Silas
Beloved of All
Your prayer for protection and mercy in a place of war is heard, and it is right to bring it to your heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. God delights to show mercy. His mercy endures forever, and He is looking for the opportunity to forgive and to restore when we come to Him with a humble heart.
When you pray for mercy, you are praying in the right way. Mercy means not receiving what we do deserve, and grace means receiving what we do not deserve. We never want to ask God for simple justice, for none of us could stand. We cry instead, have mercy upon me according to your tender mercies, and God in His sovereignty is free to have mercy upon whom He will have mercy. That is our hope, that He has chosen to be merciful to us in Christ, and that He invites us to keep asking for that mercy for those we love.
You also prayed about evil eyes not seeing your loved one. Scripture helps us here. When Proverbs speaks of one who has an evil eye, it is not talking about a superstition or a magical look that can put a curse on someone. There are many ideas in the world about warding off such a look, and even illustrations of people trying to stare down an opponent, but that is not what the Bible means. An evil eye in Scripture describes a person whose heart and outlook are set toward evil, a person who rejoices to do wrong. There is no power in a look itself to harm a child of God. What matters is that God sees and God protects. Commit that fear to the Lord and trust Him to be the keeper.
In times of war and violence the Bible gives us solid ground. It tells us to seek wise counsel, and that in a multitude of counselors there is safety. It also teaches us to pray, deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man, preserve me from the violent man who imagines mischief and gathers for war. God knows the reality of war and the cruelty of those who love violence. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, and to depart from evil brings health to the soul. Following after righteousness and mercy is the path that leads to life and honor, and when we bind mercy and truth to our hearts we find favor with God and with others.
Do not try to return evil for evil or to defend yourself in your own strength. Commit the matter to the Lord. If we try to defend ourselves, our defense is poor, but when we commit our cause to Him, He takes care of it in His perfect wisdom and justice. Continue to follow what is good, and as Jesus taught, be merciful as you have received mercy. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Let us pray together. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ we come to you and ask for your mercy and protection over this dear one in the midst of war. You are the God whose mercy endures forever, the one who alone does great wonders. Keep this person from the hands of the wicked and from the disaster that surrounds them. Let no evil purpose succeed against them. Guard them, preserve their life, and bring them into safety. Help those who love them to walk in righteousness, mercy and truth, to hate what is evil and to cling to what is good, trusting you as their refuge. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who alone is our salvation and peace. Amen.
When you pray for mercy, you are praying in the right way. Mercy means not receiving what we do deserve, and grace means receiving what we do not deserve. We never want to ask God for simple justice, for none of us could stand. We cry instead, have mercy upon me according to your tender mercies, and God in His sovereignty is free to have mercy upon whom He will have mercy. That is our hope, that He has chosen to be merciful to us in Christ, and that He invites us to keep asking for that mercy for those we love.
You also prayed about evil eyes not seeing your loved one. Scripture helps us here. When Proverbs speaks of one who has an evil eye, it is not talking about a superstition or a magical look that can put a curse on someone. There are many ideas in the world about warding off such a look, and even illustrations of people trying to stare down an opponent, but that is not what the Bible means. An evil eye in Scripture describes a person whose heart and outlook are set toward evil, a person who rejoices to do wrong. There is no power in a look itself to harm a child of God. What matters is that God sees and God protects. Commit that fear to the Lord and trust Him to be the keeper.
In times of war and violence the Bible gives us solid ground. It tells us to seek wise counsel, and that in a multitude of counselors there is safety. It also teaches us to pray, deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man, preserve me from the violent man who imagines mischief and gathers for war. God knows the reality of war and the cruelty of those who love violence. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, and to depart from evil brings health to the soul. Following after righteousness and mercy is the path that leads to life and honor, and when we bind mercy and truth to our hearts we find favor with God and with others.
Do not try to return evil for evil or to defend yourself in your own strength. Commit the matter to the Lord. If we try to defend ourselves, our defense is poor, but when we commit our cause to Him, He takes care of it in His perfect wisdom and justice. Continue to follow what is good, and as Jesus taught, be merciful as you have received mercy. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Let us pray together. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ we come to you and ask for your mercy and protection over this dear one in the midst of war. You are the God whose mercy endures forever, the one who alone does great wonders. Keep this person from the hands of the wicked and from the disaster that surrounds them. Let no evil purpose succeed against them. Guard them, preserve their life, and bring them into safety. Help those who love them to walk in righteousness, mercy and truth, to hate what is evil and to cling to what is good, trusting you as their refuge. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who alone is our salvation and peace. Amen.
