Pray that believers would smile at the future—even in devastation—because of who God is. Proverbs 31:25 describes snow in Jerusalem—an uncommon scene—but the so-called Proverbs 31 woman is not afraid. While she has made mittens for her family, that is not the source of her confidence. She can smile at the future because she knows the God who holds the future. Likewise, Habakkuk ends his book marveling at the destruction that will come upon Judah. The entire book is an example of how to pray for conflict. 

A ministry partner of mine in Ukraine asked me to encourage churches to pray for the situation in their country. He has been housing children in his church (they have a basement, so it is safer than the apartment buildings their families live in), and in the evening has been hosting prayer meeting for not only is congregation, but also for the parents who are leaving their children overnight in the church.

They have been following the prayer guide below. I’m not sure the origin of it, but I thought I’d pass it along here–the headings are the prayer guide, and text below is mine. If your church prays for Ukraine, feel free to use these points. Also, I hope as you read them you see that this is a helpful guide not just for praying during war time, but for praying for any trial or difficulty:

1. Thank God for who he is. (holy, sovereign, good, righteous, just)

While this is a good way to start any prayer, it is particularly important when faced with national trials, such as war and persecution. For example, in Acts 4:24 as the disciples were facing the church’s first persecution, they began by praying:

“Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘ Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’- for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.  And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness…”

Acts 4:24-29

There are other examples of this as well. The martyrs in Revelation 6 began their prayer with “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true…” (Revelation 6:10). There are dozens of other biblical examples of prayer during war and persecution that begin this way.

2. Pray that God would guard us from worry.

It is good, right, and expected that Christians would “have concern” for their families during war. But because of point #1 (God is holy, sovereign, and good), Jesus forbids us from worry (Matthew 6:31-34).

Read More