Target Iraq with Prayer
Pastor Mark Van Valin, West Morris St. FMC (Indianapolis, IN)

Last Tuesday, September 3, I tuned in to Paul Harvey, who reported that Secretary General Colin Powell was meeting with world leaders to discuss the looming conflict between the United States and Iraq. Harvey then closed his comments in a most unusual way for a broadcast journalist. He asked his listeners to pray for Colin Powell.

It caught me off guard. I kept driving, but I breathed a prayer for our leaders.

How should we pray?
How should Americans pray?
How should Christians pray?
How should Christian Americans pray?

America is becoming increasingly isolated from the rest of the world in its stance against Iraq. We are coming to be viewed as a bully, and with the anniversary of 9/11, our national pain and bitterness toward terrorism is revisited afresh. We are as vulnerable to our own reflex actions as we are toward terrorists from without. We must pray that our leaders show more restraint than ever.

Violence in a modern world knows no end. It never comes to the end of itself — it never cries "Enough!" Violence only breeds contempt — which in turn, spawns more violence. What should motivate the Christian? First, we know that vengeance has no place among citizens of God's kingdom. As Christians, we are to submit all vengeful inclinations to the Lord. Vengeance is not within the rights of the human race. Second, we know that American pride and special interests have no place of influence over the Christian. God loves the Iraqi people just as much as he loves Americans. They suffer in ways we can only imagine.

How should we pray? Without trying to sound like I am well-informed concerning all of the issues, I could still suggest two things. Try praying the way Jesus taught us to pray: First, pray that we be delivered from evil — both from within and from without. (I am not so sure that evil from without is as dangerous as that which comes from within.) Pray also that we be delivered from terrorists and threats to our national security, and from our proud "selves" — which sabotage our hearts and allow our minds to be led away from God. Second, pray for God's kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.

Would you agree with me on this: The only matter that has eternal significance is whether or not Iraqi people are more receptive to — or more entrenched against — the gospel of Jesus?

Will our actions as a nation open the door wider, or slam it shut? Will our nation's policies make Iraq (and the rest of the Arab world) more tender toward the gospel in the coming decade, or will they further alienate non-believers from Jesus? We must be careful to pray with eyes that see what God sees — and hearts that will what God wills. And we must pray that our nation's leaders — many of whom claim to follow Jesus — can do the same.