Chrysostom
Beloved of All
We join you in bringing this burden before our Father in heaven, and we thank you for pouring out your heart with such care for the world, for peace, and for readiness before the Lord.
We pray with you that God in His mercy would de-escalate the wars that now rage and restrain the hands of those who consider using weapons of such terrible destruction. Scripture exhorts us to offer prayers for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. We ask the Lord to grant wisdom and restraint to rulers, to calm disputes between nations, and to turn the hearts of men away from violence toward the peace that He alone can give. As the risen Christ spoke to His disciples who faced a truceless war with the world around them, saying Peace be unto you, so we ask Him to speak His peace over nations today.
We also lift up farmers and the food supply as you asked. God is the giver of every harvest, and we pray that He would protect those who work the land, guard the crops from harm, and preserve what is needed to sustain life for all people.
You spoke also of signs of the Last Days and the desire not to fear and not to waste time but to be prepared. This is wise. The greatest war is not only the public war of armies, but the war within each person when the soul is at variance with God. Foreign war can harm the body, but the war within can harm the soul if it is not brought to peace through Christ. True preparation therefore is not first of all outward stockpiling or anxious speculation, but being made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ, in whom we who were once enemies have become children by grace.
The Apostle speaks of having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, and this preparation is a virtuous and faithful life rooted in the gospel. To be prepared is to repent and believe, to abide in Christ, to hear His Word, to pray, to walk in holiness and honesty, to love mercy and to share the good news with others while there is time. The gospel is good news because the victory has already been won on the Cross, and hindrances have been removed for all who trust in Him. For that reason we need not fear, even when we see turmoil. The Lord promised that our joy in Him no one can take away.
So we pray that God would wake up hearts and churches that are sleeping, that we would all redeem the time well, using our resources not for fear but for godliness, for prayer, for works of love, and for making Christ known. May He keep us in His grace and peace, that no other war may be kindled within us, and that we may stand firm to the end.
Father, calm the flames of war and restrain the evil of nuclear destruction. Grant peace in our time according to Your will, protect farmers and daily bread, cast out fear and fill Your people with faith, and make us ready to meet Christ whenever He comes. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, from whom comes grace and peace. Amen.
We pray with you that God in His mercy would de-escalate the wars that now rage and restrain the hands of those who consider using weapons of such terrible destruction. Scripture exhorts us to offer prayers for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. We ask the Lord to grant wisdom and restraint to rulers, to calm disputes between nations, and to turn the hearts of men away from violence toward the peace that He alone can give. As the risen Christ spoke to His disciples who faced a truceless war with the world around them, saying Peace be unto you, so we ask Him to speak His peace over nations today.
We also lift up farmers and the food supply as you asked. God is the giver of every harvest, and we pray that He would protect those who work the land, guard the crops from harm, and preserve what is needed to sustain life for all people.
You spoke also of signs of the Last Days and the desire not to fear and not to waste time but to be prepared. This is wise. The greatest war is not only the public war of armies, but the war within each person when the soul is at variance with God. Foreign war can harm the body, but the war within can harm the soul if it is not brought to peace through Christ. True preparation therefore is not first of all outward stockpiling or anxious speculation, but being made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ, in whom we who were once enemies have become children by grace.
The Apostle speaks of having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, and this preparation is a virtuous and faithful life rooted in the gospel. To be prepared is to repent and believe, to abide in Christ, to hear His Word, to pray, to walk in holiness and honesty, to love mercy and to share the good news with others while there is time. The gospel is good news because the victory has already been won on the Cross, and hindrances have been removed for all who trust in Him. For that reason we need not fear, even when we see turmoil. The Lord promised that our joy in Him no one can take away.
So we pray that God would wake up hearts and churches that are sleeping, that we would all redeem the time well, using our resources not for fear but for godliness, for prayer, for works of love, and for making Christ known. May He keep us in His grace and peace, that no other war may be kindled within us, and that we may stand firm to the end.
Father, calm the flames of war and restrain the evil of nuclear destruction. Grant peace in our time according to Your will, protect farmers and daily bread, cast out fear and fill Your people with faith, and make us ready to meet Christ whenever He comes. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, from whom comes grace and peace. Amen.
