Elevated Friday, June 7th, 2019

Happy Elevated Friday! Today we highlight not a story of a single person making a difference, but of an incredibly brave and purposeful group of men who 75 years ago yesterday laid everything on the line in service of a higher calling. On June 6th, 1944, the Allied Forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France against the strategically advantaged Nazi German forces in what would become known as D-Day. Thousands of men died on that beach, and every single one of the men that stormed it did so not expecting to survive that day – let alone a few minutes on that beach. Such an impactful and history-changing day shows what happens when we value service over self. It is no small wonder why the generation that produced these men is known as the Greatest Generation.

What makes a person surrender any consideration for themselves in service of a higher calling? To answer that fully would require a complex answer, but in a word, it is faith. Faith in the fact that what you are doing will bring something positive in the future and faith that, even if you are not successful or complete the mission yourself, the others behind you will. It is often a lack of faith in ourselves, those around us, and in God himself that holds us back from pursuing the high callings of our lives. When we doubt that what we will do will make a difference, that others will take notice and join us, and that God will help us to accomplish what we set out to do, we decide that our calling is nothing but a dream. However, when our calling brings glory to God, God has promised to help us see it through. In Hebrews, Paul wrote, “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” A life worth living is one in service of a higher calling. Today, give thanks for the Greatest Generation and especially those who stormed the beaches on D-Day. Pray for guidance on how you can live your life in service of your God-inspired calling.

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” – Hebrews 6:10 NIV