Most of us learned in grade school that Veterans Day is a day set aside to honor our country’s veterans for their patriotism and willingness to sacrifice for our common freedoms. Did you know that this day is always celebrated on the eleventh day of the eleventh month every year because an armistice went into effect and fighting ceased between the Allied forces and Germany during World War I on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918? Originally, business was even temporarily suspended at 11:00 am and parades were held.
In 1926, the United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I on November 11, 1918 by passing a resolution and making November 11 a legal holiday. In that resolution, our Congress declared: Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations…(emphasis mine).
The thanksgiving part is easy to do with all the ceremonies and opportunities to write a letter or share a meal or even to just shake someone’s hand in gratitude. However, other than in a church service, I don’t think I’ve ever consciously commemorated Veterans Day with prayer! Like so many other declarations of faith in our nation’s history, we have moved away from having God present in celebrations, both public and private.
So today, this Veterans Day 2024, I am committed to commemorate it in prayer. There are so many Bible verses and so many ways to pray, but here is some scripture that I’m using to get my prayer going:
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14
The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe. Proverbs 29:25
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe…Hebrews 12:28
So whether you’re lucky enough to have the day off or you have just ten minutes between meetings, I hope you will take time to recognize this national holiday, as it was originally intended, in thanksgiving and prayer.
In His service,
Lori
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