Military jets and rockets are once again flying in the skies of the Middle East. As tens of thousands of Israelis retreat to bomb shelters to avoid physical danger, Christians need to remember the very real spiritual component to this battle. The root of this fight is the spirit of antichrist, and prayer is our best weapon.
Please join me in praying for safety for our military and wisdom for their leaders, for the Iranian people to be set free from four decades of oppression, and for the peace of Jerusalem:
Father, we pray for the young men and women who serve and stand watch on behalf of our freedom and liberties. We pray for their families and for the sacrifices they make. We lift them before You and ask for Your mercy. Send angels around them to protect them. Give them leaders with wisdom, compassion, courage, and boldness.
We pray for the Iranian people. They have lived with great oppression, under significant threat and intimidation, and with much violence. We pray that You would bring new freedom and liberty to them, that they may think, speak, and have unfettered access to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Lord, may what has been closed and dark be opened, and may the light come.
We pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We pray for the men, women, and children who are in shelters. Lord, bring peace and calm, and draw them toward the Prince of Peace.
We also pray for our administration as they make decisions. Give them hearts open to You and understanding beyond themselves, that our nation would make choices that bring Your blessings and not Your judgment.
Lord, continue to awaken Your church. May we not be co-opted by secularism, but may our hearts be guided by Your spirit and informed by Your Word. We thank You that we will see outcomes that only You could orchestrate. In Jesus’ name, amen.
In the beginning of my sermon on March 1, I spoke about the ancient spiritual aspects of the conflict in the Middle East and the ongoing hatred of the Jewish people. It’s not a new story—this week our Jewish sisters and brothers celebrate Purim, a holiday commemorating the courage of Queen Esther and the demise of the fifth century BC antisemite Haman, who wanted to destroy all the Jews in Persia, which is present-day Iran. You can watch the sermon here.
When we hear of wars and rumors of wars—before we turn to social media or the news—we should seek God’s perspective. Open your Bibles, read what God has to say, and then stop and pray.
The prayers of God’s people have the power to change the course of nations. Please continue to join me in praying often this week for our troops, the Iranian people, and the peace of Jerusalem.
— Pastor Allen Jackson