Christians are commanded to pray for our leaders. That is especially practiced during times of war and the prayers go beyond our leaders to those who are serving on the front lines as well.
One of the most famous paintings of our nation’s history is one of General George Washington kneeling by his horse in the snow at Valley Forge. Historians debate over whether or not the painting is an artistic imagination. What there is no debate over; however, is that General Washington regularly secluded himself for times of prayer. There is no question that he did so during that winter in Valley Forge.
Our nation’s survival was hanging in the balance. Providential guidance and protection would be our only hope to win independence.
Now turn the clock ahead over a century and a half later. Our nation did survive and, by God’s blessings, thrived.
We were now one of the most powerful nations on earth. Now, the freedom of a nation held in the balance and along with it, the entire world. Another President prayed for guidance and victory.
This time if was President Franklin Roosevelt. The event was not Valley Forge, but the beaches of France as allied troops launched the most massive invasion in the history of the world.
On the night of June 6, 1944, as Allied troops fought their way onto the beaches of Normandy, President Franklin D. Roosevelt did something extraordinary: he led the entire nation in prayer.
It was not a policy speech, not a rallying cry, not a fireside chat. It was a public act of intercession, broadcast live to millions of Americans who were waiting anxiously for news from the front.
This moment became one of the most unifying spiritual events in American history — a president asking God to guide, protect, and strengthen the sons of the nation as they undertook what he called “a mighty endeavor.”
Roosevelt’s prayer made four key points:
- The invasion was a moral purpose with a moral cause
- There would be a hard road ahead
- He called for national perseverance, recognizing that this was not a single day event
- Faith was the anchor
On the anniversary of that great undertaking, I am on a tour of Europe. Unfortunately, my path does not take me to Normandy, but I remember that day and remember that prayer that President Roosevelt called us as a nation to pray. The words are below.
Take a moment and listen as President Roosevelt’s prayer comes alive again:
Listen to and read the text of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Address and Prayer on D-Day – June 6, 1944
My fellow Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.
And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:
Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.
They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest-until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men’s souls will be shaken with the violences of war.
For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.
Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home — fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas — whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them–help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.
Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.
Give us strength, too — strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.
And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.
And, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.
With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.
Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt – June 6, 1944
