Take my hand, America... They need each and every one of us to talk to our awesome God about His promises to us.

While my imagination holds their faces I picture them awake in the night ... scared ... tired and talking to God. I pray there is an angel who will carry my thoughts to them and wrap their heartbeats in a piece of my own soul. I sigh in silenceand realize that sigh is tiny but when God hears it it becomes a prayer.

Lord, You hear all that can be heard even when unspoken. You suffered at the hands of Your murderers and healed them with Your own blood because You loved them. I know You can see Your sons and daughters, while You watch the wars in Your land unfold. The land where You made Your promises to us. You are the keeper of all promises and thats what I want to talk to you about. Specifically, Your promises of rest, safety and peace, for our troops.

They are tired - hold them in Your precious scarred hands and give them rest. They are surrounded by danger - place Your hedge of love around them and keep them safe. They are troubled - wrap them in Your halo of comfort and give them peace. Embrace them with Your love. Allow them to remember their beautiful country while standing in death and destruction. When they see bandages soaked with escaping youth let their tears cleanse their eyes and their memory. And when they look up at the stars... the very stars that David walked under... allow them to remember how to feel their own heart and know that the darkness they are in will soon be daylight. Place Your sword in their hand to defend their strength. Let their spirit absorb You and not their surroundings. Only You can help them as they sleep in this country that kills its own people. Close their ears to the sounds of war around them... letting them hear only Your sweet voice in their heart. When they cant remember who they are anymore be generous with them as they stand in this land of evil. Place Your mighty hand on their weary heads.

Let the distinction between their lives here and there be the same as to happiness and sadness. Let their tears of sadness empty them and fill them with happiness. When they sleep with loneliness and long for homelet them see the face of their loved one lying next to them...feel the arms of their parents. Calm their fears and give them strength and fortitude. And when they leave their tears at Your feet grace them with comfort and rest. When they feel empty and ruined remind them that You are their treasure keeper.

When its time for them to come home... Place your hands deep inside them and draw their shattered hearts out into Your light. Help them gather the glittering pieces to light the shadows that will surely follow the home. Remind them that they were are never alone over there because You walked that very ground before them...and they stood on the very earth that You breathed life into. Remind them that they are home. Remind them that we love them. Reassure them that they are heroes.

Thank you, Awesome Father, for being the keeper of all promises. Amen

(Written by me)