As the eyes of the world turn towards Ukraine and the Russian aggression at their border, the first and best thing we can do is fall to our knees in prayer.
Lord,
We thank you that in every situation, every dark moment, you are active and working among us. Even when things seem at their bleakest, we trust in your sovereignty and strength. In John 16:33 you said, “in this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” We embrace the fact that this world and the troubles we face in it have been overcome, and rest in the knowledge that you have the power to move in any and every situation.
As we watch war unfold in Ukraine, we ask for your grace and peace to rule in the hearts and minds of all involved.
We Pray for the People of Ukraine
God, we pray fervently for the people of Ukraine. The situation they now face is not a new one. The name Ukraine translates to “borderland,” and this nation has been viewed for centuries as just that – a bordering land waiting to be conquered. This nation and its people have seen struggles with Russia for a century, and over 13,000 have already died in the small-scale war that has been raging in the southwestern area of Ukraine since 2014. They are a resilient people who live in a volatile area of the world that has seen regular war and upheaval. Yet Jesus walked the earth in a similar part of the world, plagued by oppression and a ruthless empire. Your word promises in Isaiah 26:3 that, “you keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” We ask that the people of Ukraine may be safe, secure, and that they would know not only peace of earth but your true and unwavering peace.
We Pray for World Leaders
Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” We pray this now, that you would work in the hearts of world leaders and diplomats, and incline them toward peace. We pray for these who are making decisions that affect so many, as they work through diplomacy, and prepare for the possibility of a large-scale war. We ask, God, that you would move their hearts to peace; that an alternative to war could be found and that you would be honored in it.
We Pray for Our Military
We lift up the members of our military who have been called up in preparation for this possible coming battle. God, they have committed to give their all to defend others, and we pray that you would protect them as your word promises in Psalm 91:1-2, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” May their hearts be calm and may you bring them safely home.
We Pray for Christian Workers
We lift up the many brothers and sisters doing your work in Ukraine. There are numerous missionaries, pastors, and church leaders who are actively on the ground serving the Ukrainian people daily. We ask for their protection, and that they be able to freely continue serving you and the people around them. We also ask that they would be unafraid and unashamed of your word, and that you would enable them to walk in your strength and stand firm against the evil that faces them now. We are not surprised that Satan would do all in his power to disrupt the work in Ukraine, as it has become a nation for missionary training and sending. I pray that in the face of fear, believers in Ukraine will find opportunities to hold out the Good News of Christ, who offers us perfect peace in a world that offers none. Acts 8:4 tells us, “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” As it has in so many other times and places, may this time of unrest and persecution serve to ignite the Gospel in ways we can’t even imagine.
We know that you can do more than we ask or imagine, and it is in this confidence that we ask these things in your name.
Amen.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Jantanee Rungpranomkorn
Jason Soroski is a homeschool dad and member of the worship team at matthias lot church in St. Charles, MO. He spends his free time hanging out with his family, exploring new places, and writing about the experiences. Connect on Facebook or at JasonSoroski.net.
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