5 Prayers to pray in times of war
It only takes about two minutes of scrolling or flipping channels to recognize things just aren’t as they should be. The current events in Russia and Ukraine feel heavy and if you’re like us, it’s hard to know what to pray for sometimes. As we’ve watched things unfold in Ukraine over the last month, we too have struggled to know what to pray for. We pass this resource to you as an encouragement when you’re at a loss. We hope you pass it to a friend who needs the same!
Would God remove barriers to advance the gospel to the unreached, even in times of war!
1. Pray that God would use suffering to produce hope for believers
Lord, would you fill our brothers and sisters in Ukraine and Russia with the hope of the glory of God. Would their suffering produce perseverance? Would that perseverance produce deep character? And God, would you use that character to stand firm on the hope of glory that will never put them to shame?
2. Pray that God would soften the hearts of believers in war zones to love their enemies.
Lord, the world tells us to hate our enemies. The world tells us to repay evil with evil. But your way is higher. You tell us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, to bless those who curse, and to pray for those who mistreat us. Lord, would you empower our brothers and sisters in Ukraine and Russia to love their enemies deeply?
3. Pray that believers, despite suffering, would live faithful lives until the very end.
Lord, we recognize that many lives will be lost at war. Many lives have already been taken. Would you embolden our Christian brothers and sisters in Ukraine and Russia to live faithful lives to the very end? Would they see the promise of eternity with you and find it better than life? Would the gospel be quick on their lips and would you fill them with certainty that to live is Christ and to die is gain?
4. Pray that God would save the unreached in warzones.
Lord, we recognize that suffering can be used to draw people to you. We pray that you would use Ukrainian believers who have chosen to stay as powerful communicators of the gospel to the people they find themselves around. The gospel is the power of salvation for all who believe. We ask, Lord, that you would save many.
5. Pray that believers would remain confident in Christ
Lord, not a single sparrow will fall to the ground apart from you. Not a single hair on our heads are left uncounted by you. You know every detail and are in good control of all things. God we ask, that as our brothers and sisters in Ukraine and Russia are afflicted– in every way– we beg you to hold them fast. Would they be filled with great confidence in their life with you!