Urgent Matters for Prayer
1 Timothy 2:1-7
1 First of all, therefore (in view of how Jesus saves even the worst sinners like Paul, 1 Tim1:12-20), I urge that requests,] prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, 2 even for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 Such prayer for all people is good and welcomed before God our Savior, 4 since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time. 7 For this reason, I was appointed a proclaimer and apostle—I am telling the truth; I am not lying—and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
We learn from Paul’s encouragement to pray that good government is the will of God. Good government ensures that people can lead peaceful and quiet lives wherever they live. When a nation is at peace, the conditions are right for sharing the Gospel with the citizens of that nation. But war brings instability, violence, and danger, jeopardizing the spread of the Gospel and God’s agenda for people to be saved.
The threat of war is at hand today and with it the potential that untold men, women, and children may suffer and die, and the spread of the Gospel may be hijacked. So, here are three issues to pray about as we prepare to worship together on Sunday.
Pray that the threat of nuclear war will be dissolved.
While we may have different feelings about the presence of nuclear weapons, the threat of using such enormous power is the reality of 2022. The leader of Russia gives evidence of potential mental instability. Despite the protest of his own countrymen and the actions of the world community against his policy of aggression, he has invaded his neighbor Ukraine. And he has the executive authority to use the arsenal of nuclear weapons when he feels the urge. The combination of mental instability and nuclear weapons raises the specter of war.
Pray that our Lord would paralyze Putin’s hand and stabilize his thinking, just as he throttled the mind of Nebuchadnezzar. Also, pray that if Putin does use nuclear weapons, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the President will pray and respond in the most effective manner possible.
Pray that Jesus, the Lord of all nations, would raise up prayer warriors and peacemakers within the Russian government and military.
The President of Russia is surrounded by an impenetrable security team. But there are men and women in the Russian government and military whose prayers and influence can penetrate that tight wall of security. Pray that those close to him, like Daniel was close to the Persian King, will have opportunities to reach out to him personally in a private moment, and become peacemakers in the midst of war makers.
Pray the entire population of Russia will hear the truth about what is really happening in Ukraine and will rise up in a mass, nation-wide protest.
The Russian government controls so much of the media that the people of Russian have been misled about the war in Ukraine. Pray that the truth of the war against its own neighbor will be aired clearly to all corners of the nation. Pray that the people will have courage to rise up together as a nation and send a powerful shout of protest to their President. Pray that he will respond to the pleas of his own people and that peace may reign.
Pray that someone in President Putin’s family whom he loves and has his ear (wife, siblings, parents, cousins, uncles and aunts, close friends) will have the opportunity, courage, and understanding to appeal to his better instincts. Pray that Putin will listen and be persuaded.
We are not powerless.
Brothers and sisters. We may feel powerless at this time. But we are not. We can pray with confidence because a mighty and faithful high priest, Jesus Christ, stands waiting to hear us, an all-knowing Holy Spirit can translate our puny prayers into powerful pleas, and an irresistible Father who is able to implement His will on the earth as we pray.
Song of Hope
O God our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the story blast,
And our eternal home.
Under the shadow of thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
Isaac Watts, 1719.