War Returns – How To Pray
Negotiations failed. No surprise there. The war will undoubtedly resume shortly. And we’re all headed to church. How do we pray about this?
There is a very famous scene in the movie “Patton” in which the general asks the chaplain to pray for good weather so that his campaign will succeed. The chaplain is hesitant thinking praying for the opportunity to kill people might not be inside God’s will. Patton rather comically assures him to the contrary and sure enough the prayer is successful.
I wrote early in the war that I did not think God was a pacifist, although I know there are many that do think that way.
What I do know is this – this is not war for war’s sake. This is a not a petty argument about which side of the river a border is on. This is a war against evil – and the world can afford nothing less than complete victory.
I find myself glad the negotiations broke down. I prayed they would succeed, but I fared a false success. You see the Islamists that are apparently still in charge to some limited extent are liars. I expected them to tell us everything we wanted to hear, everyone would relax and then a few months later we’d have to do this again.
So I am in a position to double-down on Patton’s chaplain’s dilemma. Not only do I want to pray for victory at war, I want to give thanks that a false peace did not happen. Am I somehow bad?
I don’t think so. You see, prayer is about us as much as it is God. God knows what we are thinking anyway – telling it to Him outright doesn’t actually change His plans. But it does give Him the opportunity to work on our desires. If I pray what I am thinking. God will either grant it, or change my mind. Likewise for the pacifist.
So pray what you are thinking this Sunday morning. Just remember others in church may disagree with you and God wants their prayers too.
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