Prayer is a Christian’s spiritual weapon. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says to “pray continually”. God wants Christians to pray, even when He knows what they’re going to ask.
No one knows this more than Igor Bandura, the current vice president of the Baptist Union of Ukraine, who says, “Prayer is our spiritual weapon. God can undo what politicians are planning.”
And with hundreds of thousands of Russian troops being massed at the Ukraine border, prayer is even more important. The lives of many people in Ukraine have been turned upside down, and many are now seeing that the things they depend on, as their government, might not be able to keep them safe.
But God can keep them safe, and missionaries in Ukraine know this. While some have left the country to continue mission work in other places, many have stayed behind, ready to offer advice and prayer whenever people need it.
As the situation becomes tenser, more and more people are beginning to turn to missionaries and other church leaders for guidance. In fact, many evangelicals are being elected in record numbers. Because of the shortage of good leaders, most honest and responsible politicians are Christians themselves.
Many of these electees are using their careers as ways to advance the values of Jesus and the church, working for both their faith and their people. While in America, this might be undesirable, as many Christian beliefs go against what the world says, the church is trusted by 63 percent of Ukraine’s population, second only to the army, trusted by 65 percent.
It’s interesting that Christianity seems to step in whenever a crisis is happening in the world. From nuns helping the sick during the Black Plague, to aiding Jews in World War Two, Christians have never been afraid to help those in need, even if those people don’t agree with them.
And Russia-backed separatists certainly do not agree with the evangelicals. The separatist leaders in Donbas, a region in south-eastern Ukraine, have placed strict rules, and many churches are illegal and unable to meet. Whole denominations are classed as extremists with no justification. Most Christian literature is banned, including translations of the Bible. Many church buildings have been seized by force, and the Christian University of Donetsk is currently occupied by soldiers.
But despite the rules and regulations, many pastors and other believers remain hopeful, certain in their faith that the Lord will ruin all of the wrongdoings of the evil one.
And He will. Exodus 14:14 says “The LORD will fight for you.” God is beside the Christians in Ukraine. He is beside the politicians in Russia, the United States, and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). All things will work together for good, for those called according to His purpose. God is ready to right for those who call upon His name.
Even though the Potter’s School scholars may not be in Ukraine, they can still plead to God on behalf of the people there. The LORD will hear your prayers and will respond. Prayer is a Christian’s spiritual weapon. So wield it.
Resources:
New International Version Bible