Children, Let's Honor Those who Protect us

It's shameful. 

 

America's local and state law enforcement officers have suffered so much negativity and hate by a small but powerful minority this last year.

 

Though this group is small, with the voice of media, they have campaigned to try to turn America against the ones who put their lives on the line every day to protect us.

 

How ludicrous is that?

 

Not only do our law enforcement officers deserve our honor and respect, we need to be intentional to teach our children the importance of  honoring and respecting those who uphold the law in our communities.

 

The American Family Association has initiated a Day of Prayer and Appreciation For Law Enforcement, slated for Sunday, June 13. 

 

Let's get behind this!

 

This is a great way for us to let them know we appreciate their work.

These are some ways we can get involved: 

PRAY
As you gather for your main family meal on Sunday, pray for law enforcement officers, and lift up specifically any officers you know personally. Here is a great prayer you could use, provided by the AFA.

Table talking point: "What specific ways do officers help people in your community?"

THANK AND APPRECIATE
If you have a friend or family member in law enforcement,  take a moment on Sunday to say, "Thank you." 

The next time you see police officers in public, thank them. You might even pay for their lunch or dinner if you happen to see them in a restaurant.

Let your children prepare with you some pictures and/or notes of thanks to the officers, and mail them to your local police station. Even one or two small notes they could post on the station bulletin board could go a long way in helping them feel valued.

RECOGNIZE
Post notes of appreciation on social media. Most local law enforcement agencies have social media accounts. You can use these to let them know you respect and honor them.

Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and let them know how your family celebrated law enforcement officers on Sunday, June 13. Your letter will not only encourage law enforcement, but it will inspire others to join you in public displays of recognition for their work.

Click here to let the AFA know your family is IN for honoring law enforcement officers.

I dare you to pray aloud this prayer right now:

 

A Prayer for our nation and for law enforcement

Heavenly Father, We come before you today grieved in heart over the divisions in our land. We grieve for every life lost to violence, regardless of color or creed. And we especially grieve this day over the senseless deaths of law enforcement officers whose sworn duty is to protect us from harm. Please grant comfort and hope to their families.

We know from Romans 13 that they have a sacred task, to enforce laws that protect the innocent and punish the guilty. We pray that you will protect them as they serve us. Give them wisdom, discernment, and a deep desire to serve you. Please surround every law enforcement officer in our land with battalions of warring angels to protect them from harm.

We stand together in the powerful and mighty name of Jesus against every work of Satan intended to inflict injury and death on our protectors. May his power be thwarted, in your mighty name, and his plans exposed by your light.

We pray in Jesus' Name for any officers with an evil agenda, that the chains of Satan on their lives would be demolished, they would surrender their lives to God and serve the people with integrity. For those who will not turn, we pray they be exposed and their power be removed.

Lord, we know that your Word teaches us that in you there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female. All superficial distinctions between us have been abolished by your work on the cross. By your grace and power, lead us into a new day of racial harmony in our land, a day in which your name is again lifted high in our nation and the rule of law is honored by all.

Please grant us spiritual, political, and cultural leaders who will speak to us with your wisdom and your truth. Please renew us in spirit, mind, and heart that we may once again be one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.