October 31, 2016

Lord, it's pretty easy to despair when looking through our eyes at the vast field of devastation surrounding us. We see failure, squandered blessings, hopelessness, growing evil, divisions, helplessness, deceptions, loneliness...the list goes on.
But You created the earth out of nothing. And as Martin Luther said, You still create out of our nothingness.
And when we see insurmountable odds, You see Your design.
And when we see lost causes--
death--
You have just begun.

Lord we pray for our soldiers.
We pray for those facing the front lines again.
We pray for those slogging through ISIS's destruction.
We pray for those in the hills of Afghanistan, discerning friend and foe.
Lord give them peace. and courage. and strength. and wisdom.
But most of all, God, may they feel closer to You than ever.
Give them eyes to see You.

We pray for our sailors in waters that have unseen boundaries.
We pray for our airmen flying through unfriendly zones.

We pray for our military members in training everywhere.  We ask for Your breath to blow. We ask for revival. We ask for stone-hard hearts to be broken. We ask for dead spirits to come alive. We pray for truth to be shouted loud and lies to be lost. We pray against the enemy's hand in our military members' lives and in their families.
May Your chapels be stirred. May Your servants be bold, all the way up to the Chief of Chaplains. May love and joy and hope overflow.
Use us to reach the sinners
may we help in saving the lost. We pray for those we love who are straying from You.

Lord please hold back the spirit of suicide
of despair
of addiction
of violence
of fear
of self-sufficiency
of jaw-set rebellion
of utter loneliness
in our warriors and our veterans. Lord unleash Your army against these demons.
We pray for the ones we know fighting these.

We ask for peace that can't be explained, joy that knows no boundaries, love for all that can overcome all. We ask for patience as we wait on You. Deepen our faith. Drown us in grace.

You are the only one who can make things good and right again. You are the only one who can change hearts. You are the only one who can bring the dead back to life!

Thank You for Your mercy
because of that, we call out to dry bones to come alive!

Click here to shout out with Lauren Daigle, "Come Alive"!

Through the eyes of men it seems
There's so much we have lost
As we look down the road
Where all the prodigals have walked
One by one
The enemy has whispered lies
And led them off as slaves

But we know that you are God
Yours is the victory
We know there is more to come
That we may not yet see
So with the faith you've given us
We'll step into the valley unafraid, yeah

As we call out to dry bones
Come alive, come alive
We call out to dead hearts
Come alive, come alive
Up out of the ashes
Let us see an army rise
We call out to dry bones, come alive

God of endless mercy
God of unrelenting love
Rescue every daughter
Bring us back the wayward son
And By your spirit breathe upon them
Show the world that you alone can save
You alone can save

As we call out to dry bones
Come alive, come alive
We call out to dead hearts
Come alive, come alive
Up out of the ashes
Let us see an army rise
We call out to dry bones come alive

So breathe, oh breath of God
Now breathe, oh breath of God
Breathe, oh breath of God
Now breathe

October 24, 2016

God of the Heavenly Armies
open our eyes, let us see Your warriors.
Too often we only see the enemy, and our wounds, and our weakness.

Help us to see Your glory! Help us to remember Your strength and power! Help us to know the battle is in the spiritual world. Lord let us hear the sound of chariots in the trees in our lives.

We pray for those on the front lines of our battles--our warriors and our chaplains. Lord may they be on Your side, fighting in Your power.

Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before!
Christ the royal Master leads against the foe;
forward into battle see His banner go!

Lord may our Chaplains today spend time seeking You.
May they be encouraged in the fight.
May they dream great visions--ones that scare them in trying such big things, ones they know have to be fulfilled by You.
Lord give them the words, and the actions, to reach those You have entrusted to them.
Give them courage in standing up for what is right.
Please keep our deployed chaplains safe, and surround their families with a hedge of protection.

At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee;
On then Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices loud your anthems raise!

Lord may all those around our chaplains be effected by their joy, their confidence, their strength in You.
May their fight be effective against the enemy's arrows. Lord, may our chaplains and Christian warriors be able to reach out to the suicidal veterans. May they see You and hope in Your soldiers.

We pray for our soldiers on the front lines in Iraq, our sailors in the unfriendly waters, our pilots over Syria. Lord please protect them. May the afflictions bring a new knowledge of You. For all of our deployed we ask for safety. Please bless their families with peace.

Like a mighty army moves the Church of God
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided; all one body we!
One in hope and doctrine, One in charity!

Thank You Lord for our Christian soldiers, for the unity of the body You have given us. We pray for our chapels:
*May they reach hurting people for You.
*May they care for each other and be known for their love for all.
*Help them to deal with the resources, policies, persecutions.

We pray for healing for the people we love: for the brother having surgery on a brain tumor, for the young man with Krohns, for the grandmother with heart problems. We pray for our sisters who are so overwhelmed they can't breathe. We pray for the husbands who have lost their confidence and joy in their jobs.

Onward, then, ye people, join our happy throng;
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King;
This thru countless ages men and angels sing.

And so Lord, with this great body You have provided and sustained,
send us out this week.
Make us Your witnesses.
Put us in Your army.

October 17, 2016

Lord--perfect parent--thank You for our children. What amazing things--beautiful eyes, awesome smiles, funny perspectives, great potentials. How You have blessed us! How You have blessed them.
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right  well. Psalm 139:14

God we ask for healing for the sick children that only You can provide.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29

Father God, above all, may they know You. Whatever it takes, Lord, make them miserable and lost without You.
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30

Lord please guide their steps. Lead them in the way they should go. Help them to not be overwhelmed by the tasks, but to see Your power in their lives.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and He delighteth in His way. Psalm 37:23

We ask for direction in their lives. Help them to see the closed doors as part of Your plan. Help them to find their way in serving You. Be with them through the tests and grades and applications and choices.
For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6

And may they have the courage to do Your will.
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Deut 31:6

Please surround them with encouraging friends. May they reach their generation for You.
Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22

Please help them get through this culture and still be clean before You.
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23

We ask that You will keep our children safe from the enemy.
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 32:7

May they be surrounded by reminders of You. May they be hunted down by You!
For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Psalm 91:12

Father God may they have true joy in their day today.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Psalm 51:12

Lord, may they grow in You!
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen 2 Peter3:18

From the toddler struggling to obey 'no' to the young adult choosing college classes, Lord we place them on the altar before You. We especially pray for the extra hurdles the military child has-- grief compounded with the loss of friends in moves, fear as parents deploy, adjusting to change constantly.

We pray for us as parents and leaders--from the Chief of Chaplains office to our homes. May we never cause them to stumble in their walk.

We pray for safety for our deployed. For wisdom in those making decisions that place our warriors in harm's way. And we pray for our veterans who have fought the fight. Lord, be with them in the war for their soul. May they not give in to despair.

All your children look to You! Amen.

For more scriptures to pray, check out praying scriptures.com

October 10, 2016

Lord, Your children--Your daughters--are under attack.
The enemy harasses us on every side with feelings of inferiority,
inadequacy,
grief
Your girls are used as pawns, toys, slaves
When we look to this world, there is no refuge
Help us to look to You.
We need You to be our lion--our defender
our source of identity
our loving Father
Help us to see that You already are.
Break into our world like the sun at dawn; changing darkness into beautiful colors.

We pray for our daughters Lord,
help them to navigate this culture.
Please help our children to change it.
We pray for the overwhelmed mom. Help her to tackle this day, this week, with Your grace and confidence, strength and joy.
We pray for the women who are grieving. Lord please comfort them. May they be able to help others in despair.
We pray for our sisters who are lonely. Lord give them patience in finding new friends. May You be more real to them than ever before.
We pray for Asia Bibi, the Christian mother in a Pakistan prison. Lord, please release her! Restore her to her family, we ask. But whatever Your will, may she be a witness.
We pray for the women in physical pain. God we ask for Your healing. But if not, we ask for You to teach them, mold their character in this refining fire.


We pray for our sisters in uniform. Lord give them strength and courage. Please protect them from harassment by their peers. Please teach them their needed skills. Most of all, Lord, may they find You as their Savior.
We pray for the military wife. May she find her confidence in You. Help her to not give in to fear during deployments. Show her that You are already there at the new stations. Help her to see Your blessings at every turn.

We pray for our veterans. Lord, please quiet the nightmares, heal the pain, give them a hope and a future. May the tough times lead to finding You. Lord, please stop the suicides.

So many hurts, troubles, worries
until we remember You--the Lion--roaring with power
so much guilt and shame
until we see You--the Lamb that was slain because of powerful love
Thank You Lord Jesus! We turn off the news, refuse to perceive crisis in our schedules, decide to see joy in our life because we remember who You are!

Sing with me! Big Daddy Weave's The Lion and the Lamb

He's coming on the clouds, kings and kingdoms will bow down
And every chain will break, as broken hearts declare His praise
Who can stop the Lord Almighty?

Our God is the Lion, the Lion of Judah
He's roaring with power and fighting our battles
And every knee will bow before You
Our God is the Lamb, the Lamb that was slain
For the sin of the world, His blood breaks the chains
And every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb
Oh every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb

So open up the gates, make way before the King of kings
Our God who calls the saved is here to set the captives free
Who can stop the Lord Almighty?

October 3, 2016

Praying with Psalm 102 today:

In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth,

and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them and they will be discarded.

You are everlasting--beginning and end and Creator of all.

But You remain the same and Your years will never end.

Thank You for the works of the past

Thank You for the hope of the future.

The Lord looked down from His sanctuary on high, from heaven He viewed the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death.

Thank You for loving us now Lord. Thank You for hearing our cries.

Hear my prayer, Lord; let my cry for help come to You.

Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.

For our soldiers, Lord hear our cry. 

For our children, Lord hear our cry.

For our aging parents, Lord hear our cry.

For our marriages, our chapels, our leaders including the Chief of Chaplain's office--

For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers. My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. In my distress I groan aloud and am reduced to skin and bones.

I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof.

Lord be with our warriors and our veterans. May they know, deep in their hearts, they are not alone.

We pray for the wounded warriors in the hospitals as they struggle without limbs, with terrible pain, with burns and infected flesh. Lord heal their hearts. Give wisdom and endurance to their doctors and chaplains and assistants.

All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse. For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears

Lord please keep our military members safe. Place Your hedge of protection around their outposts. May the bases be under Your wings. Guide the ships with Your hand, hold up the planes on Your breath. But not for our glory Lord, rather raise Your name and draw all to You. May their enemies, those who hate Your Name, be silenced.

My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.

Lord may our veterans feel Your presence--may the hound of heaven be unleashed on them! We pray against the spirit of suicide. May they find their purpose, their life mission, in You.

We pray for the family members of those who have taken their own life. Lord please hold them close.

But You Lord, sit enthroned forever; Your renown endures through all generations.