Morning by Morning, June 6 - "A Mighty Endeavor" -- Remembering the Spiritual Battle of D-Day
Good morning, Lord Jesus. In the communion of prayer, where deep calls to Deep, I press in to begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. In surrender and silence before You, I watch and wait to hear what You're speaking and see where You're leading. ...
It comes to mind that today is the day the world remembers what happened on the beaches of Normandy, France seventy-five years ago on D-Day -- the day all hell broke loose against the kingdom of darkness in an epic day of courage for the sons and daughters of the kingdom of God. The brave men who fought and died that day wore uniforms of nations, but they were empowered as more than conquerors through the One who strengthened them and fought before them as the Commander of the Army of the Lord (Joshua 5:14). Their true battle was not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of darkness that sought to enslave the world and sniff out the light of liberty and all that is good in the earth (Ephesians 6:12).
There was great victory that day. And there was great sacrifice that day. And every day that same battle continues -- in the earth and in soul of every man, woman, and child. But our God reigns! Victory is won! Through the greatest Sacrifice of all time, may we continue to enforce the victory of Your cross in the authority of Your name and the power of Your Spirit as the sons and daughters of God who will never surrender and never retreat before the spiritual enemies of the cross! May the Lamb have His full reward! And one day the fullness of Your Word will be fulfilled on the earth and in our hearts -- "The Kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" (Revelation 11:15)
On that day of June 6, 1944, the President of the United States of America called our nation to prayer, seeing that day as an epic spiritual battle of good and evil:
"Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.
They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest-until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.
For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.
Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas -- whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them--help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.
Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.
Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.
And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.
And, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.
With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.
Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen."
-- President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
I just say, Amen, Mr. President. Amen, Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit of the Living God. May we have that courage and conviction in our generation, as we persevere and prevail in prayer, in faith, and in action. For surely "the gates of hells shall not prevail" when faithful hearts turn to You in obedience and faith to continue to enforce the victory of the cross in our day by power of Your grace (Matthew 16:18). Every day is our D-Day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
