Update from Ukraine
As war wages in Ukraine there have been many people in the Soul community who have reached out to see how to best support our missions partners. The answer is simple, pray. Yesterday, while Russian military forces moved into Ukraine, Pastor Serhiy and Katherine gave birth to a son, Luka. Pastor Serhiy noted that “in English Luka means light, a sign of God’s hope, joy in these trouble days.” In the last few days, churches from the Russian/Ukrainian Assemblies of God (RUAOG) have been meeting together to worship and pray. They have asked that we join with them in petitioning God for peace. Here are a number of prayer points and written prayers that you can pray this week.
Pray for:
An end to this conflict and for peace to prevail
God to intervene in injustice
The health and protection of Pastor Serhiy, Katherine, baby Luka and family
The unity and safety of the RUAOG (and all other) churches
A prayer for Ukraine:
God our Father, King of all nations, we cry out to you for the people of Ukraine. Rescue the vulnerable from the hands of their enemies that they may live without fear before you for all their days.
Lord have mercy.
We cry out to you asking you to write another story. Thwart the dark intentions of evil men. Give wisdom to the peacemakers as they seek a less violent way.
Lord have mercy.
We pray for the church in Ukraine. Give our brothers and sisters courage that in crisis they may proclaim the good news of your kingdom, binding up the broken hearted and bringing your comfort to all who mourn.
Lord have mercy.
We pray for the church in Russia. May they shine like a city on a hill, pointing the people of their nation to the hope of Jesus Christ.
Lord have mercy.
Psalm 91 - A Prayer for Deliverance
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honour him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Psalm 44 — A Prayer for Deliverance, a Lament
1 We have heard it with our ears, O God; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago. 2 With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors; you crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish. 3 It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.
4 You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. 5 Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. 6 I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; 7 but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. 8 In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.
9 But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies. 10 You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us. 11 You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations. 12 You sold your people for a pittance, gaining nothing from their sale.
13 You have made us a reproach to our neighbours, the scorn and derision of those around us. 14 You have made us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us. 15 I live in disgrace all day long, and my face is covered with shame 16 at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.
17 All this came upon us, though we had not forgotten you; we had not been false to your covenant. 18 Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path. 19 But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals; you covered us over with deep darkness.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, 21 would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart? 22 Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
23 Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever. 24 Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?
25 We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.
26 Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love.