We pray for God’s justice in the world; only with God’s justice can there be God’s peace, the peace that passes understanding.
Here is a prayer shared with us by a Palestinian Christian:
Oh Lord, our refuge and strength,
particularly in times of trouble
rekindle our hope amidst all the hatred, violence, death and destruction.
The night is dark and heavy,
but you are our light amidst our hopelessness and misery.
Help us to offer this light to others,
to dissipate this increasing darkness.
Hold us in your hands, Lord; have mercy on us and grant us peace.
Amen.
And a prayer for Ukraine, also from Sam Wells.
O God of peace, your prophet Isaiah promised
Swords would be turned into ploughshares,
And your son’s mother proclaimed
The mighty would be put down, and the humble exalted.
Visit the people of Ukraine, deliver them from fear, violence,
Attack, injury, destruction, death,
And give them courage, solidarity and allies
In their hour of vulnerability and sorrow.
Turn the hearts of those bent on war and invasion.
Strengthen the hands of all seeking to halt conflict,
Restore order, pursue justice,
And make this moment of peril an occasion for your Holy Spirit to
To show your world the cost of conflict and our dependence on one another
In Christ our Lord, who went to his death because of our hatred and rose
Because our hatred is never stronger than your indomitable love.
Amen
Pray too for Christians in oppressive regimes; that the power of the Holy Spirit may be on them to bring what spiritual sustenance and comfort they need. May the spirit come like the oxygen which blows the glowing embers into a bright light, and may each light join with others so that the darkness is banished.
Here is a prayer written by Pope John Paul when he was still a Bishop in Poland under the communist regime:
May its light scatter the darkness,
May its flame be a symbol of hope,
May its burning be a sign of faith,
Joining with many other lights for peace.
We light this candle for peace.
May our lives be an expression of peace-making,
May we seek to be lights in a dark world,
Pointing to you, Lord Jesus, the Prince of Peace,
And following you in the way of Peace.
Let this candle burn as a sign of peace
Offered to you.
There are many other things we could pray for: ask God to show you.