How dare we pray for peace... in a chaotic and violent world?
In this digital age the media brings horrific images, grim reports of wars and injustice right into our homes and into our pockets. As the people of God, how do we respond to the onslaught?
Either we allow our minds and our emotions to be touched by the tragic events - or we withdraw because it is too much to handle.
Thank God we have Jesus!
Because He is love itself, His response to evil was to forgive. This outrageous grace is the sole reason why we dare to pray. The cross shows us that God suffers alongside the victims of evil. The message from the church leaders of Bethlehem at Christmas 2023 was “If Jesus was born today, he’d be born under the rubble.” *
So how do we pray?
It is right to lament injustice and suffering. We weep with those who weep, Romans 12.25. But it is also our calling to know the Lord, to seek Him out, to listen for His secrets. The prophet Isaiah 53 paints a vivid picture of God’s Suffering Servant:
'Just as there were many who were appalled at him -
His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
And his form marred beyond human likeness -
So he will sprinkle many nations
And kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told they will see,
And what they have not heard, they will understand.'
Isaiah 52.13b -15
This passage (amongst many others) gives us courage to pray from a position of hope and victory. As we meditate on the suffering of God himself, we find that faith rises to pray for His good plans and purposes, even amidst the devastation and wickedness.
Yes, God is weeping over injustice and violence, especially when children and the vulnerable are the victims. But He is constantly at work - and invites us to join Him through the Holy Spirit, bringing the Kingdom to birth in time and place. If we spend time listening, we will catch the prayers and strategies of heaven and echo God’s heart.
Through (Jesus) God is reconciling to Himself all things…by making peace through His blood shed on the cross. Colossians 1.20.
Our mandate is always to pray from heaven’s perspective, not from any political standpoint. We must never take sides. After teaching us to love our enemies, Jesus said, “(God) is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.” Luke 6.35. It is only as we allow love to increase in us that we begin to pray as God does.
We may never know whether our prayers for global and geopolitical situations are effective - except that we sense the Holy Spirit’s peace as we pray, especially when we pray with others and open ourselves together to the Spirit’s leading. So let’s press in together.
Your Kingdom come O Lord, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
* https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/24/bethlehem-forlorn-christmas-manger-square
- Catherine Horton
Either we allow our minds and our emotions to be touched by the tragic events - or we withdraw because it is too much to handle.
Thank God we have Jesus!
Because He is love itself, His response to evil was to forgive. This outrageous grace is the sole reason why we dare to pray. The cross shows us that God suffers alongside the victims of evil. The message from the church leaders of Bethlehem at Christmas 2023 was “If Jesus was born today, he’d be born under the rubble.” *
So how do we pray?
It is right to lament injustice and suffering. We weep with those who weep, Romans 12.25. But it is also our calling to know the Lord, to seek Him out, to listen for His secrets. The prophet Isaiah 53 paints a vivid picture of God’s Suffering Servant:
'Just as there were many who were appalled at him -
His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
And his form marred beyond human likeness -
So he will sprinkle many nations
And kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told they will see,
And what they have not heard, they will understand.'
Isaiah 52.13b -15
This passage (amongst many others) gives us courage to pray from a position of hope and victory. As we meditate on the suffering of God himself, we find that faith rises to pray for His good plans and purposes, even amidst the devastation and wickedness.
Yes, God is weeping over injustice and violence, especially when children and the vulnerable are the victims. But He is constantly at work - and invites us to join Him through the Holy Spirit, bringing the Kingdom to birth in time and place. If we spend time listening, we will catch the prayers and strategies of heaven and echo God’s heart.
Through (Jesus) God is reconciling to Himself all things…by making peace through His blood shed on the cross. Colossians 1.20.
Our mandate is always to pray from heaven’s perspective, not from any political standpoint. We must never take sides. After teaching us to love our enemies, Jesus said, “(God) is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.” Luke 6.35. It is only as we allow love to increase in us that we begin to pray as God does.
We may never know whether our prayers for global and geopolitical situations are effective - except that we sense the Holy Spirit’s peace as we pray, especially when we pray with others and open ourselves together to the Spirit’s leading. So let’s press in together.
Your Kingdom come O Lord, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
* https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/24/bethlehem-forlorn-christmas-manger-square
- Catherine Horton
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