We come before You with heavy hearts as war spreads and many lives are shaken. Many of David’s psalms called out to the Lord for protection, strength and victory against his enemies – we pray for divine peaceful intervention during this conflict. David trusted God and called upon the Lord to defend and scatter foes. We are confident that God also hears our prayers and is a fortress and deliverer of all humankind.
Psalm 140:6–8 (NIV):
I say to the LORD, “You are my God.”
Hear, LORD, my cry for mercy.
Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer,
you shield my head in the day of battle.
Do not grant the wicked their desires, LORD;
do not let their plans succeed.
We lift up in prayer the people of Iran, Israel, and the United States, and all nations touched by this conflict. We lift up the numerous other countries across the Middle East who have been caught up in strikes and retaliations: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Jordan, Yemen, Lebanon, Cyprus, Azerbaijan, and in the Indian Ocean.
You see every tear, every frightened child, every grieving parent, and every soul longing for peace in all these countries.
Lord, protect the innocent who are caught in the violence.
Shelter families hiding from bombs and fear.
Bring comfort to the wounded, strength to those who mourn, and hope to those who feel forgotten.
Grant wisdom and humility to leaders and decision-makers.
Break human will and fill each one with your love and wisdom.
Help them to see that you govern all humankind with goodness and, because of that, evil has no power or reign.
Turn hearts away from hatred and revenge, and guide them toward justice, mercy, and peace.
Where anger grows, plant gentleness and compassion.
Where destruction spreads, raise up healing.
Be near to the soldiers and those in danger.
Guard their lives and soften their hearts so that humanity is never lost in the midst of war.
God of all nations, remind us that every person – regardless of religion – is created in Your image and likeness.
Break the cycle of violence and open a path toward reconciliation and understanding.
With no end in sight, we offer prayers for the war in Ukraine and Russia.
We turn our thought to You, the one source of Life, Truth, and Love that embraces all humanity.
In the midst of conflict and fear, we affirm that Your presence is everywhere, guiding, protecting, and sustaining every one of Your children.
Where there is long-lasting war in this region, reveal the deeper reality of peace that comes from You.
Where there is historic hatred, uncover the truth of our shared spiritual origin.
Where hearts are heavy with grief throughout this part of world, let Your gentle comfort be felt.
We know that every person—of every nation, faith, and culture—lives within Your boundless care. You quiet our fears and lift our despair.
No border, language, or belief can divide what Your love holds together.
Your Love overcomes cruelty and oppression.
Awaken wisdom in leaders and let them finally come together with compassion for all people.
Help them – and all of us – see one another not as enemies, but as siblings in the one family of God.
Help us to have faith in You, instead of humankind, as your people endure the immediate outcome of these wars – as we face uncertain travel times, high gas/energy prices, interrupted trade routes for our necessities.
May the understanding of Your ever-present Love dissolve anger, calm violence, and inspire reconciliation in all wars of this world. We do not forget the conflicts in China and Taiwan, Israel and Palestine, DR Congo and Rwanda, Ethiopia and Eritrea, and Pakistan and Afghanistan. We pray for resolution of the internal conflicts in Mexico and Colombia driven by drug cartels. We pray for comfort to those affected by the violence in the Sahel Region of Africa (which spans across countries like Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, and Eritrea), and in Yemen.
Let peace begin in our thoughts and shine outward to bless the whole world.
In the assurance that Your goodness governs all creation, we rest in hope and trust.
And may the light of the Christ guide this troubled world toward healing.
We offer up in prayer for all struggles in the world today, this hymn* by Alan Gaunt, “We Pray for Peace.”
We pray for peace,
but not the easy peace
built on complacency
and not the truth of God.
We pray for real peace,
the peace God’s love alone can seal.
We pray for peace,
but not the cruel peace,
leaving God’s poor bereft
and dying in distress,
we pray for real peace,
enriching all the human race.
We pray for peace,
and not the evil peace,
defending unjust laws
and nursing prejudice,
but for the real peace
of justice, mercy, truth and love.
We pray for peace:
holy communion
with Christ our risen Lord
and every living thing;
God’s will fulfilled on earth
and all his creatures reconciled.
We pray for peace,
and for the sake of peace,
look to the risen Christ
who gives the grace we need,
to serve the cause of peace
and make our own self-sacrifice.
God, give us peace:
if you withdraw your love,
there is no peace for us
nor any hope of it.
With you to lead us on,
through death or tumult, peace will come.
Amen.
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*The words of this hymn have been set to several tunes. Here’s the version by David Barton: https://youtu.be/cTuz8KsZuU0?si=7a6RmeYVY9QUDhZC
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