You will hear of wars, and you will hear rumors of wars, but you should not panic. It is inevitable, this violent breaking apart of the sinful world, but remember, the wars are not the end. The end is still unfolding. (Matthew 24:6 VOICE)
______
God, I feel like we’re supposed to pray for the war around Iran.
You are.
I guess I’m struggling to know how to pray. There are people claiming this is a holy war that you have set in motion. There are people claiming the attacks are illegal. There are many, many clamoring voices. Sometimes I wish I could see things as you see them, and then maybe they would make sense. On the other hand, I don’t have the capacity to see things as you see them.
No, Child. That’s not your role. You are not responsible for the whole world. You are responsible for your part in it.
Yes, Lord. I’ve been praying that every decision our nation’s leaders make will be completely aligned with the perfect will of the Lord Jesus Christ.
That’s a good way to say it.
Is there more I’m supposed to be praying?
I’ve heard your prayers for protection of the military members and comfort and peace for grieving families. Those things are good. Pray now out of the Lord’s Prayer.
“Your will be done?”
Yes. Ultimately, although I can work in and through anything, it’s easier for all of humanity if you do things my way the first time. If leaders’ hearts and minds are tender and able to listen to the direction my Spirit gives them, then things go better. If arrogance, pride, self-will, and one’s own religion or belief system are the motivating factors, things go downhill quickly. I AM all that you need – individually, as communities, and as nations. So, pray that MY will would be done in this.
Yes, Lord. There seem to be so many different angles to this situation. It’s like a ball of yarn that is so tangled you can’t tell which string goes where and how to get a usable string again.
There are many “strings” in this situation, but I see them all, I know them all, and I AM over it all. Do not fear the situation – remember how Jesus said there would be wars and rumors of wars before his return? But I say DO NOT FEAR. 365 times the Bible says DO NOT FEAR. Pray. Pray for wisdom for leaders. Pray for soft heartedness to prevail. Pray that MY will is be done and that this situation will be used for MY Kingdom purposes. If you stay focused on ME you will not fear, and you will pray what I need you to pray in this hour.
Yes, Abba.
_________
We praise you, Lord; it is pleasant and fitting to praise you! You are mighty in power and your understanding has no limit. You sustain the humble but cast the wicked to the ground. Today we pray that your will would be done in the war in Iran, and that there would be lasting peace in the Middle East.
We pray for political/military leaders of Iran. We pray that these radical Muslims would be visited supernaturally by Jesus and repent from intimidation and violence. We pray that their hearts would become surrendered to you so that they would seek peace and a stable solution for politics in the Middle East. And if they refuse to turn from evil, we pray that you will eliminate them from this world.
We pray for the Persian people in Iran and the diaspora around the world. We pray that you would strengthen and encourage them as they endure more danger and battles. Provide for their physical needs. And continue to grow your Church in that nation so that there are more and more followers of Jesus Christ. May the presence of your Spirit give them both spiritual freedom and hope for political freedom.
We pray for protection for our troops and others in harm’s way. We pray they would make wise choices, and that your angels would guard them from danger. We pray for comfort and peace for families and friends who have lost loved ones in this conflict.
We pray your discernment, wisdom, and knowledge would be upon our nation’s military leaders and decision makers. May every decision they make be completely aligned with the perfect will of the Lord Jesus Christ. We pray that each of their hearts be surrendered to you and only you – not their own arrogance, pride, self-will, or belief system. May they only say and do in this war what you need them to do – no more, no less.
God we cannot see this very complex situation from your perspective, but we pray for peace, nonetheless. In moments when a permanent peace seems impossible and nuclear attack inevitable, remind us that you are I AM and tell us to not fear. Help us to not listen to the voices of the media, politicians, or pundits, but to trust your good plans and purposes.
We pray for the peace of Jerusalem, Tehran, and every other city in the Middle East. We pray you would work in this situation for your Kingdom purposes and for the good of the Iranian people, the Middle East, and the world as a whole. We put our hope in your unfailing love.
We pray all this in Jesus’s name. AMEN.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you be secure.
May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels.”
For the sake of my family and friends,
I will say, “Peace be within you.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your prosperity. (Psalm 126:6-9 NIV)
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance…
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4, 7-8 NIV)
Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.
The Lord sustains the humble
but casts the wicked to the ground.
His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
the Lord delights in those who fear him,
who put their hope in his unfailing love. (Psalm 147:1, 5-6, 10-11 NIV)