Is it time to relax on praying for an end to wars and evil content in life?

Is it time to relax on praying for an end to wars and evil content in life?

First of all the Lord never said to ease up on seeking God’s help in times of need; ”Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus .  Do not despise prophetic utterances.  Test everything, retain what is good.  Refrain from every kind of evil.”  (1 Thes 5: 16 - 22).  The words of St. Paul about remaining vigilant in seeking God through Christ for all things.  

Jesus also told his disciples, “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that my Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.”  (JN 14: 13 - 14).  We can never relax on finding within our lives assistance from God no matter how large or small that the needs are.  

Hebrews tells us Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.   The very words inscribed as the Easter candle are prepared for the Easter vigil.  We know through scripture and the very ministry of Jesus that we are to pray as in the Our Father prayer.  “When you pray, say; Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.  Give us each our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”  (Lk 11: 1 - 4).

A shortened view of that prayer from what we use in our daily form of it.  However, it is right to the point and shows us that prayer need not be any particular set of phrases in order to get God’s attention.  Pray from the heart in your own words asking God for his favor on us.  That is all we need to call on our Father as Jesus recommended.  Remember the definition of prayer is getting in touch with God, as like a phone call to your father and finding a welcoming voice answering your needs of this day, or at any time you’re in trouble.  “Be with me Lord when I am in trouble, be with me Lord I pray.”  (see Ps 91).

As we enter this new year, 2024, are we in trouble?  Without a doubt the whole world is sitting on too many global conflicts that either are in motion or about to explode somewhere on this planet.   With unsettled nations ready to aim nuclear warheads at Israel and the United States, it isn’t a question of if, but when.  Are we ready for this final exclusion of humanity?  

After 9/11 our churches were full and out of the woodwork emerged people of all faiths who prayed to God and became committed to his mercy finding the will to seek forgiveness on all involved.  Thirteen years later where have all the praying souls gone?  The dangers that these enemies of peace hold dear to their quest of world domination are not over.  We can pray for our daily bread, but do not forget to pray for peace that can only come from many voices around the world collectively seeking God’s intervention.   Our blessed Lord will hear us, if enough faithful will pray.  Remember in Genesis when Abraham asked the Lord to spare the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah if there were good people living there.  From the number of fifty to just 10 just people the Lord said for the sake of the ten I will spare their destruction.  Not even ten just people who believed could be found.  In our own time in history will there be enough among 8 billion people on this planet that the Lord will spare this planet a nuclear satellite of destruction?  

Only time will tell and our closest prayers will be heard.  Will they be enough or close enough to overcome the free will of so many evil intentions that are Satan’s way of laughing at God as he pushes the destruction of humanity, governments and the church into oblivion?  Perhaps the resolutions of many people should be for God to intervene in our salvageable world!

Ralph B. Hathaway