Richard Renouf provides some practical pointers
Be still
Allow time to listen for what God has to say to you.
Be specific
Pray for people and situations you have heard about. Don’t allow the whole situation to overwhelm your thinking and cause despair.
Be aware
Check out any reports that you hear, especially mis-information on social media, etc. Don’t assume it to be the whole truth.
Be scriptural
The Bible tells us to pray for our enemies and not to be judgemental. There is much we don’t know, including the mind of President Putin and the hearts of the Russian soldiers. Our nation is not blameless.
Use the words of others if this is helpful
Use the Psalms – Psalm 31 and Psalm 46, for example.
Use the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6 v 9-13).
Use the prayer written by the Archbishops or other published prayers if you find these helpful.
Be balanced
There are many other situations going on across the world where people are suffering (Afghanistan, Yemen, Tigray, Myanmar, etc). Don’t neglect to pray for these, or for other needs that you are aware of.
Be prepared
Jesus told us there will be wars and rumours of wars as the end approaches, but we must remain faithful. Ask God to prepare you for whatever may lie ahead.
A prayer for Ukraine …..
God of peace and justice,
We pray for the people of Ukraine today.
We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.
We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that Your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.
We pray for those with power over war or peace. For wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions.
Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at-risk and in fear, that You would hold and protect them.
We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Amen (Archbishops of Canterbury and York)
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Here Richard Renouf provides an extended video comment on praying for the Ukraine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEK_xXiWGcE
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Richard Renouf worships and serves in a Cambridgeshire, UK, church.
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