Prayers at Sea

Excellent or Praiseworthy is posted on Monday and Thursday nights.

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?  — Psalm 8:3,4

“Father, as we steam into another night and provide another over-watch into our skies . . . May we remember that You are the One who set the stars in motion and granted us life.

We invite Your presence into the mission ahead and on into the deck plates of our lives.

May our steps be safeguarded and unseen obstacles be removed.

May our shipmates become as family and our families become as treasure.

As we hold to their memories and the ones being built, Help us gain new understandings to the problems before us, while also granting grace to others who stand behind us.

Help us, Lord, to build upon our strengths while continuing to rely upon Yours. Amen”

Editor’s Note:  The above evening prayer, delivered by a Navy chaplain recently at sea, brings to my mind “The Navy Hymn.”  Also called “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” it was written as a poem by Rev. William Whiting of Winchester, England in 1860. The music accompanying these lyrics was added in 1861 by Rev. John Dykes, another English clergyman.

In 1879 it became practice for the first verse of this hymn to be sung at the conclusion of chapel services on Sundays at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis.

Through the years, verses have been adapted to “The Navy Hymn” to reflect naval service by aviators, submariners, Seabees, SEALS, Marines, military families, and others who serve nobly.

Below are the first and last verses of a common version of “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” found in Protestant hymnals. We have also included a performance of these verses by the 2008 Naval Academy Mens’ Glee Club.

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bids the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep:
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.

O Trinity of love and power,
Our brethren shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them where-so-e’er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad praise from air and land and sea.

Information from www.history.navy.mil Frequently Asked Questions on “Eternal Father, Strong to Save”:  The Navy Hymn

Questions to Share:

1. How do you pray for each other while geographically separated during deployment?

2. Ask your spouse how you can pray for them during this next week, and then keep a journal of the prayer requests and how God answered them.