After Russia invaded Ukraine many people took to social media to express concern, anger, frustration, encouragement, and to spread hope. There was one person who posted this quote on their story and it struck me-
“Prayer is not the least we can do, it’s not even something we should do, but prayer is something we MUST do”.
Truthfully, I don’t know much about the situation. I do know it’s awful, for the Ukrainians and the Russians alike. Both countries have held protests, prayer services, and calls to worship because of the immense disruption to their lives and the sudden cast of fear over their country. It seems like dark times, it seems insensible, and again, we find ourselves looking at the future with uncertainty. Yes, it’s across the globe, but it has touched here as well- those in our military are suddenly on edge, and families are looking at yet saying another possible goodbye.
And yet, GOD IS SOVEREIGN! GOD IS GOOD, GOD IS OMNIPOTENT! GOD IS MIGHTY!
So as the church, we MUST enter this battle. We MUST pray. I’ve seen posts from people tied to Ukraine saying they will let us know what we can be praying for, but in the meantime, we cannot sit silent. We, as God’s people, as the beloved church of Christ, we MUST be praying. Not just during this momentary affliction, but at all times. The battle doesn’t stop, it won't be done when this war ends, it doesn’t take a break, it will not cease until Jesus returns. We have a high priest who has vanquished death, who was sent on our behalf to die on the cross, whose heart breaks because of the evil that is happening because he truly knows what it feels like to have a broken heart. He came to this fallen and dark place, loved those that were around him, felt deeply when people were hurt or killed, wept over friends, rejoiced over victories, and has NEVER stopped fighting for us.
So FIGHT church, put on the armor and FIGHT! Rise up and PRAY! There is POWER behind prayers. They are not empty words thrown out to the “universe” without an answer.
“When, however prayer makes us reach out to God, not on our own but on God’s terms, then prayer pulls us away from self-preoccupations, encourages us to leave familiar ground, and challenges us to enter into a new world which cannot be contained within the narrow boundaries of our mind or heart. Prayer, therefore, is a great adventure because the God with whom we enter into a new relationship is greater than we are and defies all our calculations and predictions.” -Henri Nouwen
This is our call to arms church! Pray without ceasing! Begin the great adventure that prayer will take you on with the amazing God we worship. So in these situations which seem hopeless, we are given a powerful gift, we have the limitless ability to communicate and cry out to the God who will defy all of what we can even begin to comprehend with how he answers our prayers.
“This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it- the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” -Jeremiah 33:2-3
THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD
By Cindy Goding
After Russia invaded Ukraine many people took to social media to express concern, anger, frustration, encouragement, and to spread hope. There was one person who posted this quote on their story and it struck me-
“Prayer is not the least we can do, it’s not even something we should do, but prayer is something we MUST do”.
Truthfully, I don’t know much about the situation. I do know it’s awful, for the Ukrainians and the Russians alike. Both countries have held protests, prayer services, and calls to worship because of the immense disruption to their lives and the sudden cast of fear over their country. It seems like dark times, it seems insensible, and again, we find ourselves looking at the future with uncertainty. Yes, it’s across the globe, but it has touched here as well- those in our military are suddenly on edge, and families are looking at yet saying another possible goodbye.
And yet, GOD IS SOVEREIGN! GOD IS GOOD, GOD IS OMNIPOTENT! GOD IS MIGHTY!
So as the church, we MUST enter this battle. We MUST pray. I’ve seen posts from people tied to Ukraine saying they will let us know what we can be praying for, but in the meantime, we cannot sit silent. We, as God’s people, as the beloved church of Christ, we MUST be praying. Not just during this momentary affliction, but at all times. The battle doesn’t stop, it won't be done when this war ends, it doesn’t take a break, it will not cease until Jesus returns. We have a high priest who has vanquished death, who was sent on our behalf to die on the cross, whose heart breaks because of the evil that is happening because he truly knows what it feels like to have a broken heart. He came to this fallen and dark place, loved those that were around him, felt deeply when people were hurt or killed, wept over friends, rejoiced over victories, and has NEVER stopped fighting for us.
So FIGHT church, put on the armor and FIGHT! Rise up and PRAY! There is POWER behind prayers. They are not empty words thrown out to the “universe” without an answer.
“When, however prayer makes us reach out to God, not on our own but on God’s terms, then prayer pulls us away from self-preoccupations, encourages us to leave familiar ground, and challenges us to enter into a new world which cannot be contained within the narrow boundaries of our mind or heart. Prayer, therefore, is a great adventure because the God with whom we enter into a new relationship is greater than we are and defies all our calculations and predictions.” -Henri Nouwen
This is our call to arms church! Pray without ceasing! Begin the great adventure that prayer will take you on with the amazing God we worship. So in these situations which seem hopeless, we are given a powerful gift, we have the limitless ability to communicate and cry out to the God who will defy all of what we can even begin to comprehend with how he answers our prayers.
“This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it- the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” -Jeremiah 33:2-3