A Prayer for Our Battle with ISIS – A Message from the Nation of the Cross for those Who Shed Our Blood

Lord, teach us to pray.

You are sovereign over all the earth. You are the beginning and the end. Our times are no surprise to you and so we praise you that you are a strong tower, a fortress, a bulwark at which we may gather when all around there is turmoil, terror, and pain. Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ, hear our prayer.

There is terror on the earth and you know it better than we. Brothers and sisters we’ve never met, who live far from us, these loved ones are under siege by those who are at war, not with us, but with You.

This enemy doesn’t value life. They show no fear of You. And they multiply daily. These are ones who have fallen under the deception of the evil one. They are victims of the ancient dragon who has sought to destroy humanity since our creation. And so, for this enemy we pray that you would deliver them from deception, free them from the bondage of rebellion and slavery to evil, silence the voice of the enemy in their ears – make them deaf to his commands.

Instead, may your Holy Spirit be free to work within them to convict, to correct, to convert, and to make a clear path for Jesus into their hearts and minds. Assault them Lord with the truth. Wherever they turn, may they encounter the truth of Jesus Christ. It is our prayer that they would repent of their evil ways, turn to you, and see the salvation provided by Jesus Christ on the cross.

Until that day that they bow their knees to Jesus, we pray that you limit their destructive capabilities. Throw their forces into chaos, confuse their communication, cripple their weaponry. May their courage falter, may their ranks dwindle, may they be ensnared by their own traps. Paralyze their forces and render them impotent to carry out their plans. Lord, hear our prayer.

Teach us to pray for the believers in the path of the blade.

For these loved ones, we ask for protection, for mercy, and for a spectacular sense of your presence with them. Grant them peace that you will care for their loved ones. Grant them unusual courage and strength to persevere. Comfort them in the midst of their sorrow, their separation from home and community, and in hunger and pain.

Lord, hold their hearts and minds in your loving arms. Cradle them to yourself as they witness atrocity, as they endure the unimaginable, as their worlds spin out of control. Just as David heard your voice in the wilderness when he ran from King Saul, let these, your children, hear your voice in the face of their captors. Be swift to offer them mercy. Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, minister to the hearts of their loved ones. Provide for their basic needs when those who provided for them are taken captive or killed. Make the survivors deaf to the taunts of the evil one who would tempt them to bitterness or hatred or to turn from you. Make them resistant to the enemy’s attempts to tempt them to seek revenge. Help them to leave vengeance to you.

Quell their fears, Lord, and be the fire within them so their love does not grow cold in the face of such unbearable evil. Deliver them, Lord, from the path of destruction and grant them the joy of seeing their loved ones’ sacrifices bear fruit in that many hear their story and turn to you. May the enemy’s plan backfire, Lord, in that the blood of the martyrs bears the fruit of repentance in all who hear it told in every nation on the earth.

Lord, deliver us, your children who live far from this danger, those of us blessed with comfort, safety, and privilege, deliver us from complacency, mediocrity, and lazy faith. Galvanize us, Lord, not just to cry out against these crimes with our words but also with our actions. Incite us, Lord, to boldness in testifying to who you are, to greater fervor and faithfulness of worship, to active obedience to Your word, and to deeper love for those You love wherever we encounter them every moment of our day. Make us unafraid but rather make us joyful, hopeful, willing to live sacrificially, and energized in the face of persecution. Defend us against the hardening of our hearts, against doubt, against cynicism, against bloodlust, and against the weakness of hatred and revenge. Instead, make us more like Christ. Refine us through fire, fortify our faith through suffering, and inflame our love by letting us see Your face in the midst of these troublesome days. Open our eyes to see You at work, Lord, and let us be where You are.

You are our fortress. You are our stronghold. You are the Lord over all the earth and we await Your return with eager hearts. Finish Your work within us until the day of Your reappearance and enable us to bring You honor and glory until You come. You are God. You reign over all the earth. One day, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that You are God. Maranatha, Lord Jesus, come quickly, come.

In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. And all God’s people said, Amen.

I welcome all believers everywhere to pray and to share this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. May God have mercy on us all.