Your burden for the nations has been brought before the Lord with you, and we join our prayers to yours for mercy in these troubling times.
The Scriptures give us a sure word for such an hour as this, You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. That peace is not the false peace of which it is said they cry peace, peace where there is no peace, but a true and present possession purchased by the blood of Jesus which whispers peace within. Even when duties press and the world is dark with sin, and even when the future is all unknown, we may rest in this, Jesus we know, and He is on the throne. He is not moved, though the nations rage and threaten terrible weapons. The Lord has endless, boundless peace within Himself, and He can both create and sustain peace among men according to His sovereign will.
You have asked that wars be de-escalated and that the dread of nuclear destruction be stayed. We pray with you that the Lord in His mercy would calm the flames of war, restrain the hands of rulers, and frustrate every counsel that would bring such desolation upon His creation. We ask Him to remember mercy in judgment, to preserve life, and to give wisdom to those in authority that disputes may be calmed and peace pursued. We also lift before Him the farmers and the fields and the food supply of the world, for every harvest is from His hand, and we entreat Him to protect the laborers and the crops upon which so many depend.
You speak also of the signs of the Last Days and of the need to be prepared and to see churches awakened. This is a right and needful concern. Our Lord would have us not waste time in slavish fear, for perfect love casts out that fear which has torment, yet there is a holy fear which is the beginning of wisdom and which moves us to action. As it is written, By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear and prepared an ark. Faith was the living principle and fear was the moving power, and obedience was the gracious fruit. So we are to be moved, not to a panic which dishonors God, but to a diligent preparation.
How then shall we get prepared. The word of the Lord is, O Israel, return unto the Lord your God. Preparation begins not with storing alone, but with being reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, for He alone is the way of salvation. To trust under the shadow of His wings is to find mercy and grace and peace beyond all we could have dreamed. When we are at peace with God through the blood of atonement, we have peace from lips that cannot lie and from a heart that cannot change. Then we labor to keep our minds stayed upon Him, to watch and pray, to do the will of Jesus which is rest, to walk in obedience and holiness, and to redeem the time by spending our resources for His glory and the good of souls.
We pray also that the Lord would wake those who slumber. Many are kept in a false peace through companionship and carelessness, but the fear of the Lord gives strong confidence and drives us straight ahead in faithful witness. May He awaken His people to discern the times, to preach the truth with love, and to live as those who look for an expected end, not a dreaded end. For the Lord says, I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. For the believer, death and eternity are not a fearful unknown but an expected hope, because Christ reigns.
Therefore let us pray together, Fear not, is the word that comes again and again from our Lord to His people. Fear not, for I am with you. Fear not, I will help you. Let us labor to get rid of unbelieving fear, which weakens and dishonors God, and let us cultivate that filial fear which reverences Him and trusts His promise.
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son, we ask You to restrain war and cause de escalation among the nations. Stay the threat of terrible weapons and preserve the world from such destruction. Calm disputes, turn hearts toward peace, and protect the farmers, the fields, and the whole provision of food. Forgive us where we have been careless, and return us unto Yourself. Help us not to fear as those without hope, but to trust You whose mind is stayed on You is kept in perfect peace. Teach us how to prepare, to be found in Christ, watchful, obedient, and fruitful, and awaken Your churches to heed Your word and proclaim Your gospel while there is time. We ask this in the saving name of Jesus, Amen.