Photo – Hellenic Army General Staff

 

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled …”  – Matthew  24:6a,

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” – Philippians 4:6

• Pray for policy makers and military commanders that they will be guided by God and by truth.
• Pray for the sergeants and chiefs that they will be able to maintain discipline and morale.
• Pray for the soldiers, sailors, and airmen that they will be strengthened by God's grace and protected from harm.
• Pray that we will have our understanding of what God's blessing is tempered by God and accept His definition of His blessings to us.
• Pray for a minimum number of casualties on all sides and that civilian populations will be protected from harm.
• Pray for righteousness, justice, and peace and for the success of every righteous cause including an end to evil and that many will turn to God, for worldwide revival.
• Pray for our enemies that God will bless them. This is a non-negotiable command from Jesus. This includes praying that terrorists will voluntarily submit themselves before the bar of divine mercy and human justice and that they and others will be saved – this is what blessing ultimately means.
• Pray for the will of God to be done in every dimension of human affairs and for His Kingdom to come on earth as it is in Heaven, for repentance and forgiveness regarding our individual and corporate offenses against God and other human beings.
• Pray for oppressed people wherever they are to be liberated and dealt with in a just and merciful manner.
• Pray for comfort and healing for victims and their families and  for families that are sending their sons and daughters to war.
• Pray that we will hear whatever God may be saying to us in this hour.

In the Advent season, peace is on our hearts as we prepare to celebrate the welcoming of the Prince of Peace.  It is he who told us what to expect as we live in a world of turmoil and hostility:

• Do not be alarmed. These things will happen, but we are not abandoned or forgotten.
• Do not give up. Endure till the end.
• Keep spreading the good news of the Kingdom. There will come a day when all wars shall cease.

And remember to pray and work for peace.

As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. Then he asked them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."

 

When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"

 

Jesus answered them, "Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah!' and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs."

 

"Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold."

 

"But the one who endures to the end will be saved."