Guilt Free Victory Prayers: Reflections on the Fourth of July
I am thinking back on the week leading up to the celebration of the 4th of July. Whether Christian radio, TV, Bible studies, internet or church, I cannot think of a single instance where there was a cry to God for victory over our nation’s enemies. I am not quite sure when it became unfashionable to pray for victory during a particular battle or in war. Consider for a moment, when was the last time you heard a prayer from the pulpit that God would give your nation victory over its enemies, that God would give your military victory in its battles, that God would give your police force victory in the face of their adversaries? What will happen to our country if our churches and Christians cease praying for victory both for our nation and our sons and daughters in combat?
This new tendency to pray for “peace” apart from “victory” is alien, both to Holy Scripture and to our culture. Now don’t get me wrong--if there is no battle, then we all pray for peace--but once a battle has begun, then the Christian should pray for victory. We should never equate the cessation of conflict with peace. A conquered and enslaved people experience a cessation from the conflict but they do not experience peace, simply an end to the war. We should also not confuse the freedom to live out a sinful and decadent lifestyle with peace. There is a hedonistic mindset which will gladly surrender to the enemy if allowed to continue in hedonism. How do we as Christians respond in church to the battles that rage around us? May we pray for victory as our Biblical and historical forefathers did, or must we pray for “peace at any cost?”
From our earliest memories of Bible history, we learned of the glories of victory in battle, as the Lord’s armies waged war against their enemies. From Abraham, to Moses, to Joshua to Samuel and David, there was no shame in war, nor of Israel seeking victory against its enemies. This was also true of victory in personal combat. One of the great examples of this is David and Goliath. There was no guilt associated with David’s victory in hand to hand combat with Goliath, nor second guessing of its gory outcome. Even in the New Testament, we find that no member of the military was ever asked to leave the service of Rome – not by John the Baptist, not by Jesus and not by the Apostles. Christian service in the military and police was never in question--only the conduct of those serving was addressed but never the service itself. There should be no hesitation for our churches to lead in congregational prayer appeals to God for victory over our enemies and victory in combat for those sons and daughters who serve in the military and police forces.
Praying for victory in church: 1. “Bring our boys home” is a valid prayer. Psalms 106:47-48 47 Save us, O LORD our God, And gather us from among the nations, To give thanks to Your holy name And glory in Your praise. 48 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, From everlasting, even to everlasting. And let all the people say, "Amen." Praise the LORD! 2. “Preserve our sons and daughters in warfare” is a valid prayer. Psalms 91:7 7 A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you. 3. “Give them victory in battle” is a valid prayer, as well, for the alternative is the peace of death or captivity which is no peace at all--simply the cessation of conflict as they are concerned. Psalms 20:5 5 We will sing for joy over your victory, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the LORD fulfill all your petitions. Psalms 143:9 9 Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; I take refuge in You. 4. “Give our country victory in warfare” is also a valid prayer--for the alternative is the peace of defeat and enslavement, which is the cessation of conflict but ,again, no peace at all. Genesis 14:20 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." Application: 1. Cut and paste the above four prayers and add them to your personal prayer lists and incorporate them into your church, Bible study or home group. 2. Publicly, from the pulpit, thank God for our nation’s victories in battle. Do not cheapen the sacrifices of those who have served in war by demeaning or belittling their sacrifices by your prayers. Do not neglect prayers of thanksgiving to God--for this, too, is a sin. Deuteronomy 28:47-48 47 "Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things; 48 therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, 3. Pray for victory in our nation’s wars. To do otherwise is to bring into question those who have served and those who are serving. 1 Chronicles 5:19-20 20 They were helped against them, and the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hand; for they cried out to God in the battle, and He answered their prayers because they trusted in Him. 2 Chronicles 13:18 18 Thus the sons of Israel were subdued at that time, and the sons of Judah conquered because they trusted in the LORD, the God of their fathers. 4. Ask God to give those in your church who serve in the military and police forces victory over their enemies – for, in the types of conflicts in which they find themselves, there is no other alternative than the peace of death, disablement or captivity. 2 Samuel 23:9-10 9 and after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle and the men of Israel had withdrawn. 10 He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword , and the LORD brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain. 5. Pray for defeat of our enemies – the godless communist regimes of China and North Korea have no other plans for America than it being an atheist slave state and, if not, that it be destroyed. The Islamic states of Iran, the Islamic militants and Islam in general have no plans for America other than the destruction of the church and that our country become an Islamic dictatorship. Do you want these enemies defeated or are you willing to exchange Christ for peace when it comes to the militant arm of Islam and its plans for our country? Reflect on your own values – would you choose the peace of hedonism over the cost of victory in terms of maintaining your personal spiritual freedom as a Christian and/or the freedom which exists in our country?
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