How the Bible Guides Our Prayers in Times of Global Conflict
Prayer
Audio By Carbonatix
By G. Dwayne McCrary, Crosswalk.com
Over the past few days, we have witnessed remarkable upheaval in the Middle East. Sales data indicate that times of war and uncertainty usually drive a spike in Bible sales as people look to the Bible for answers and hope. So how do we respond? How should the Bible inform our prayers? I want to take you on a journey that may help answer these questions.
Recognize the Brokenness of This World
The Old Testament prophet Joel begins his prophecy with a question. “Hear this, you elders listen, all you inhabitants of the land. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors?” (Joel 1:2). We are not the first to feel what we may be feeling, that we are seeing something that has never happened before. Joel expressed this feeling as he began his message to the people of Israel centuries ago.
Joel was reminding his readers that we live in a broken world. You likely knew that true before the events of March 1, 2026. We can try to blame others for this world being broken, including Adam and Eve for their actions in the Garden. But the truth is, we all contribute to the brokenness of this world every day. James put it this way in the New Testament: “What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from the passions that wage war within you? You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war” (James 4:1-2).
James was writing to believers facing persecution, not pagans. We have the same passions and should be grieved by our own actions just as much as we are grieved by the actions of those we consider to be pagans.
Hold on to Hope
Before we grow into despair, we need to go back to Joel. He followed his question to his readers with this statement: “Tell your children about it, and let your children tell their children, and their children the next generation.” (Joel 1:3). Joel expressed hope of a future generation that would not know the devastation faced at that time in the life of God’s people. A better day will come.
We see the same kind of hope in Paul’s words later to the Thessalonians, who were grieving the death of loved ones. “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Believers have hope for a better day—a day characterized by peace.
Pray for Peace
David expressed that same desire, calling on people to pray for peace in Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6). The rest of that psalm is a call to join David in worship of the one true God.
But what we see now reminds us that we live in a time when there are wars and rumors of wars. We should not be surprised. Jesus told us as much, calling the wars and rumors of wars birth pangs in this part of history (Matthew 24:6-8). He told His disciples of signs that point to His return throughout that chapter. The passage ends with a call to be watchful, to be faithful until He returns, and to be good stewards (Matthew 24:45-47).
We can certainly pray for both faithfulness and for Jesus to return. In fact, John ends Revelation voicing a prayer for the return. “He (Jesus) who testifies about these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone. Amen” (Revelation 22:20-21).
Share the Gospel
The last phrase in Revelation, “the grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone,” reminds us why Jesus has been held back from returning—grace. Peter reminded his readers that God does not want any to perish but that “all come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9-12). He explains that this is the reason Jesus is waiting.
This passage serves as a wake-up call for believers to be not only faithful to Jesus but also to be faithful in sharing the gospel with others. And to share with urgency.
Sharing the gospel is how we bring about peace in this broken world. The writer of Hebrews directed his readers to live lives of peace, pursuing it with passion (Hebrews 12:14). Paul called on the Romans to do the same, stating: “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord” (Romans 12:18-19).
Pray for Our Leaders
One way we can pursue peace is also by praying for our leaders. Paul wrote to Timothy:
First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Notice that Paul did not call on Timothy to pray for selected leaders, but all leaders.
Paul also echoed Peter’s teaching that God desires for everyone to come to Him through faith in Christ. The goal is not just peace but redemption of this broken world.
Check Your Motives
That brings us back to James 4. He included a warning we need to keep in mind. “You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:3). We need to check our motives when praying in response to world events.
So where does that leave us? We are to pray for peace, for comfort to those who are hurting, asking for the return of Jesus, that He will find us faithful, and that we will be urgently sharing Him with others. We can lift up world leaders, all world leaders, checking our motives to make sure our hearts are aligned with the heart of God.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/WANAN YOSSINGKUM
Dwayne McCrary is a manager of adult ongoing Bible studies for Lifeway, a church leader, and the author of Marked by Prayer.
