Prayers for the world at large:

The world, once again, has been shaken up.  However, once again, this is not for the positive.  All across social media, news broadcasts, and personal conversations, one item has been brought up again and again and that is Russia attacking Ukraine.  This was devastating to watch, and many are just heartbroken.  As a teacher, I have gotten the opportunity to be a part of discussions with my students about the world at large.  My high school students are putting away the drama that is happening in their hallways and instead, looking at the problems that are affecting everyone in the world.  They are starting to look at many others and what they could be going through.  

This is a good reminder for us as Christians, that we have a role to play in a person’s life that we know across the street, but we also have a role to play in regards to our prayer life in the world at large.  If you are anything like me, then there are many times that you can feel very small.  The world has its problems, but there is no possible way that you can really, truly make a change in this big world.  You can’t as an individual person go to every single country, solve every life issue and problem, and/or teach every single person about the Lord.  However, we can all do our part.  The part that we can best do is spend in prayer.  We can spend time bringing our concerns to the Lord and speaking to other believers as a community of prayer warriors.  

I was already starting to process my role in this particular place that I have in the world, and how I can be a part of making it better when an event like this happens.  Then my church took a bit of time to talk at large about the events and to pray as a church.  There was a man who reminded us that the Lord doesn’t like war.  It is allowed to happen, and it would often happen in the Bible.  However, God desires peace and wants us as his followers to be his peacemakers throughout the world.  I at one time wrote a blog post about all the different beatitudes.  One of those beatitudes is “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” This is a good reminder that God himself is peace,  and when we are his followers, we are his peacemakers, and for that reason, we will be called children of God and really be blessed in his eternal peace.  

One reminder and comfort is in verse, 2 Corinthians 13:11, “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.”  This was a final greeting from Paul to the church in Corinth.  I believe that this verse is wonderful and really showcases that God has a desire to have peace in the world.  He has peace that we as his followers create wonderful restoration amongst everyone. This also showcases that Paul had complete faith in the Lord who also knew that the church had complete power to make a change and make peace throughout the world.  

When I was in college, my college ministry would take part in prayer for the nations on Saturday mornings.  We would go through the map, read about different nations, and then spend time in prayer.  Even though we knew that we couldn’t necessarily go to that country at the moment in time, preach the Gospel, help feed the poor with our physical hands, we knew that we at least had the ability to pray and bring our concerns to the God of the universe.  The one who has the complete ability to make all things go a particular way.  The one who cares more about the people of the world, than we ever could.  

That being said, I think the best way for me to end this blog post is to write down a prayer that I have been praying for Ukraine and the world at large.  My challenge for you this week is to spend some of your own time in prayer over this particular world event, as well as find other countries that you can pray for in your devotions.  

Dear Lord, 

Please be with the country of Ukraine.  Please be with the people and keep them as safe as possible.  Please be with the government and help them to make wise decisions during this difficult time. 

Lord, also please be with the government leaders of Russia.  Please open their heart to the possibility of peace and avoidance of war.  Please help them realize the pain and suffering that is happening to the world at large. 

Lastly, Lord please be with all of our anxieties.  I know there are many people who are nervous about what this means for the future of our world and what this means for war far amongst many many different people.  I pray that you are with everyone to ease their anxieties and their stresses.