Honoring and Praying For Our Veterans

Written by National Day of Prayer | Nov 13, 2026, 1:00:01 PM

Pay to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.

Romans 13:7 NASB

As we observe Veterans Day this week, I am reminded of the tremendous debt of gratitude, respect, and honor we owe the men and women who have served our nation. My dad and several of my uncles were World War II veterans. Like so many families, ours has been shaped by the sacrifices of those who answered the call to serve. Living in Colorado Springs, a community that so many veterans have chosen to call home, I am surrounded by reminders of their service. From World War II to Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the many other conflicts our nation has faced, these men and women have willingly placed themselves in harm’s way to protect our freedoms and defend others from tyranny. Whether they served in combat or supported the mission in other ways, they deserve our honor, our gratitude, and certainly our prayers.

Having pastored military families during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I have seen firsthand that the battles our veterans face do not always end when they come home.

For some, the transition from military service to civilian life is incredibly difficult. The invisible wounds of combat, including PTSD, depression, and other emotional struggles, can follow them for years. Some struggle to find meaningful employment, rebuild relationships, or simply find their place in a world that has continued moving while they were away. It’s heartbreaking to think that so many of our veterans are still fighting battles today, but now those battles may involve substance abuse, homelessness, isolation, or the struggle to find hope and purpose.

These are men and women who once stood ready to serve our nation, and now some of them desperately need someone to stand alongside them. Behind every struggle is a person with a name, a family, a story, and a life of immeasurable value to God.

As we honor our veterans, I want to encourage you to do something more than simply thank them for their service. Pray for them. Look for opportunities to love and serve them, especially those who may be struggling silently. Ask God to open your eyes to veterans in your church, neighborhood, workplace, or community who need encouragement, friendship, or a helping hand. Ask questions about their life and experiences, and then listen attentively to their stories. Remember their spouses and children, who often carry wounds and burdens of their own. And pray for those who feel forgotten, who have lost hope, or who are struggling to find their way home, emotionally, spiritually, or physically. We cannot undo what they have experienced, but we can remind them that their service has not been forgotten, their sacrifice has not gone unnoticed, and their lives still have tremendous purpose. Perhaps one of the greatest ways we can honor those who have served our nation is to make certain they are not left to fight their remaining battles alone.

Let's pray together.

Father God, today we lift before You the men and women who have faithfully served our nation. Thank You for their courage, their sacrifice, and their willingness to place the needs of others above their own. Lord, we especially pray for those who are still fighting battles within their hearts and minds. Bring healing to those carrying the wounds of war, peace to those troubled by painful memories, freedom to those struggling with addiction, and hope to those who have lost their way. Provide shelter for those without a home, meaningful work for those seeking a new beginning, and loving relationships for those who feel forgotten or alone. Strengthen their families and restore what has been broken. Father, awaken Your Church to recognize these precious men and women in our communities. Give us compassionate hearts, open hands, and the willingness to walk alongside them. May our gratitude be expressed not only through our words, but through our prayers and our actions. Remind every veteran that they are seen, valued, loved, and never beyond the reach of Your grace. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Rejoicing in hope,

Dion Elmore

Vice President

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