Holy God, who defeated death by Jesus' work on the cross, we come to You today as the Victor of the war against sin and Satan.  We come to You as the Greatest Warrior of all time, who set Your face for the work before You, humbled Yourself, and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.  You are exalted to the highest place and are given the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

So we confess today that Jesus is Lord.  We praise You and glorify Your Name.  We kneel to You who saved us when we were hopeless and helpless.  We thank You for every day that You do not abandon us and continue to meet our needs in this fallen world.  We thank You for how You continue to fight with us the spiritual battles still before us.  Commander of Angel Armies, we pledge our service to You.

And, Lord of all life, we thank You for a day to remember our honorable dead, a day to remember that You still desire Your people to fight for the widow and the orphan, those who cannot fight for themselves, those who bring evil to Your children, those who do not bend their knee in service to You.  We thank You for those who sacrifice for the cause of Christ, for the love of country and family and Lord.  We thank You for those who lived Your peace on the battlefield before their companions and enemies.  We thank You for those who sacrificed their lives for the lives of their brothers and friends. You are the only God who gives courage and hope and life.

We thank You for the opportunity to be still and remember that honorable living is not easy, not for the lazy or complacent, not for the man who desires comfort and pleasure.  And we thank You for each one You have raised up to sacrifice in joy and humility and grace.  None of us can live a consistent life of honor without You, the God who pours out abundant grace in our moment of need.  Thank You for going to battle with Your soldiers.  Thank You for being a Commander who leads and follows and surrounds.  Thank You that being in the center of Your will is the safest place to be.  May we understand as Your son, Jim Elliot, professed, "He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

Praise to the Name of Jesus Christ who has won everything we need now and forevermore.  Amen.

Holy God, who guided Your Son to pray for unity within Your church, unify us anew.  Remove the parts of our doctrines that are based on the philosophies of men and the traditions of this world.  Purify our individual hearts that we would have the one mind of Christ, seeking to worship You and love others.  And, Lord, reform us as we confess our sins and forgive those who have sinned against us.

On this day of remembrance, we, as members of Your Body, plead for Your intervention in our world.  This is not a time for the forces of evil to celebrate.  This is a time for Your glory to be seen for miles and decades in these places of darkness.  Shine, Lord Jesus, among Your people and pour Your mercy upon the captives, freeing them to likewise shine for You.  You are able.  You hold all power and authority.  We trust Your decisions and timing.

Thank You for those members of Your church who loved You more they feared men.  Thank You for their faithfulness.  May we be faithful, too, seeking Your face, carrying our crosses, and embracing the sacrifice, knowing that in losing our lives we gain Christ.

In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

Tell me, Lord, am I so afraid of doing the wrong thing that I won't even try to do the right thing any longer?  And if so, what I am really afriad of?  Disobeying You?  Unintentionally teaching a lie?  Causing someone to stumble?  Disappointing You?

Oh.  I see.  I have fogotten the magnitude of Your grace, forgotten the power of Your Holy Spirit.

So, is the bottom line that I am more concerned about failing in the world's eyes than Yours?  Is the problem not so much that I have forgotten Your grace, but that I don't want to trust Your ways of working grace into my life?  I want to be used for glorious things that show the world how close I am to Jesus.  You want me to die to self–to do mundane things, habilitual things, unexpected things that remind me to depend on You.

I want to do big things, but I keep messing them up.  Life doesn't go as I planned.  And now I'm afraid to try because I've failed so often.

All I can do is once again throw myself on Your mercy.  Please forgive me.  Remove the pride that holds me captive.  I yield to You, my Creator.  I am only a redeemed child because of Your blood and Your mercy.  I only know of Your grace because You have sought me and healed me.  Come again with new anointing because I believe Your Word and trust Your promises and know that You are greater than my cold, useless pride.  You win and I win in You.  I will step out in faith because I don't have to be successful or understood or glorified.  I am complete in You.  And You are completely worthy.

I praise the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Father God, raise up workers for the harvest fields.

Call people from the next generation to have hearts for speaking the Truth and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Send them into hill country, inner cities, remote islands, famine-wasted countries, and idol-infested lands.  Raise them up to know You and to obey Your Spirit even unto death.  Fill them with faith and love in You and with compassion and mercy for those to whom they minister.

Bless those in fields of study, preparing to serve You with all their hearts.  Teach them now the lessons of humility and servanthood and grace.  Bless them with knowledge of medicine, agriculture, architecture, administration, to fulfill the work You have prepared in advance.

Bless those on the field even now, Lord.  Strengthen their faith in the work of Jesus Christ.  Grant them resources to preach, baptize, and make disciples of all nations. Protect them and fill them with Your peace that passes the understanding of news media and complacent Christianity.

Lord God, bless Your church, local and abroad.  May they teach Your Word in fullness and Truth.  Hold them unified as one Body.  Grant them diversity through spiritual gifts, talents, and ministries.  Bless those called to short-term missions and to outreach ministries.  Add to their numbers daily as they labor in their communities through Christ's love.

And, Father, don't forget me.  Hold me faithful, motivate me to touch others.  Grant me the awesome privilege to harvest in Your field today.  I ask it in Jesus' Name.