The Evening Watch–More Devos from Chaps

Excellent or Praiseworthy is posted on Monday and Thursday nights.

Editor’s Note: Once again, we are honored to share some evening devotions which are written by a Navy chaplain for his crew members at sea.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” —  Psalm 46:10a

Day One—“The Evening Watch”

The evening watch is a unique time in our day’s routine. It is a time to pause in an otherwise busy day:

• For those rotating off, it offers the end of the day and a chance to reflect on the day’s events. Also to ponder or dream of what will come.
• For those rotating on, it offers a quieter time, as well as a time of greater vigilance. With it comes a longing for the new day.

It gives us all a chance to listen beyond the noise of the day. Here, in this quieter time, God offers a blessing in Psalm 46:10a, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Here, within our vigilance, we can learn that He is God.

Lord, As we push into the night and the new day dawns with a refreshing hope, May You grant our watches a clear view past the obstacles ahead. Grant our captains and their crews rest and renewal.

As our nation moves forward into our changing horizons and through new obstacles of its own, May Your ways and wisdom off set our obstacles known and unknown. Grant our leaders both remembrance and resolve.

As our families close in behind us, in thought and in time, may they know more of Your sustaining love. Grant them safety and Your over-watch, as we push into the night—that we all may rest easy on station. Amen.

Day Two—“Heritage Investments . . . More Than Just a Name”

As a chaplain, I appreciate the chance to learn the heritage of our nation from each of our ships that sail upon our waters. Some names reflect battles. Some names reflect heroes among those battles. Those are the names known for their influence as defenders who held the standards and values for which we strive.

DDG110 William P. Lawrence is a ship whose heritage is often overlooked as a passing hull number and then a name. We need to look deeper. VADM Lawrence, a former CO of VA 143’s Puking Dogs holds a rich Naval and individual heritage. He was a Hanoi Hilton POW for six years, and a trusted classmate of multiple presidential candidates. He was a Mercury Space Program pioneer and the first to reach Mach Two. However, the greatest impact is found within his family and the nation he loved so dearly. To him a name was more than a plate. It was someone else to invest in—for a greatness not yet achieved. No wonder he was entrusted with the responsibilities of the Naval Academy Superintendent.

Our deck plate journeys are not that different. Much can be discovered, if we reach beyond the hull numbers or the name tapes found around us. Their names belong to someone to invest in, just as someone invested in us.

Our Heavenly Father knows us as more than passing name tapes. Scripture says He knows us by name—even the numbers of hair on our heads!

Matthew 10:30 states that truth, “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

Luke 12:7 says, “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

Just as God knows us, He wants us to know Him. In Jeremiah 29:13, He says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Lord, tonight as we settle in and continue to sail upon these waters, we thank You for continually investing in our lives and navigating our loved ones into the safe harbor of Your heart. May we come to know more of You, as well as knowing more about those around us. May we find a richness of faith in each other and also embrace Your promise of love everlasting when we call upon Your name. Amen.

Day Three—“Sustainment: Hump Day + 1”

Sustained operations reflect the unique strength and abilities that our forward deployed armed forces are equipped to maintain. When our leaders lay out their exercise plans of air ops and schemes of maneuvers, the ability to engage a designated objective is always coupled with a follow-on life-giving plan to stay in the fight by refueling, reloading, and refitting that extends our range and resiliency.

As our sense of sustained operations continues and we cross into Hump Day + 1, pause with me for a moment and look over your shoulder into your deployment goals, relationships, and personal resiliency.

What are the strengths of your lifelines?  How well are you connected?

Psalm 55:22—“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.”

Isaiah 46:4b—“I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

Isaiah 50:4—“The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.”

Hebrews 1:3a—“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”

Lord, tonight as our mile markers click over to Hump Day + 1, we thank You for Your sustaining grace through the operations and watches of our lives. We thank You for Your offer of renewal in our lives.

As the pages of our calendar begin turning home, help us, Lord, to strengthen the bonds with our loved ones and with You.

May we also find Your grace in our steps and a strengthening among our lifelines to You and to those we need—as the pages of the calendar turn and we turn into the night. Amen.

Questions to Share:

1. When it is possible to “be still”, what does God say to you?

2. Which Scripture encourages you and sustains you during the demands of life?