On 6 June 1944, King George VI addressed the nations in a speech that was broadcast throughout the world. Naming countries of the Empire and our other Allies, including the United States, the King called upon people everywhere to stop what they were doing and pray. With the D-Day landings underway, the King called for “earnest, continuous and widespread prayer.”
Remarkably, the need for “continuous” prayer was echoed by President Roosevelt’s own radio address to America on the same day. He said, “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.”
This was the seventh time that the King had specifically called for national prayer. But this occasion was different. The King admitted, “This time, the challenge is not to fight to survive but to fight to win the final victory for the good cause.”
It is Biblical to pray for victory. In the present age, there is a hesitation to pray for the defeat of our enemies. The Church has succumbed to pray only for peace, which of course is what we should always desire over war, but we have become weakened in fear of causing offence by praying for decisive victory. There is no better example today than the Church’s approach to Israel and her war against Hamas. So many in the Church have adopted the mindset of neutrality in praying for peace. But where the conflict is between good and evil, we should recognize that peace will only come when evil is defeated. The King’s words provide us with a good explanation: “We and our Allies are sure that our fight is against evil and for a world in which goodness and honour may be the foundation of the life of men in every land.” In other words, the nation could pray confidently for victory, because they understood the evil they were fighting against. They recognised who their enemy was and why they had to win. Is Israel’s fight against the evil of Hamas a just cause? Can we say of Israel, “We are sure their fight is against evil,” If so, pray for Israel’s victory over its enemies.
With great humility, the King also acknowledged that the nation was surrendering to the will of God, believing that it was God’s “high purpose” that Britain and Allies should be delivered. This attitude of submission is also very important in praying for victory. We can pray for victory not only because we desire it, but because we believe that it is the ultimate will and purpose of God. Seeking God’s will and higher purpose is important in ascertaining how to pray for Israel. It gives us confidence in praying bold, targeted prayers, knowing that we have surrendered to the will of God.
Admirably, the King demonstrated bold Christian leadership on 6 June 1944. His example invited not only Britain to follow him in praying, but the world. His message was not that prayer should be one single moment – although there is indeed value in single days of prayer – but rather a continuance. As the Bible teaches, “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:1-18) and “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving,” (Colossians 4:2).
The King appealed to his listeners young and old to stop everything and pray. You can sense urgency and the King’s faith in confessing the Word of God:
“At this historic moment surely not one of us is too busy, too young or too old to play a part in a nationwide, perchance a worldwide, vigil of prayer as the great crusade sets forth. If from every place of worship, from home and factory, from men and women of all ages and many races and occupations, our intercessions rise, then, please God, both now and in a future not remote, the predictions of an ancient Psalm may be fulfilled: ‘The Lord will give strength unto his people: the Lord will give his people the blessing of peace.'”
Indeed, D-Day was a turning point in World War Two and vital in defeating the Nazis and liberating Europe. US Commander Dwight Eisenhower acknowledged that timing was critical in the D-Day success. Due to adverse weather conditions, Eisenhower had already delayed D-Day by 24-hours and was very close to cancelling again, had it not been for a gap in the weather, described by one captain as “a heaven-sent break” that provided the opportunity to begin the invasion. Had the invasion taken place any later, the invasion would very likely failed. The Times newspaper later recorded that the meteorological section at Supreme Headquarters had calculated that the chances were about 50:1 against the weather, the tide and the moon being favourable toward the combined operation of ground, sea and air forces. Eisenhower himself testified: “This day eight years ago, I made the most agonising decision of my life. I had to decide to postpone by at least twenty-four hours the most formidable array of fighting ships and of fighting man that was ever launched across the sea against a hostile shore. … If there were nothing else in my life to prove the existence of an almighty and merciful God, the events of the next twenty-four hours did it … The greatest break in a terrible outlay of weather occurred the next day and allowed that great invasion to proceed, with losses far below those we had anticipated …”
There were, of course, many losses on the beaches of Normandy and in the weeks that followed. Many brave young men from Britain and our Allies paid the ultimate price in fighting for our freedom. In his speech, the King was mindful of the dangers as he offered words of comfort to those at home:
“We who remain in this land can most effectively enter into the sufferings of subjugated Europe by prayer, whereby we can fortify the determination of our sailors, soldiers and airmen who go forth to set the captives free. The Queen joins with me in sending you this message. She well understands the anxieties and cares of our womenfolk at this time and she knows that many of them will find, as she does herself, fresh strength and comfort in such waiting upon God. She feels that many women will be glad in this way to keep vigil with their menfolk as they man the ships, storm the beaches and fill the skies.”
Here within these words of encouragement was a recognition of the worthy aim of this invasion – “setting the captives free.” This could have referred to the people of Europe under Nazi tyranny, but could also refer specifically to concentration camps, which the Allies would ultimately liberate. The captives would be freed because of the brave sacrifice of all those on D-Day who gave of themselves both in life and in death – supported by a true leader, a King who led his people in prayer to petition the throne of God and believe in victory.
Full speech by King George VI, 6 June 1944
Four years ago, our Nation and Empire stood alone against an overwhelming enemy, with our backs to the wall. Tested as never before in our history, in God’s providence we survived that test; the spirit of the people, resolute, dedicated, burned like a bright flame, lit surely from those unseen fires which nothing can quench.
Now once more a supreme test has to be faced. This time, the challenge is not to fight to survive but to fight to win the final victory for the good cause. Once again what is demanded from us all is something more than courage and endurance; we need a revival of spirit, a new unconquerable resolve. After nearly five years of toil and suffering, we must renew that crusading impulse on which we entered the war and met its darkest hour. We and our Allies are sure that our fight is against evil and for a world in which goodness and honour may be the foundation of the life of men in every land.
That we may be worthily matched with this new summons of destiny, I desire solemnly to call my people to prayer and dedication. We are not unmindful of our own shortcomings, past and present. We shall ask not that God may do our will, but that we may be enabled to do the will of God: and we dare to believe that God has used our Nation and Empire as an instrument for fulfilling his high purpose.
I hope that throughout the present crisis of the liberation of Europe there may be offered up earnest, continuous and widespread prayer. We who remain in this land can most effectively enter into the sufferings of subjugated Europe by prayer, whereby we can fortify the determination of our sailors, soldiers and airmen who go forth to set the captives free.
The Queen joins with me in sending you this message. She well understands the anxieties and cares of our womenfolk at this time and she knows that many of them will find, as she does herself, fresh strength and comfort in such waiting upon God. She feels that many women will be glad in this way to keep vigil with their menfolk as they man the ships, storm the beaches and fill the skies.
At this historic moment surely not one of us is too busy, too young or too old to play a part in a nationwide, perchance a worldwide, vigil of prayer as the great crusade sets forth. If from every place of worship, from home and factory, from men and women of all ages and many races and occupations, our intercessions rise, then, please God, both now and in a future not remote, the predictions of an ancient Psalm may be fulfilled: “The Lord will give strength unto his people: the Lord will give his people the blessing of peace.”
President Roosevelt’s speech to the nation 6 June 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.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Prayer on D-Day Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/210815
