As of the third week of July, the siege in Marawi City has cost the lives of 39 innocent civilians and 100 gallant soldiers. Over 900 have been wounded since the fighting began.
Dr. Lucio Tan recently donated P2 million to Armed Forces of the Philippines soldiers who have been engaged in a monthlong battle in Marawi City. In his acceptance speech, the deputy chief of staff, Vice Adm. Narciso Vingson, said, “Perhaps, the most prayerful man is the soldier. He sets his mind and heart focused in the direction of the divine for he never would know when it is his time to go. And each passing moment that he realizes he is still alive, the soldier is most grateful to the Almighty for the life he enjoys thus far.”
Before conducting combat operations, I have seen soldiers pray for their families and loved ones. As each soldier prays for himself, he also prays for peace. General Douglas MacArthur said, “The soldier, above all others, prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
As the soldier keeps on fighting and praying, who prays for them?
It is said that, during the First World War, a British colonel ordered his men to recite Psalm 91 every day. Since his unit allegedly suffered little casualties, Psalm 91 became known as the Soldier’s Prayer. Accordingly, Psalm 91:2 says, “I will say of the Lord: He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” In verses 3 and 4, it speaks of saving them from the snares of the enemy and covering them in God’s wings. In verses 5 and 11, it asks God to give them peace during serious danger and to send angels to guard them.
I was not a prayerful person when I was in public service. I wish I were. In making the book, 7 Attributes of a Servant Leader in Public Service, I discovered that I could have acted with less fear if I reinforced my plans and actions with reflection and prayer, not only for myself but for others.
I should have met Gary Galvez much earlier in life so I could
appreciate the value of praying for others. He was an academic achiever, a gifted musician and an accomplished marketing executive. He earned his millions at a young age, but squandered all his money due to his vices, joined a violent gang as a teenager, fathered many children with different women and served time in prison for a drug offense. Gary even pretended to become a Christian just to show others that he has reformed. He eventually became a legitimate Christian and a pastor while in the National Bilibid Prison. He has countless of uplifting stories to share about the power of prayer. He reveals how God allowed a series of highs and lows to mold him into what he is now, but he gives so much credit to his prayerful wife. Gary’s conversion from a drug dependent to a pastor was made possible only through the prayers by his loved ones. In turn, such transformational prayer led Gary to always pray for others. Whenever we part ways, he would intercede and pray on my behalf as if he was my spokesman to God.
Author Harold Sala said intercession, praying for another, allows us “to accomplish what God wants rather than what you want done”. In 1 Timothy 2:1, the Bible tells us, “Therefore I exhort, first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men.” On July 7 the Pasa Lord Movement, composed of representatives from various faiths and denominations, including Catholics, Muslims, Protestants, Evangelicals and Charismatic Christians, initiated a prayer rally where over 1,000 people gathered in Quezon City to pray amid the crisis in Marawi City. Other groups around the country also prayed simultaneously at around 12 noon on that day. Lourdes “Bing” Pimentel, the movement’s founder, encouraged everyone, regardless of religion, to habitually pray for a minute every day at 12 noon until peace reigns in our country. During that Pasa Lord event, Gary Galvez sang in his rap music voice, “Halina’t pagsamahin pagyakapin ang kamay. Itapat sa puso mo at sa ami’y sumabay, Yumuko pumikit manalanging may pagasa. Lahat ng iyong problema sa Diyos na lang ipasa…. Ipasa Lord!”
Aside from praying for our loved ones, we must pray for the people who keep our country free and safe —the men and women in the AFP and Philippine National Police. Let’s intercede on their behalf, especially when they face fear and death in the battlefield. On top of Psalm 91, we can always refer to my favorite Psalm 23:4, which says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
To all the peace loving men and women in Marawi City and in the rest of our country, cast your fears to Him. Peace, man…Pasa Lord.