MPW#8 Pray Against Boredom

Proverbs19:15

Laziness brings on deep sleep,

and the shiftless man goes hungry.

Life in the military, even on deployment, is not all Hollywood shoot-‘em-ups. In fact, most of a given deployment might be spent simply trying not to be bored. Being bored, which can easily lead to slothfulness, can also lead to complacency. Complacency, when given time, can lead to death.

This is a very real problem when one if facing a potential or real foe in a war zone. Soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and coastguardsmen all need to be alert and focused when on patrol and even while off duty. Death is the potential at any given moment. Boredom, slothfulness, idleness, complacency…whatever its name, the results are potentially the same: Injury or Death.

Unfortunately, even if the service member doesn’t face physical hard due to boredom, he or she can still be confronted by danger. Spiritual slothfulness and complacency can be equally damaging to the soul. Not only is the Christian witness damaged, but the opportunity to grow spiritually throughout a deployment is hampered severely. “An idle soul shall suffer hunger.” It’s not just a phrase…it’s a reality.

Your loved-one’s deployment can be one of the richest growth periods in his or her life in Christ. However, it can also be a huge stumbling block that can lead to a stunted process and spiritual starvation, not to mention potential physical harm or even death. By taking a moment to pray against boredom, you have helped your loved-one move forward.

Lord-I wish today for an awakening in my service member’s heart and soul. Please excite my loved-one’s soul and make his/her heart jump with the thought of growing closer to you today. I hope that you will protect him/her against complacency, both in this physical world and in the spiritual world that we also live in. Thank you very much for the fact that your life really is exciting, and I pray that you will show that side of yourself to my loved one continuously. Thank you Father.—Amen.