Our military personnel, whether they are inland or abroad, need our prayers. Here are a few things you can pray for the men and women serving our country in the military.
How To Pray For A Soldier
SALVATION
If the soldier you are praying for has not made a commitment to Christ, this belongs at the top of your list.
First Timothy 2:3-4 and Romans 12:1-2 are good scriptures to pray.
RESPECTING AUTHORITY
Though adjusting to the authority structure of the military is difficult, obeying orders can mean the difference between life and death.
Pray that your soldier will learn to be “subject to rulers and authorities… obedient …ready to do whatever is good” (Titus 3:1).
ENDURING HARDSHIP
Soldiers can go without food, sleep, bathing, or word from home for days on end. Paul admonished Timothy, “endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:3).
Pray that God will help the soldier bring Christ into every daily challenge (Psalms 18:28-29).
CAMARADERIE
Stu Weber, a decorated Green Beret Vietnam veteran, says, “Every warrior needs a fellow soldier. Every pilot needs a wing man.”
Ask God to send your soldier a buddy so they can sharpen and encourage each other (Proverbs 27:17).
GOOD ADVISERS
“For waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers” (Proverbs 24:6).
Pray for soldiers in leadership positions to find wise advisers from whom they can seek counsel.
COURAGE
“Courage,” says David F. Winecoff, “has little to do with killing people and destroying property. Courage in its purest form is demonstrated by the person who stands by his convictions no matter the persecution or ridicule.”
Pray that your soldier will have both physical and moral courage (Joshua 1:9).
RESISTING TEMPTATION
Abuse of power, sexual temptation, and escape through drugs and alcohol are just a few of the enticements a soldier faces.
Pray that your soldier will look for and take the way of escape from temptation that the Lord provides (1 Corinthians 10:13).
WITNESS
Because soldiers face death at any moment the military is fertile ground for the gospel.
Ask God for open doors (Colossians 4:3) and that your soldier will have boldness to speak (Ephesians 6:19).
SAFETY
“The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord” (Proverbs 21:31KJV). Whether in training or fighting a war, a soldier is in constant danger.
The greatest protection they have is prayer cover.
TREATMENT OF ENEMIES
Steeling oneself against an enemy is necessary in war time, but for war wounds to heal forgiveness is necessary.
Pray that he will treat the enemy as the Lord calls him to (Proverbs 25:21, Matthew 5:44).
SERVING CHRIST
A soldier’s understanding of how the “chain of command” gets things done brought the admiration of Jesus (Luke 7:1-10).
Pray that the soldier’s commitment to duty, obedience to commands and willingness to endure hardship will serve the Lord’s army well.
-Connie Alexander Huddleston, Aurora, IN
SOLDIER’S PSALM PRAYER CARD
World War I soldiers of the 91st Brigade agreed to recite daily the 91st Psalm—the Soldier’s Psalm. The 91st Brigade was engaged in three of the bloodiest battles of World War I: Chateau Thierry, Belle Wood, and the Argonne. Other units similarly engaged had up to 90% casualties, while the 91st Brigade did not suffer a single combat-related casualty. The Word is powerful, and the war is won in prayer! Download the Soldier’s Psalm Prayer Card in the New King James Version, New International Version, or New Living Translation.