Someone recently gave me a copy of a prayer that former President Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote.  He shared it with the American public on June 6, 1944 – D-Day.  I was struck with his humility, insightfulness and dependence on God that was evident through out this prayer as he was aware of the thousands of American boys that were giving their lives on the beaches of Normandy on that fateful day.  The battle became the turning point of World War II.  

What got me thinking though was the issue of how I pray when the battle is the fiercest, or when my friends or loved ones are undergoing the most brutal of assaults.  When comrades are falling and when the enemy seems unmovable.   Do I pray for God’s hand to direct and steady us, for his grace to endure, for determination in the mission at hand, and for his will to be done; or do I too often plead for an end to the conflict, for an honorable excuse to retreat, or maybe even for a miraculous move of God that requires no effort on my part? Far too many times I fear it has been the latter, for while I dream of victory, I so often find myself overwhelmed with the moment. 

I so long to be a great leader, whether that is a leader in my family, my church, my ministry or my job, and I believe that FDR understood what it took to be a great leader. It takes clarity of the mission at hand, resolve to push forward, courage to take chances (which always includes some loss), and faith in a Great God who desires to accomplish great things through us.

Thursday, May 6th is the National Day of Prayer.  I believe that we should pray for our nation.  But I wonder what would happen if instead of praying that God would change our nation we began praying that He would give us the resolve to press on despite the overwhelming might of our enemy.  What if we personalized those prayers to lift up ourselves and all in the trenches to fight on and to fight well? What if we prayed as if that were our only option? Might we find ourselves a little closer to a day of victory, our own V-Day?

To the King,

David

If you would like to read President Roosevelt’s entire prayer, it can be found on our web site at :http://www.knightvisionministries.com/A_Warrior_s_Prayer_N6BC.html