Are you ready for your next mission ? God has the wheel ,so let him be your guide !

1. BY CHAPLAIN JOHN OWEN

2. This publication is a ministry of Guidepost Outreach which distributes
inspirational literature free of charge to organizations serving those in need.
We thank you for your continued support and welcome donations.
Copyright © 2014 by Guideposts. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®,
NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Printed in U.S.A
Guideposts Outreach
Guideposts, founded by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and
his wife, Ruth Stafford Peale, in 1945, is a nonprofit
interfaith ministry dedicated to helping people from
all walks of life achieve their maximum personal and
spiritual potential. Its inspirational products and pro-
grams spring from two major beliefs: that true stories
are a powerful way to motivate people to lead better
lives and that faith in God can be strengthened by ap-
plying spiritual truths to daily life.
Guideposts Outreach strives to fulfill our mission
by providing inspirational publications free of charge
to hospitals, nursing homes, churches, military per-
sonnel, correctional facilities and other organizations
that serve the public. In addition, we invite readers to
send us their prayer requests—by mail, by phone or via
the Internet. Every working day, Guideposts staff and
volunteers pray for those requests by name and need.
For additional information about Guideposts Outreach,
please visit GuidepostsFoundation.org
Introduction
I realize that not everybody is a football fan. Much
to my dismay, my two daughters are proof of that.
But in the year I spent as chaplain to the Unit-
ed States Naval Academy football team, I saw
firsthand the parallels between football—with its
requisite commitment, sacrifice, and teamwork—
and faith and military service. One thing that is
shared by all of us who wear the uniforms of our
country is an understanding that some things are
worth fighting for, even at the cost of our own
comfort, security and even our lives. Personal
struggles—in life, in faith and in our service—are
inevitable when we devote our lives to something
bigger than ourselves.
What I learned from those young football play-
ers (and, by extension, the female midshipmen as
well) has enriched my life and strengthened my
faith. It has inspired me to serve others, my coun-
try and God with renewed energy and conviction.
Regardless of whether you are a sports fan or
not, I hope that this series of devotions will in-
spire, challenge and comfort you in your faith and
service, the way that my season as the Navy foot-
ball chaplain did for me.
—Chaplain John Owen

3. 21
Play Your Part
Each of you should use whatever gift you have
received to serve others, as faithful stewards of
God’s grace in its various forms. —1 Peter 4:10
Throughout my year as chaplain for the Navy
football team, I spent a lot of time wondering
what my role was. As much as I loved being on
the field, I needed to remember that I was their
chaplain—not a cheerleader, not a coach and cer-
tainly not a player.
My job was in the background, on the side-
lines. That was not always easy for me to accept.
We in the military, for the most part, are doers;
we are not watchers. We want to be actively en-
gaged, and if we are not, we can easily feel left
out, useless, even irrelevant.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Whatever our role—on the team or in the unit—
we need to remember that if we don’t do our job,
others can’t do theirs. We must never underes-
timate the impact that something as simple as a
word of encouragement, a slap on the back or a
small act of kindness might have on a teammate.
Whatever our role at any given time, we have
something to offer.
When The Chips Are Down
I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hands. —Psalm 31:14-15
Every athlete has experienced that moment when,
in spite of our best efforts, the contest is lost. No
matter how hard we try, it simply cannot be won.
Every service member has experienced situa-
tions where the stress, danger or sheer magnitude
of the challenge in front of us exceeds our mental
and physical capabilities. We may even question
whether we should be wearing the uniform of our
country.
Every human being has experienced those mo-
ments, moments of such profound sadness, loneli-
ness, depression, or helplessness that everything
we thought we believed in is suddenly in doubt.
Those moments are not the time to decide
what we believe.
Rather, those are the times when we remember
what we have learned, prepared for and put our
faith in. Those are the times to hold fast to those
decisions we have made about what is right and
trustworthy. Those are the times to press ahead,
trusting that our faith and our preparation will
stand us in good stead, that equilibrium will
eventually be restored to our lives.

4. 43
Full Speed Ahead
Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of
witnesses... let us run with perseverance the race
marked out for us. —Hebrews 12:1
In the chapel of the United States Naval Academy
are several magnificent stained-glass windows.
Perhaps my favorite of these is a depiction of Rear
Admiral David Farragut leading his Union Navy
task force in the Battle of Mobile Bay. In the win-
dow, he is shown lashed to the rigging of his flag-
ship, U.S. S. Hartford, and pointing toward the
left. Behind him is an angel, also pointing to the
left.
The story goes that while his officers cautioned
him about entering the minefield the Confeder-
ates had laid at the entrance to the bay, Farra-
gut felt a divine hand guiding him, inspiring his
legendary command, “Damn the torpedoes! Full
speed ahead!”
I don’t know how many of us can identify di-
vine guidance as clearly as Admiral Farragut did,
but the truth is that God’s watchful and provi-
dential care is always with us, whether we are
aware of it or not. May each of us be open to the
guidance and inspiration of God’s Spirit, when-
ever and however it is extended to us.
Hold On To Hope
The Lord watches over you... the sun will not harm
you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will
keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life.
—Psalm 121:5-7
I first met Wendy Rivers at a reunion of the Navy
fighter squadron he and my dad flew in together.
In 1965, Wendy was shot down over North Viet-
nam and spent the next seven and a half years as
a POW, finally returning home in 1973.
He told me the story of one night in his captiv-
ity, after enduring unthinkable torture, when he
felt he had reached the end of his rope. He was ex-
hausted, injured and wondering if there was any
point in holding on any longer.
Nearing desperation, he looked up at the tiny
window high in his cell. Perfectly framed there,
resplendent in the night sky, hung the moon. “At
that moment,” Wendy said simply, “I knew I was
going to be okay.”
Did anything change in Wendy’s circumstanc-
es? No. But somehow he found the inspiration to
carry on. He regained his hope. He made a deci-
sion to live for one more day. Then one more. And
another, until seven years later, he was on a plane
going home.
Wendy refused to surrender his hope. And his
hope did not disappoint him. It brought him home.

5. 65
Into the Fire
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God
we serve is able to deliver us from it. But even if he
does not, we... will not serve your gods.
—Daniel 3:17-18
No image from September 11, 2001, captures the
pathos of that day better than a photo I have of
a single New York City firefighter running up a
stairway—while a line of terrified people streams
down, away from the flames.
For me, that image illustrates what we in the
military have been called to do. Our country is
counting on us to be willing to run into the fire,
toward the danger, even as others around us are
seeking shelter and safety.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were also
willing to face the flames, even though they did
not know how things would turn out for them.
They simply trusted in their God, no matter what
happened.
Our calling is a difficult one, lonely and often
dangerous. We are not called to be without fear.
But we are called to be willing to face the dangers
we encounter, trusting in those who serve with
us—and in the God who always goes with us.
Practical Wisdom
For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is
faithful in all he does. —Psalm 33:4
The Bible is obviously a special book. But some-
times I wonder if we don’t elevate it to such a
mystical status—a volume full of secret, hidden
messages—that it loses its relevance for us in our
normal, everyday lives.
The Bible, though, is remarkably practical. I’m
often amazed at how relevant its words are, how
filled with common sense its advice is.
We in the military rely on our instructions and
manuals. We are all familiar with the frustration
of wading through a bunch of obscure, military-
sounding nonsense. The most effective guidance
is that which is clear, concise and understandable.
The Bible is God’s guidance for us, and God is
well aware that guidance is not much use if it’s
unclear or indecipherable. So the next time you
read the Bible, try reading it as if God were tell-
ing you a story—a story he designed to be use-
ful and helpful to you at that very moment. Sure,
there’s a lot of profound stuff in there, but if the
Bible intimidates us, we’re unlikely to find what
we need. Relax. Enjoy the story. I’m pretty sure
that’s God’s purpose in telling it to us.

6. 87
Painful Grace
Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel,
because you have struggled with God and with
humans and have overcome. —Genesis 32:28
One of my favorite Bible stories is about Jacob
wrestling all night with an unknown attacker,
only to learn in the morning that he’d been wres-
tling with God. Even though Jacob realized he
was not able to defeat this mysterious assailant,
he did not capitulate. In the end it is his refusal to
give up that earns him God’s blessing and a new
name: Israel, meaning “wrestles with God.”
In the military, it is often true that victory is
the only acceptable outcome. But in most areas
of life, defeat does not mean death. In fact, we
are often remembered not by our victories, but by
how well we fought, how we conducted ourselves,
the virtues we demonstrated in the struggle.
Jacob was left permanently limping by his en-
counter with God. Our battles can leave us with
scars, seen or unseen. We are not left unchanged
by our encounters with life’s hardships. But we
have a choice: Do we nurse our injuries as painful
reminders of defeat or draw inspiration and learn
from them in preparation for the next contest?
Choose Whom You Will Serve
Choose for yourselves this day whom you will
serve... as for me and my household, we will serve
the Lord. —Joshua 24:15
Long ago, on the eve of a historic military cam-
paign, Israel’s leader called the people together.
They were on the verge of occupying the land that
God had promised them. Their leader, Joshua,
knew the challenges ahead. It was a good land,
and the Israelites were in for some tough fighting.
You can choose to trust God, Joshua said, or you
can choose to trust other gods—either the gods of
your ancestors or the gods of the people you are
about to fight. But you must choose. The people
were at a crossroads, and they needed to decide
then and there whom they were going to serve.
Each of our lives is like that. There are cross-
roads, turning points... some obvious, others
subtle and maybe even unnoticed. And the choic-
es we make set the course for the rest of our lives.
Each of us has chosen to serve our country.
We must also choose who or what we will serve
through the unfolding of our lives. Make your
choice, and press on.

7. 109
Never Give Up!
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God,
whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not
afraid. —Psalm 56:3-4
You probably know about Jim Lovell, the mission
commander of Apollo 13... the lunar mission that
nearly ended in disaster. I had the opportunity
once to ask him about what it takes to overcome
adversity. He identified two things.
The first is leadership—at every level. Our will-
ingness to step up and take responsibility for fix-
ing a bad situation, even if that situation was not
our fault or our responsibility in the first place, is
the mark of a true leader.
The second is determination. We must never
give up. Even when things seem hopeless, even
when it seems like the only option is to quit, we
can’t. Whatever happens, we have to keep going.
Think about how many biblical figures faced
seemingly impossible situations, but refused to
give up, trusting in God no matter how hopeless
the situation seemed. Jacob, Moses, David, Paul...
each of them could understandably have con-
cluded that their task was simply too hard, or too
hopeless. But they trusted in God, stepped up to
the challenge, refused to quit. And that made all
the difference.
Choose Life
I have set before you life and death, blessings
and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your
children may live. —Deuteronomy 30:19
Near the end of his life, Moses called the people
together and reminded them of how God had al-
ways done what God had promised to do, even
when the people had broken their end of the deal.
(Which, if you recall, the people did quite often!)
As Moses concluded his speech, he presented
the people with this choice: You can choose life or
you can choose death. You can choose adversity
or you can choose prosperity. If you follow the
commandments of God, you will make a choice
for life and prosperity. But if you choose to go
your own way, ignoring God’s guidance and di-
rection and deciding that you know better, things
will not work out well.
God’s promises are trustworthy. God has prom-
ised us blessings and life. But we must choose to
accept those gifts.
Make a choice for God today. Choose Life—with
a capital “L”—trusting God to guide and preserve
your life... and the lives of those you love.

8. 1211
Faith is a Choice, Not a Feeling
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,
but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
—2 Timothy 1:7
Our culture encourages us to make decisions
based upon how we “feel.” Advertisers persuade
us to buy things because they will make us “feel”
better. And too many marriages break up because
partners don’t “feel” the way they used to about
each other.
We sometimes approach faith the same way. If
we don’t feel spiritually uplifted, we conclude ei-
ther we’re doing something wrong or God has left
us. We get discouraged that we don’t feel God’s
presence the way we used to.
The truth is, feelings are unpredictable and
capricious. They come and go on their own. And
they are often wrong.
Faith is not a feeling; it’s a choice—a decision
followed by action. It is a decision to believe even
when we don’t feel like believing, a decision to
trust God even when we are feeling doubtful. It is
a choice to love even when loving is hard.
Don’t confuse feeling spiritually uplifted with
choosing to be faithful. And remember that God
has already chosen to believe in us.
Breathe
In the beginning God created the heavens and the
earth... and the “ruach” [Hebrew for Spirit] of God
was hovering over the waters. —Genesis 1:1-2
The stresses we experience in combat and other
intense military operations are unique, and often
the stress continues long after we return home.
A very effective tool in helping restore a
healthy sense of normalcy and equilibrium is
called mindfulness, also referred to as a form of
meditation. There’s nothing magic about it, and
one of the keys to practicing mindfulness is sim-
ply to sit quietly and focus on our breath.
What I find so intriguing about focusing on
our breath is a concept found in both Hebrew
and Greek, the two primary original languages of
the Bible. Ruach in Hebrew and pneuma in Greek
both have three meanings: spirit, wind or breath.
Which suggests to me that when we are concen-
trating on our breath, we are concentrating on
something intimately related to our spirit and to
God’s Spirit.
When I take a few moments to focus on my
breath, which is always with me, I’m also con-
necting with God’s breath, or Spirit. And I’m re-
minded that God’s Spirit, too, is always with me.

9. 1413
Let Your Light Shine
[You don’t] light a lamp and put it under a bowl...
[but] on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in
the house. —Matthew 5:15
Jesus was a great storyteller. He often pointed to
something common and everyday—something
people normally took for granted—and then used
it to make a profound and important point. The
brilliant technique in play here is that from then
on, whenever the people saw that thing or situa-
tion, they would be reminded of what Jesus had
taught them.
Once, Jesus pointed to a lamp—a common oil-
burning lamp, the kind everybody used for light—
and he said, “Look, nobody lights a lamp and then
puts it under a bowl. That would defeat the whole
purpose of lighting it. You, too, need to let the
light that is in you shine for everybody to see.”
Each of us has some of God’s light inside us—
something to give to other people, something to
teach them, some part of us that lights up a room
or lights up a relationship.
Whatever that is for you, uncover it, develop
it, enjoy it... and let it brighten up other peoples’
lives. That’s why God gave it to you in the first
place.
All In
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your strength.
—Deuteronomy 6:4
One of the scripture passages that Jesus, as a
Jew, would have been most familiar with is this:
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord is your God, the Lord
alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart, with all your soul, and with all your
might.” This might be considered Judaism’s
“Great Commandment,” forming the foundation
of everything Jesus learned, believed, and taught.
Notice that it doesn’t tell us to love God with
one part of ourselves, give another part to oth-
ers, another part to our jobs. No, we are to love
God with all our heart, with all our soul and with
all our might. There is no room for half measures
here.
In the military, we learn the importance of
committing ourselves completely to our cause
and our mission, even to the point of giving “the
last full measure of devotion.” God asks for the
same from us.
Throw yourself into the challenges you face
today with all your heart, with all your soul and
with all your might. Don’t hold back. Be all in.

10. 1615
Incomplete Without You
The body is not made up of one part but of many.
—1 Corinthians, 12:14
The apostle Paul would have made a great foot-
ball coach.
Many of the letters he wrote were to encour-
age and inspire people, particularly when they
were facing some kind of adversity. And like a
good coach, or a good military leader, Paul un-
derstood that the effectiveness —and in fact the
very survival—of the early church depended upon
the formation of a community of faith, not simply
individuals of faith.
Paul offers the human body as an example.
Even though the body is made up of different
parts, and each part looks and acts differently
from the other parts, the body as a whole can’t
function effectively unless all the parts are doing
their unique tasks.
No matter what your job is, your unit cannot
function to its potential without you. And no
matter what your gifts are, God is expecting you
to use them to the best of your ability, because
the world would be incomplete without them—
and without you.
Practice Hope
You will be secure, because there is hope.
—Job 11:18
Each of the military branches has a set of “core
values.” Although the world’s religious traditions
differ in many ways, I suspect that “faith, hope
and love” would constitute a good set of core val-
ues for most of them.
We stress faith and love, but sometimes ne-
glect hope, which is tragic—particularly for those
of us who serve in the military.
Hope is what allows us to see beyond our pres-
ent and immediate circumstances to the larger
purpose behind our efforts. Hope tells us never
to give up. It compels us to keep fighting, to press
on, even when every bone in our body wants to sit
down and quit.
Hope is not wishful thinking, sitting around
waiting for the situation to change. Hope is ac-
tive, not passive. It inspires action and fuels the
will. Hope drives us forward, even at the cost of
pain and suffering. Even in the face of fierce re-
sistance.
Practice faith and love, certainly. But don’t ne-
glect hope, because without hope for the future,
the other two cannot survive.

11. 1817
Take Smart Risks
You have been faithful with a few things; I will put
you in charge of many things. Come and share your
master’s happiness! —Matthew 25:21
Jesus told a parable often referred to as “the par-
able of the talents.” One of its lessons is this:
Choosing to “play it safe,” avoiding risk for fear of
failure, is often a bigger sin than making an hon-
est mistake while attempting something worth-
while.
Life involves risk. Trying to live a life without
risk is a dangerous and futile gesture.
Our profession, our calling to serve our coun-
try in uniform, is full of risk. We accept that. We
are often called upon to perform risky tasks, in
dangerous and challenging circumstances. That’s
why we train so hard. Each of us must learn how
to find the right balance between taking calcu-
lated risks and mitigating them.
God has given each of us talents—gifts and
abilities. God does not demand perfection, but
God does honor honest effort. To bury our gifts,
to not apply them toward the accomplishment of
something worthy and honorable, may be one of
the biggest mistakes of all.
Seek Forgiveness
David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the
Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away
your sin.” —2 Samuel 12:13
David is one of the great figures of the Bible, re-
ferred to as “a man after God’s own heart.”
But David did some pretty awful things, in-
cluding intentionally having one of his military
subordinates killed in battle so that David could
marry the soldier’s wife. It’s hard to think of any-
thing more dishonorable and despicable than
that.
What’s most important, however, is what he
did next: He accepted responsibility for his ac-
tions and confessed his sins to God. He paid a
high price for his terrible choice, but God accept-
ed his repentance, and David became one of the
greatest leaders of all time.
We all make mistakes. We might be tempted to
think of some of them as so awful that they are
unforgivable. But when you find yourself feeling
like you have fallen so far out of God’s favor that
there is no way to get it back, remember David.
And remember that through God’s love and for-
giveness we are all men and women after God’s
own heart.

12. 2019
Remember Who You Are
What does the Lord require of you? To act justly
and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your
God. —Micah 6:8
Our society—and our military—tends to judge a
person’s worth by his or her accomplishments. So
we push ourselves to work harder and outperform
others, to seek recognition through awards, pro-
motions, accolades.
When things don’t work out for us, however,
we often think of ourselves as having failed. And
we too often jump to the conclusion that there-
fore we ourselves are failures.
Yet there is nobody who can legitimately be
considered a “hero” who did not experience set-
backs. Many of baseball’s greatest hitters also had
the most strikeouts. Abraham Lincoln lost far
more elections than he won. And all of the Bible’s
“heroes”—Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Peter,
Paul —did some really awful things or made some
really big mistakes along the way.
What pleased God about these individuals is
not what they accomplished; it’s how they sub-
mitted to God’s calling in their lives. Who you are
isn’t about mistakes or triumphs, failures or suc-
cesses. It’s about character and integrity, faith-
fulness and humility before God. God made you.
He knows you—and loves who you are.
Goliath’s Mistakes
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be
courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.
—1 Corinthians 16:13-14
The story of David and Goliath has become as
much a part of the American spirit as Lexington
and Concord, the battle of Midway, and Iwo Jima.
Against overwhelming odds, an inferior force
prevails in battle against a greatly superior en-
emy.
If we only see ourselves as David, however, we
miss something really important, because some-
times we are more like Goliath. And if we do not
learn from his mistakes, we are likely to repeat
them, with equally disastrous consequences.
Goliath should not have lost. He had the ad-
vantage in everything—except God’s favor, which
of course is crucial. In human terms he had all the
odds on his side. But he got cocky. He got careless
and complacent. And it cost him.
If hope, resilience and character are the keys to
victory, then complacency, arrogance and care-
lessness are the keys to defeat. In our military
service, and in our faith journey, God exhorts us
to remain humble, prepared and alert. God’s call
can come at any time; we don’t want to miss it.

13. 2221
The Main Thing
These commandments... are to be on your hearts.
Impress them on your children.
—Deuteronomy 6:6-7
A former commander once offered me these sim-
ple but critical words: “Remember to keep the
main thing the main thing.”
There are few skills in the military that are more
critical than this. Whether you’re in the heat of
battle or dealing with the chaos of a crisis situation
or the pressure of a leadership challenge, the abil-
ity to quickly determine what is most important in
that situation, and to set aside all the competing
priorities and distractions, can literally mean the
difference between life and death.
Life, too, can be complicated and confusing,
full of people and situations all demanding your
attention. Which makes it critical that we re-
member what “the main thing” is. Jesus, when
asked what the most important thing was an-
swered this: “You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your mind. This is the greatest and first
commandment. And a second is like it: you shall
love your neighbor as yourself.”
Can our “main thing” get any clearer than
that?
Never Hopeless
In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered
me. —Jonah 2:2
If all we know about Jonah is that he was swal-
lowed by a big fish and lived to tell about it, we
are missing out on a powerful story about God’s
mercy in times of trouble... even if it’s trouble of
our own making.
What makes Jonah so memorable is that he
made some really bad decisions that resulted in
his finding himself in that fish’s belly. In other
words, all but dead.
But when things couldn’t get any worse, Jonah
remembered what he knew to be true: that no
matter what happened, his hope was with God.
When Jonah remembered that, and called out to
God for help, God delivered him, and Jonah car-
ried out the task to which God had called him.
We will all find ourselves in situations that we
did not expect, in places which may feel hopeless.
When those times come, let us, like Jonah, trust
that God’s mercy and forgiveness are greater than
any adversity that threatens to overwhelm us.

14. 2423
Here I Am!
Then I [Isaiah] heard the voice of the Lord saying,
“Whom shall I send... ?” And I said, “Here am I.
Send me!” —Isaiah 6:8
We tend to think of the “heroes” of the Bible as
these amazing, almost superhuman people with
some kind of special “inside track” to God.
Compared to them, we can easily feel that we
have little to offer. We’re just “normal people”
living normal lives.
If we read the biblical stories carefully, how-
ever, we see that with only very few exceptions,
it’s not extraordinary people that God calls, but
regular people. What makes them extraordinary
is that—sometimes after considerable whining
and arguing and even outright defiance—their
response is eventually, “Okay, God. Here I am.
Send me.”
It’s the response each of us has made to the call
to serve our country. “Here I am. I will serve.” In
our military service, and in our faith journey, God
does not expect us to be extraordinary. God asks
us to simply say, “Here I am. Send me.” That is
extraordinary in God’s eyes.
Words to Remember
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or
discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you
wherever you go. —Joshua 1:9
There are times in our lives—moments, days,
maybe longer— when we find ourselves pushed
to our limits. Whether by bad luck or bad deci-
sions, physical pain or emotional despair, we find
ourselves feeling like we’re stumbling in the dark,
unable to see beyond our immediate circum-
stances.
While we cannot necessarily prevent these
times, we can prepare for them. And one of the
things we can do to prepare is to find certain
words —meaningful quotes, Bible passages,
words from a loved one—and memorize them.
Such words will not necessarily change our cir-
cumstances, but they can accompany and en-
courage us in our struggle.
For me, Joshua 1:9 has become one of my “go-
to” passages. Many others find the Psalms to be
a rich source for inspiration. Hopefully you have
found some passages in this booklet to help you.
Whatever the case, it is worth the time and effort
to find those words that will not fail you, even
when everything else appears to have.

15. 2625
In the Arena
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not
abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
—2 Corinthians 4:8-9
I frequently shared words from a speech by Presi-
dent Theodore Roosevelt with the Navy football
team. I offer them to you:
It is not the critic who counts; not the man
who points out how the strong man stumbles, or
where the doer of deeds could have done them
better. The credit belongs to the man who is ac-
tually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust
and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who
errs, who comes short again and again, because
there is no effort without error and shortcom-
ing; but who does actually strive to do the deeds;
who knows great enthusiasms, the great devo-
tions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who
at the best knows in the end the triumph of high
achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at
least fails while daring greatly, so that his place
shall never be with those cold and timid souls
who neither know victory nor defeat.
To risk something big, for something good.
There is no higher calling than this.
No Need to Fear
The Lord is with us; do not be afraid.
—Numbers 14:9
After God delivered the Israelites from slavery
in Egypt, they were perched on the border of the
land God had promised to them. It was a good
land, but the people who lived there weren’t go-
ing to give it up without a fight. So as in any well-
planned military operation, the Israelites sent
spies to conduct a recon mission.
When they returned, they reported that the
land was good indeed, but the people who in-
habited it were very strong. “Compared to them,”
they said, “we seemed like grasshoppers.” And
the people despaired at this report.
Except for two of the spies: Caleb and Joshua.
“Wait!” they objected. “This is a good land, just
as God promised us. If God is with us, then we
don’t need to fear!” Caleb and Joshua weren’t
stupid or naïve. They knew the challenges and
dangers that lay ahead. But they weren’t afraid,
because they trusted in God’s promises.
In the end, they were right. What may seem
impossible to us is always possible with God.

16. 2827
Believe—And Act
On what are you basing this confidence of yours?
—Isaiah 36:4
The legendary Marine Corps Colonel Chesty Pull-
er, at the battle of Chosin Reservoir, is famously
quoted as saying, “We’ve been looking for the en-
emy for some time now. We’ve finally found him.
We’re surrounded. That simplifies things.”
That kind of tenacity—not to mention humor—
is one of the hallmarks of American military men
and women. It’s what has enabled us, from the
beginning of our history, to overcome tremen-
dous obstacles and achieve victory.
The line between courageous confidence and
arrogant behavior, however, is not always clear.
Failing to recognize the difference can be deadly.
It’s one thing to say we believe, and another
to follow up our beliefs with action. But any ac-
complishment begins with the belief that it can
be accomplished. And that takes vision, faith and
commitment. We must first be clear about the
source of our confidence. If our confidence is in
God, most of our failures of action begin as fail-
ures of vision. Where our hearts lead, our bodies
will follow.
Prayer Is The Battle
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Put on the full armor of God... —Ephesians 6:10-11
Many of the analogies the Bible uses to teach us
about faith in God are taken from warfare. One of
the most common of these is the image of faith as
armor, protective gear we need to battle evil.
But another understanding of this analogy,
expressed by the author Oswald Chambers, is
worth considering. Chambers was no stranger to
warfare, serving as chaplain to, among others,
Australian and New Zealand troops who later en-
gaged in the Battle of Gallipoli. Chambers wrote,
“The armor is for the battle of prayer. The armor
is not to fight in, but to shield us while we pray.
Prayer is the battle.”
It is easy for us to feel helpless in the face of
life’s difficulties and adversity. Our instinct is to
take action, and prayer can feel like a poor substi-
tute for action.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Turning to God is the first thing we should do.
Sometimes praying is all we can do. But it is al-
ways what we must do.

17. 3029
WhereverYouGo,ThereIsGod
Where can I go from your Spirit? If I settle on
the far side of the sea, even there your hand will
guide me. —Psalm 139:7-10
All of us who wear the uniforms of our country—
along with all who have ever worn and who ever
will wear them—share the experience of finding
ourselves far from the ones we love.
Whether from a ship on or under the seas, a de-
ployment to a remote area of the world or another
part of the country, or a hostile combat zone, we
have all had those startling moments of realizing
just how far from home we are.
Hopefully, however, we have also experienced
the moments of sublime beauty, awe and peace
that happen, often unexpectedly, in the most un-
likely of places. A night sky thick with stars in the
middle of the ocean; a glorious sunrise in the des-
ert; the first signs of spring flowers in otherwise
forbidding and unfamiliar terrain. These remind-
ers of the wonder of God’s creation are always
there, if only we have eyes to see them. Wherever
we go, we are in the midst of God’s creation... and
God is waiting to meet us there.
Never Defeated
We know that suffering produces perseverance,
perseverance, character; and character, hope. And
hope does not put us to shame. —Romans 5:3-5
One of the characteristics of military service that
is most honored is the discipline to face and over-
come adversity, to persevere in the face of fierce
resistance.
The Bible readily acknowledges life’s hard-
ships, but encourages us not to be afraid of suf-
fering because suffering produces perseverance,
perseverance produces character, character pro-
duces hope—and hope does not disappoint us.
Think about how physical training builds our
endurance. As our endurance improves, we real-
ize we can do more than we thought we could; we
build character. With character comes the real-
ization that some goals are worth pursuing even
at a cost, and so we look past short-term pain and
adversity to long-term goals. And that is what
hope is.
And here’s the thing about hope: Hope can
only be surrendered; it can never be taken from
us. True defeat only happens when we accept it.
As long as we hold on and refuse to give up hope,
we are never truly defeated.

18. 31
May We Pray for You?
OurPrayer ministry prays every day for
the needs of people who seek a brighter
tomorrow for family, friends, and loved
ones. From success in a job, to the safe
arrival of a new baby, to overcoming the
struggles of daily life, we pray for each
request individually by name and need.
The power of prayer has been proven to
produce miracles. Let us pray for you.
We are only a few clicks
or phone call away.
Submit prayer requests at OurPrayer.org
24 hours a day/7 days a week
Call us at 1-203-778-8063
7 am to 10 pm EST weekdays
Become a Prayer Volunteer
Help others receive the healing power of prayer! Join our
faith-filled community and become an OurPrayer volunteer.
Learn more, visit ourprayervolunteer.org.
/OurPrayer
/OurPrayer
You Are Ready
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart
trusts in him.... The Lord is the strength of his
people. —Psalm 28:7-8
At various times in our lives—on the playing
field, in the classroom, in a mission briefing or
alone in a barracks room—each of us has asked
ourselves this question: When the time comes,
will I be ready?
There is not a man or woman who has ever
served who has not asked that question. Even
people who have been in combat or who have
years of experience sometimes wonder about “the
next time.” And, to be honest, I’m not sure we
ever really know the answer, because “the next
time” is always just around the corner.
But I believe one way to know we’re ready is
this: When our concern is not about ourselves,
but about the mission, and taking care of those
serving alongside us... we’re ready.
Each of us is part of a legacy of service, courage
and selfless sacrifice. Trust your training. Trust
yourself. Trust God.
Others have gone before us. Others will come
after us. We are never alone.

19. 018-4915