Normandy Invasion, June 6th, 1944

   “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.” (Psalm 33:12, NKJV)

     This past June 6^th, 2024, we celebrated the 80^th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion, also know as Operation Overlord, or just D-Day. General Dwight Eisenhower (Ike) was the Supreme Allied Commander of the forces that marshalled in the English Channel that fateful day. The final decision to commence the battle rested totally on his shoulders to send the allied soldiers, sailors, and airmen who would fight, bleed, and many die to accomplish the greatest amphibious assault in the history of the world.

   The day before the battle this is the message Ike sent to his forces already enroute to kick off the battle on June 6^th, 1944: 

     “Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on the other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi Tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

    Your task will not be an easy one, your enemy is well trained well-equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely. But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground.

     Our home fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory! I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than victory!

   Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.”

Dwight D. Eisenhower

 

    I don’t know how much of a Christian General Eisenhower was, but I know that many godly men and women of Great Brittain, Canada, and the United States had been and continued to pray throughout the war for the Allied Forces to achieve victory over the Axis Forces of Germany and Japan that sought to enslave the rest of the world.  Ever since the Miraculous escape of the 350,000 British and French soldiers that were saved from Dunkirk in 1940, there were thousands of Christians in the Allied countries had cried out to God daily for God to intervene in the affairs of men. And as they prayed the Allies were able to win in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and in the Pacific Theater.

      The same Psalm that is at the top of the first page tells us just who oversees the affairs of men and who we can depend on when we face problems much smaller than the ones that faced Ike and his soldiers on that fateful day eighty years ago.

     “The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling, He looks On the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually He considers all their works. No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.” (Verses 13-17)

      Yes, the armed forces still had to fight the battles, but it was the Almighty God who allowed the Allies to eventually overcome the Nazi scourge and the Japanese Empire. The next verses of the Psalm gives us some great advice on how we can attack the battles we will have to fight in this fallen world.

        “Behold the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His Mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.” (Verses 18-22)

 

Pray

 

1.        Lord, help me to look only to You to help me with my problems and challenges in life. I know You are in charge and have a plan for me to prosper and serve You.

2.        Lord, I totally surrender my life and my desires to You and ask You to continually fill me with Your Spirit that I may be obedient to You leading always.

3.        Precious Jesus, I love you! Help me today to love You more and more with each passing day.