In the last few years there have been two horrendous conflicts that have moved the church to prayer, one has been the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the other has been the horrendous atrocity by Hamas on the 7th October followed by Israel’s response into Gaza. How can we pray well in such situations?
First, we want to pray in an informed way. Before we make specific petitions, it is important to think through what exactly it is that we are crying out for. If we were not already informed about the complex situation in Ukraine, post the breakup of the Soviet Union hopefully we are now after 2022. Similarly, recent events should have encouraged us to dig carefully both into ancient history and contemporary events to understand what has been happening in Gaza. We will also have needed to spend time ensuring we properly understood what the Bible has to say about this.
Secondly, the first thing that we should pray is to ask God to open our eyes so that we can see things from his perspective. This after all is the lesson of Revelation. What the risen Jesus does for John is to invite him into heaven’s throne room in order that he might get God’s perspective on the whole of history from the end. That’s what we need right now when it comes to Palestine and Israel. This is also what we see happen when people pray in the Old Testament. When Abraham pleads with God for Sodom and Gomorrah, it isn’t God’s mind that is changed through the prayer but Abraham’s perspective. We should ask God “What is it that you are doing in Israel and Gaza?” We should ask “What is your purpose and how is it being worked out through Putin’s actions?”
Thirdly, we should pray mindful that we want to move from faith to action. We should be making ourselves available for God’s purposes too. We should be asking “In what ways can I be the answer to these prayers.” Of course, we are not likely to be directly involved in bringing peace and justice. However, there are still things we can do. This might involve being ready to open your home to a refugee family if schemes like the Ukrainian one open up again. It could be sponsoring a Palestinian child through Compassion. Perhaps you will stand with those facing antisemitism, speak up for them, speak against evil. It may be that you will want to add your name to a petition or letter calling on Israel to act wisely and justly, within the letter and spirit of international law. Perhaps it will be about contacting someone directly who is caught up in this conflict to let them know they are not forgotten.
Fourthly, we should pray for the well-being of others. We will want to pray for our brothers and sisters particularly, for Palestinian and Jewish Christians as well as missionaries, church planters and medical workers in the wider Middle East. Our desire for peace is first of all for their safety. We also pray for peace out of wider compassion for all caught up in this horror.
Fifth, we pray for justice and right. We believe in the good and holy God. We long to see justice now as a foretaste of the just and peaceful new creation to come. It is right to want to see those who do evil brought to account in this life.
Sixthly, we pray for God to be glorified and praised. This means first that people are able to see God’s goodness, his justice, his compassion and mercy even in the midst of this conflict. It means particularly that people will turn to him as their only hope -both in the midst of the situation and here. So, we will pray that our brothers and sisters will keep going, will boldly proclaim the gospel as they live for Christ, we pray that people will become hungry for the good news. It also means that we pray for opportunities -and take them – to share the good news here as well.
Faithroots 