Praying for Ukraine
We’ve all seen horrific events on our news feeds in recent days. One day people walking free in the streets of the cities of Ukraine, and the next tanks moving in and bombs dropping. Civilians becoming soldiers, families and children sheltering underground. And as I record this, there’s talk of an increased escalation to the nuclear threat. The world has become a much scarier place than a few days ago.
Today I’m not going to say very
much, except to read some words from Psalm 46 in the Bible and say a short
prayer. If you are a praying person I hope that you can say Amen at the end.
These verses show that for God’s people there is ultimate security, and we need
not fear. In the Lord Jesus Christ we can find peace and safety. Do contact one
of the local churches if we can support you through this time.
1 God is our
refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth
give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Heavenly Father, we pray for this
war-torn world. We pray for wisdom for world leaders, we pray for a de-escalation
to the fighting and threats. We know that our own hearts contain the seeds of
disunity and fighting, and so we pray for your mercy and undeserved kindness to
us and to this troubled world. We pray especially for the people of Ukraine and
Russia that you will bring peace, and that all will find refuge in the Prince
of Peace, Jesus Christ. In his name we pray, Amen.
Followed by “Where is the Love” by The Black-Eyed
Peas.