s book “Total Forgiveness”.

4. Praying continually: In I Thes 5:17 it says to pray continually. There are many ways that we can stay or be in a mindset or attitude of praying through out the day. What ever works that helps you remember to pray, needs to be encouraged. Above all ask the Lord to help you encourage to continually pray.

Prayer Elements

In addition to the precepts of prayer, prayer can be divided into three elements:

1. HEART - This is probably one of the most important prayer elements. When one prays, it helps to use heart language, not mind logic. God looks on the heart--I Sam 16:7. Praying from the heart is not easy, especially for men. Remember, when we pray for others, we also need to allow God to work on our own heart.

Heart praying also involves heart reverence to God, who has made us His sons, giving us a special relationship of Sonship with Him, because of the work of Jesus on the Cross.

2. PRAISE – The importance of praise in prayer is far greater than most of us have learned. All to often we are too timid to give praise. To overcome this timidness, we need to learn and apply the principle in Phil 4:6-8. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” Praise and thanksgiving are important for our well being.

3. HEARING –Prayer is not always speaking. It also involves listening for God speaking to us, which is in a still small voice--I Kings 19:12. Listening to that still small voice may require us to be quiet—which is a difficult task for some of us. Also God speaks through His written word. As we listen to God speaking, a test to know if it is from the Lord is asking the following question: is what we are hearing in accordance with God’s word?

Hearing God’s voice allows Him to lead us. “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice, and He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out, and when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His Voice and a stranger will they not follow but will flee from him: for they do no know the voice of strangers”
--John 10:3-5.

To further understand what hearing means, let’s take time to look at a definition about hearing concerning hearing the Holy Spirit of God speaking to us.

It is—a knowing that occurs when our spirit picks up on something spoken by the Holy Spirit. This knowing is similar to an inner conviction about the right thing to do in a situation. It is the Holy Spirit speaking to our spirit, and it will be in accordance with God’s word. When we have an impression during prayer, it would be good to write it down in a journal. Journaling is and excellent way that can help us to hear and see more clearly what God may be saying to us. The Holy Spirit of God always speaks in accordance with the Word of God.

The more we know God’s word, it will help us hear His voice, and know His voice better. God’s word is the standard by which to judge what is being heard in prayer. We need to spend time in God’s word learning it.

When we are so busy that we don’t have time to spend in God’s word, then we also cut our communing time with the Lord that dulls our hearing. It is important to take time with the Lord, listen, and be still before Him. We often spend all our time talking and little time listening—Ps 4:4, Ps 46:10