by Barry Howard

God of faith and freedom, on this Veteran’s Day we are thankful for all the men and women, past and present, who have served or are currently serving in the various branches of our nation’s military services.

We are grateful for the privilege of living in a diverse country that persistently thrives on the privileges and perplexities of freedom.  And we are thankful for each and every veteran who has paved the way for our unrivaled liberties, treasured liberties that allow us to freely make choices about our work, our worship, our political convictions, and our lifestyle.  We are forever indebted to these past and present veterans who risked life and limb in the pursuit and protection of these freedoms.  

As we observe this Veteran’s Day by highlighting the valor and courage of our veterans, we also confess our concern for the current state of our nation. We sincerely ask you to forgive our sins, even the ones we are slow to confess, and to heal our land. You tell us in an ancient but relevant scripture that, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:14)

On this day, we pray for the current leaders and the newly elected leaders of our nation, our state, and our community that they will embody wisdom, exercise courage, and build consensus.  And we especially pray for the men and women who currently serve in high risk areas of the world, that they will fulfill their mission effectively and return home safely and soon.

Just as you have revealed yourself to be a freedom-loving God, send us into the world to be your freedom-loving people.  And may the stories we hear and the memories we share on this Veteran’s Day inspire us to live responsibly, serve cooperatively, and sacrifice selflessly, even as we work courageously toward liberty and justice for all your children.  We pray in the name of the One who gives ultimate freedom.  Amen.

(Barry Howard serves as the Senior Minister at the First Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida.)