SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1199

“Pray For Ukraine”

Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! – Psalm 35:1

Today’s headlines read: War in Ukraine ‘could last for years,’ NATO chief says. To that we say, ‘But God…’

This devotional is dedicated to praying the Word of God in intercession for the people and nation of Ukraine. The power of prayer, when in concert and in agreement should not be underestimated. Prepare your hearts before Our Father and His Son, Our Lord, Jesus and join me in praying Psalm 9 for the Ukraine.

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

            Our Father in Heaven, we praise you and thank you that we can come before you through the sacrifice of Jesus, Your Son and our Lord and Savior. Incline your ear to hear our prayer and petition as we gather in agreement as Your children and make our petitions on behalf of the people and nation of Ukraine in the Name of Jesus.

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. – John 14:13

When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence. For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.

            Send the enemies of Ukraine back to where they came from, Lord. Confuse their communications and logistics – make them stumble and perish before Your holy presence and the presence of your angelic army. Maintain the cause of the people of the Ukraine and restore their nation.

You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished.

            Rebuke the Russian leadership, Lord. Bring them to an everlasting ruin that they would never oppress the innocent again. Protect the Russian people who are innocent of this egregious war effort against the Ukrainian people. May they rise up with boldness and power to stop their corrupt leaders.

But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness.

            We trust in Your righteous judgement, Lord. We worship You as Sovereign over all and we trust in Your perfect plan for the people of the Ukraine. We may not understand today why You allowed this war to happen, but we know that nothing happens that You have not allowed to happen.

We humbly ask Lord that You will bring this war to an abrupt end and free the people of the Ukraine from oppression. May they know it was by Your hand that they have been set free and their enemy is defeated. May they give You the glory as they, as one people turn their hearts to You and to Your Son, Jesus. May there be a mighty move of Your Holy Spirit across that nation and the world as You revive hardened hearts, and they acknowledge that You are Sovereign and sit enthroned forever.

The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

            Be a stronghold for the people of the Ukraine, Lord. May they seek You with undivided hearts. For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

            We praise You, Father and thank You for what You will do for the people of the Ukraine. Your Word tells us of Your mighty power and how You have delivered people from oppressors since time began. Be mindful of the Ukrainian people and hear the cry of the afflicted.

Be gracious to me, O Lord! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation.

            Father, we ask that You pour out Your grace and Holy Spirit anointing upon the people of the Ukraine. Lift them up from the gates of death that is before them because of the Russian oppressor. Repel the enemy, we ask in Jesus’ Name so that Your praises will be recounted in their streets and that there will be rejoicing in the salvation of the Lord.

The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.

            Thank You Lord for what You are about to do to free the people and nation of the Ukraine. May the Russian forces sink in their own pit and may they be snared in their own traps. Make Yourself known Lord and strike terror in the hearts of the enemy.

The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.

            Send the wicked oppressor back to where they came from, Lord. May they never rise up again to attack innocent peoples and nations.

For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.

            The people of the Ukraine are needy and poor, Lord. Move on the hearts of the nations of the world to come to their aid and bring them comfort. May the hope and trust of the Ukrainian people be in You, O Lord. May they know that it is by Your hand and by Your Spirit that they are comforted and set free from their enemy.

Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! Put them in fear, O Lord! Let the nations know that they are but men!

            Arise, Lord! We pray. We boldly ask that the enemy not prevail. Contend O Lord with the Russian nation that contends with innocent people. Show them Your power Lord. Show them that they are but men. Put the Russian forces and leadership in fear of You and turn them back and bring an end to this war. We ask on behalf of the Ukrainian people, in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted. O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more; for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory. – Psalm 10:12, 17, 18; Deuteronomy 20:4