How to Pray for Our Military

As Christians, we constantly pray for our nation. Whenever we pray for our nation, we commonly pray for the president, the legislative branch, the judicial branch, the government leaders and officials, and the different sectors of our nation’s societies. However, one aspect of our government that we should also pray for is the military. What we can pray for our military is more than just for them to be safe.

Heavenly Father, remind us to pray for our government leaders and military, who keep our nation safe and ensure our freedom. Just as we pray for Your will to be done in our government branches, we also pray for Your will to be done in the military. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Why should you pray for the military?

We should pray for the military because God commands us to pray and intercede for everyone. In (I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 1 Timothy 2:1), it is written that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving must be made for all people – which includes kings or, in our context, the president – that all who are in high positions may live a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Making prayers and intercessions for all people means making prayers and intercessions for the military. Just as we see praying for the president and the government leaders as very important because they lead our nation, the same can be said for the military. While the military does not lead our nation, they are the ones who spearhead any military action or use of force whenever necessary. For example, when the U.S. started its war on terror after the 9/11 bombing, the U.S. military – not the government’s leaders – went to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban and other terrorist organizations.

Why should we pray and intercede for the military that uses force for U.S. interests? The fact that they are authorized to use force is enough reason to pray and intercede for the military. In Romans 13:1-7, the government is described as God’s appointed servant that carries out God’s wrath and justice by having the government enforce law and order. In concert with those branches that legislate law and order, the military enforces it to protect its citizens. That is also why the passage used the word “sword.”

Another reason we should pray for the military is because our prayers as Christians are powerful. Some Christians question the very act of prayer, saying that prayer is useless since God, in all His power and knowledge, can do anything without us praying. While there is truth to the statement that God does not really need our prayers to do anything, He still commands us to pray. In fact, God has ordained our prayers to bring about His will. For example, if it is God’s will that the military will come to know Christ and always be just in their actions, God uses our prayers to carry out His will. Just as we preach the Gospel so that a person will be saved, we should pray so that God’s will may be brought about.

That is why in ( Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. James 4:2), it is written that we sometimes do not have because we do not ask. If we desire something, we should pray and ask God for it. The answer may not always be what we expected it to be, but in His sovereignty, God has ordained and uses our prayers to carry out His will. What a privilege it is!

Heavenly Father, I thank You because in Christ, our prayers are powerful and effective and therefore make an impact whenever we intercede for our military. Thank You for the privilege to participate in Your sovereign care of the world through prayer. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

How can I pray for the military?

You can pray for the military by lifting to God whatever concerns you have. Do you think the military is not paying its veterans the just amount they deserve when they retire? Do you think the benefits or help veterans or injured veterans receive could be more? Have you heard of some news of some soldiers committing human rights violations while in a war zone? Whatever those concerns are, Philippians 4:6-7 tells us we must present those prayer requests to God. Then, His peace, which transcends all understanding, shall guard our hearts and minds.

Father in heaven, I pray for our military so that accountability shall always be valued and human rights violations committed by soldiers shall not be overlooked. I pray that law and order shall also be enforced among soldiers and that no abuses shall be committed by soldiers on other soldiers or even the locals where they are assigned. May honor and dignity prevail among our military men. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

While praying for their safety and protection is an everyday prayer for the military, there are other, more important prayers that we can and should pray. The most important of these is praying that the Gospel of Christ shall spread in the military and that those who hear shall repent and believe the Gospel of Christ.