This week our country honors the service of all military veterans with many events and parades to commemorate the great commitment these men and women have made to protect the freedom we enjoy.  To remember those who serve our country is not only right and good, but essential. Without such service, we would have no present freedom, security, or stability. And without the willingness of those who continue to choose this path, we would have no future as a nation.

At a Flag Day speech in 1954, A man intimately familiar with war and its weapons, the former President Dwight D. Eisenhower elaborated on his feelings about the place of religion in public life when he discussed why he had wanted to include “under God” in the pledge of allegiance: “In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country’s most powerful resource in peace and war.”

The Bible reminds us that we are all engaged in warfare, spiritual warfare that is, and that the real weapons of our contest "are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God……….” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). But even spiritual weapons prove ineffective unless we-both individually and nationally-voluntarily place ourselves "under God," as President Eisenhower indicated.  Let us give honor to our fellow countrymen and women for their valiant military service and remind ourselves to pray for their safety.  Daily, we can involve ourselves in the battle lines of prayer for them and their families.