A Coast Guard’s Prayer

The Coast Guard is a branch of military service in a nation that protects a nation’s coast. They are like the police of the sea. However, watching the seas is not their only job. They are also there to rescue people who need help. While the Coast Guard is not categorized the same as the Navy or the Air Force, they are still considered a branch of the military. They are also heavily armed, but not as armed as the Navy. One thing that differentiates the Coast Guard from the Navy is that the Coast Guard, as the name suggests, protects a nation’s coasts. Meaning, their reach is only within their nation. On the other hand, the Navy goes to different parts of the world. If you have a family member or friend who is serving in the Coast Guard or if you are serving there, know that you are blessing many people through the work that you do. Not only do you keep them safe, but you are also who people rely on for help if there is trouble or problems along the coasts or seas.

Knowing that your job helps a lot of people, here is a prayer that you can pray as a coast guard:

Father in heaven, I thank You for this opportunity and privilege to serve my nation and the people and be a blessing to them through serving in the Coast Guard. Remind me, Father, that as I serve, I am not ultimately serving my nation, but You, Father. Help me to always glorify You through my service in the Coast Guard. Use me and the work I do in Your sovereign care for the world. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

What does the Coast Guard do?

As mentioned above, people who serve in the Coast Guard are considered military servicemen. The only difference is that the main purpose of the Coast Guard is to protect the coasts of the nation they are serving. When we think of the Coast Guard, we think of navy-like ships on our coasts that block boats and ships whenever they are entering a restricted area or if sea travel is not allowed because of bad weather or a storm. This is because the Coast Guard is in charge of enforcing maritime laws along the coasts. They look out for pirates or smugglers trying to get into a country with smuggled goods. They sometimes board ships, at which point they sometimes encounter hostile people. That is why the Coast Guard is also an armed service. The Coast Guard also does search and rescue. If a boat or ship experiences some trouble in the middle of the sea, like if it breaks down, the coast guard is there to help them or rescue them. Suppose some people go missing in the middle of the sea, perhaps a surfer who gets washed away by the current… the coast guard is there to perform search and rescue operations. The Coast Guard is there to secure our ports as well. That is why the Coast Guard is considered a branch of military service. 

Romans 13:1-4

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Given the nature of the Coast Guard’s work, the things you can pray for are similar to what soldiers or people who serve in the military pray for. One of these things is their safety. As mentioned a while ago, Coast Guard service members sometimes encounter hostile people who may also be armed whenever they try to stop or board a ship. That is why safety is one of the things we can pray for. We can also pray for protection from armed encounters and bad weather as they patrol and guard our coasts.

Psalm 91:1-2

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Psalm 121:7-8

7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

You can pray this prayer for protection as you serve and perform your duties and responsibilities in the Coast Guard:

Father in heaven, I thank You, because no matter the risks and dangers I face in my job, You are my refuge and dwelling place. I have peace in whatever lies ahead because I know that You govern all things. I pray, Father, that You will protect me from any harm and danger, whether from hostile people or bad weather. Thank You, Father, because You are the One who protects me from every evil. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

In the US, it is said that the rate of people making it into the Coast Guard is around 20%. In other words, the fact that you can get into the Coast Guard and make the cut is something for which you should be thankful to God. That means one of the prayers you can pray is a prayer of gratitude before God. Even if it has been a long time since you have been accepted into the Coast Guard, we should still remind ourselves of what God has done and His faithfulness and continually thank Him for His grace. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Here is a prayer of gratitude that you can pray as you remember God’s grace and what He has done for You:

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the grace that You gave me when I was applying to the Coast Guard service. Thank You for sustaining me throughout my application and training and ensuring that I was able to make it through everything. I made it through it all only because of the grace and the strength with which You sustain me. I pray that whenever I feel that my job in the Coast Guard is tough and that my heart is filled with complaining, I will always look back to the times that You have been gracious to me to help me get into this service. May that gratitude be in my heart instead of grumbling or complaining whenever the job gets tough. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Another important thing to always pray for and remind yourself of through prayer is that you are ultimately serving not your superior officer or even the nation, but God, as you work or serve. You should only serve in the Coast Guard with the intention to glorify God in the work that you do. That means that you should also be excellent in the manner you serve because you are serving God as a Coast Guard serviceman.

Colossians 3:23

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

1 Corinthians 10:31

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

You can pray this prayer as you glorify God in your service and strive to be excellent:

Father in heaven, give me the grace to always glorify You through my service in the Coast Guard. Remind me, Father, that whom I serve ultimately is not men, but You. As I serve You, help me to be faithful and excellent in my job, knowing that it is You whom I serve. May the excellence that I put into my work glorify You and point people to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

As a Christian, your primary job in this world is to be God’s minister of reconciliation and bring reconciliation between those who are not in Christ and God by preaching the Gospel. The Bible also says that we are to be the salt and light to the world. Yes, you have been preserving that which is good through your service in the Coast Guard, but that is just an avenue to the ultimate thing that every person needs—Jesus. In other words, your job as a Coast Guard serviceman is just a compliment to your ultimate job, which is to minister to people and witness Christ to them.

Matthew 5:13-16

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 28:19

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

2 Corinthians 5:20

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

As an ambassador of Christ, you can pray this prayer as you witness Christ in the Coast Guard among your servicemen and to the people you serve:

Father in heaven, I thank You for the opportunity and the privilege to be Your instrument and worker to expand Your kingdom and preach Christ by being in the Coast Guard. Give me the boldness and courage, Father, to preach Christ to my fellow servicemen, superiors, and those people we help. Help me to be the salt and light where you have placed me and point everyone to the light of this world, their only hope and peace, which is Your Son, Jesus. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

If you are reading this and you do not follow Christ, the most important thing you can do is to understand what Jesus has done for you on the cross, repent, and believe in His work and who He is. God shows His common grace both to those who are in Christ and those who are not. However, the grace that those in Christ receive is different. One thing is that they become adopted as God’s children and have access to His throne of grace. That is why they can freely pray to God for the things we mentioned in the prayers above, as well as for strength, for the grace they need, and for the perseverance to endure hardships and sufferings in life, because in Christ they receive an endless stream of grace.