Oct. 27, 2014

Your love is like radiant diamonds bursting inside us
We cannot contain
Your love will surely come find us like blazing wild fire 
Singing your name 

God of mercy, sweet love of mine 
I have surrendered to your design 
May this offering stretch across the skies
These Hallelujahs be multiplied
--Need to Breathe's "These Hallelujahs Be Multiplied"

Oh Lord thank You for Your love for us--a love that saves us from our self. Self-absorption. Self-preservation. From hopelessness.

We cannot contain this love! It is too much. May all of us cracked vessels be spilling out Your light and hope amongst our military, and our world. Make us radiant. And as we, and our soldiers, give our lives for God and country, may our offerings be known for Your further glory. Help us to surrender to Your design. Over and over again. Forgive us for our stubborn selfishness that thinks it knows what it needs to be radiant.

Multiply these hallelujahs, Lord! May they spread through the 'hooahs' of thousands of soldiers. Lord, we pray for their safety. We pray for their success. But ultimately, we pray for their salvation. Spread like wildfire through our posts. May the military lead the way to revival for the whole nation.

From a wood shack in desert sands to the old stone chapel with a spire to the modern building in the middle of post to the insulated tent in the snowy field, Lord be in our chapels. May they be cities on hills. Filled with Your Spirit. Overflowing rays of hope. Pointing to You. May we be unified as Your people Lord. Focused on this mission and not our own agendas. Help us to see You in each other.

Because the stakes are desperate. Soldiers are dying without You and without hope. Fan our fire, Lord.

We pray for our chaplains. Give them strength. Courage. Give them wisdom in how to deal with this dual-culture. Thank You for putting them on the front lines in this spiritual battle. Use them mightily in many lives. 

And we pray the same for our Christian soldiers. Give them the weapons they need to fight this fight.

We pray for the rest of the soldiers in Afghanistan making their way home. Keep them safe in this critical, difficult time. Keep them patient. May their families be strengthened through the separation. May the trials be opportunities to come to You.

Give wisdom, clarity, purpose to any future missions, Lord. Protect our troops until they can all come home. We long for the day when we can come home to You.

Thank You for the hallelujahs rising across this great nation, and around the world. May we join in this song today!
Amen!