King George 6.6.1944 D.Day called All to pray

"For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory." - Deuteronomy 20:4

King George’s D-Day call to pray “continuously” inspired nations around the world to turn to God

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.
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