Lord, 

I come to You brokenhearted. I come to You pleading.  I come to You knowing that You are the only One who is powerful enough to make significant changes in the heart of mankind. HELP!  Lord, please help. 

There is no one like You here on earth, under the earth, over the earth…no one like You in this galaxy…no one like You in all TWO TRILLION galaxies. You are powerful enough to exist even beyond all of that. You are so massive that the heavens are your throne and the earth is your footstool.

And so–with that knowledge in hand–we ask you to please have mercy.

Have mercy on the small children, trapped in Afghanistan. Trapped under Taliban rule. Trapped within their countries borders. Trapped under an oppressive rule.  Trapped in constant danger.  Trapped within the terror happening right now.  They say the eyes are the window to the soul, Lord, and each time we glimpse a picture of a small child on the news–their souls cry out through the screen. 

Bring salvation!  Please shield them, Father.  Please hold them in your arms.  Place a guard over their eyes.  Place a guard over their minds. Place a guard over their bodies.  Protect them from the wickedness and oppression surrounding them. Even as wickedness happens near them, please protect their innocence.  Please send your angels to create a shield around them that they would not be aware.  That when wickedness prevails, you would shelter them in an imaginative space in their mind that You create. That their innocence would be preserved. 

I plead for the nursing mothers, Lord.  Terrified for their lives, as they still go about providing daily sustenance for their vulnerable infants.  Terrified of what the future holds for themselves and their baby.  Terrified of what will happen to them or their child if the Taliban find a reason to enact terror on their family. Please show your mercy.  May they cry out to You in their hearts.  I pray that if any seeds of Truth have been planted in their minds in the past, that you would heavily water them and make them grow.  Show them how REAL You are.  Move their spirits deeply inside so they gravitate to You.

I plea for the terrified daddies, wondering how they will keep their family safe in the midst of the Taliban takeover. For those wondering how they can protect their wives and children…brothers and sisters…aunts and uncles.  Terrified for the future…toxic anxiety wracking their brains and bodies.  Lord, please be merciful.  You see them.  You know them.  Please draw them close to You…that they would know–beyond a shadow of a doubt–that you are a LOVING Father.  That you desire to protect them, even as they try to protect their earthly families.  That you desire to wrap them into your arms of safety. That you desire to keep watch over them under your protective wings. Let them know that you are Trustworthy. Have mercy.

I pray for all the vulnerable women and girls in Afghanistan.  I pray that You would teach them–deep in their spirits–of their worth.  That You have created them, and therefore You find them to be immensely valuable. That you have stitched them together in their’s mother’s womb with specific plans and purposes for their lives. That, as you formed their minds, You had a plan. That, as You formed their bodies, You had a plan. That, as You formed their spirits, You had a plan. That, as You formed their emotions, You had a plan. That, before You even formed one cell of their lungs, You saw every breath. That, before their lips were even formed, You knew every word that would ever proceed out of their mouths. Speak to them of Your plans for them.  Holy Spirit, please draw them deep into a close relationship with You. 

Lord, I plead for the Christians in Afghanistan.  We ask for supernatural protection over them.  We know they are particularly vulnerable to attacks and persecution right now.  We know you will be faithful in life as well as faithful in death. And yet, we also ask that you would preserve them here on this earth right now so they can minister during this difficult time.  Please place powerful and protecting warring angels around them and their families. Please give them boldness of faith to continue to offer the hope of Christ to all those around them who are terrified. Give them sound minds. Give them sound spirits.  Give them the supernatural peace that ONLY comes from basking in Your presence. Help them maintain an eternal perspective, even amidst their fear. May they never forget how You are described in Revelation….

You are the One with eyes like blazing fire…

You are the One with a face shining like the sun in all its brilliance…

You are the First and the Last…

You are the Living One…

You are the One who holds the seven stars and walks among the seven golden lampstands…

You are the One who died and rose Your OWNSELF back to life!…

You are the Son of God…

You are the One who is holy and true…

You are the One who holds the key of David…You are the one who opens doors that no one can shut…and shuts doors no one can open…

You are the Faithful and True God. Ruler of ALL of God’s creation…

You are the One who holds the Power…

You are the One to whom all creation must one day bow…

And so, Lord, PLEASE help in Afghanistan.  Strongly convict members of the Taliban that their deeds are wicked.  Speak straight to their spirits.  Directly communicate to them on a soul-level that they were created for SO much more than this. Only You are powerful enough to have immediate access to our minds, souls and spirits at a moment’s notice. Please intervene. You alone have the power to convict.

So many are deceived.  Many believe they are enacting ‘holiness’ in their terror, but they are being used by Satan…until he destroys them, too.  WAKE THEM UP, LORD.  We saw you speak to wicked kings repeatedly in Scripture.  Please, speak.  Draw them towards repentance.  

We see their faces on the news, and all we can do is stare into their eyes.  Eyes so full of hatred.  Their spirits must feel so deeply heavy. Speak to them in visions and dreams.  Warn them of their wickedness. Show them the path of life so they can choose differently. Cool their tempers.  Remind them of compassion. 

As young children—freshly born in the world–their innocence abounded.  Remind them of what it was to be loving. Remind them of what it meant to have care and compassion for their fellow man. Remind them of the pureness they once had. Remind them of what it felt like to be just a small little boy, eyes wide, taking in the world. Before the hardness set in.  Before bitterness took over. 

Send Your messengers to speak your truth.  Give the messengers boldness of speech.  Give Your messengers access to those Taliban members walking in darkness. Send your prophets to speak to their rulers.  Just as you sent Elijah to speak to the wicked king Ahab. Demonstrate Your supreme power, just as You did with the prophets of Baal before King Ahab.  Perform signs and wonders!

Bring justice for the oppressed.  Do what only You can do.  We need your intervention.  We need Your help. The people of Afghanistan are suffering.  Please show them that You are a real God to whom they can cry out. Lord, now is the time for tremendous spiritual growth. Please water the Gospel-planted seeds of the past now.  In the midst of the upheaval, show them just how real you are.  

Lord, give the people of the world a heart for Afghanistan.  Heal old wounds that have festered due to the ongoing war.  And help them see Afghans as a people-group dearly beloved by You.  That they are image-bearers of You as You are their Creator.  You designed each Afghan with gifts and talents.  May Believers around the world lift them up before your throne. 

We anxiously wait for the day when Revelation 7:9 comes to pass “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb….” 

Lord, we know that the Afghan people–who choose to believe upon Your Name–will be in that number.  Lord, we know that your Word says that it is your KINDNESS that draws people into repentance.  So, please demonstrate your kindness during this time. 

Demonstrate your kindness through Christian aid groups who help.  

Demonstrate your kindness through the Believers still in Afghanistan.  

Demonstrate your kindness as you speak to people’s spirits.  

Demonstrate your kindness in providing adequate food and shelter for those struggling. 

Demonstrate your kindness in providing safety for those in fear.  

Demonstrate your kindness through your Body of Christ.  And please use it all to draw those who have been far from You into repentance. 

We need your help, Lord. Please bring soul-rest to the country of Afghanistan.  To the people of Afghanistan.  Please bring your peace. 

We are pleading with You.

And when we don’t know what to pray–please fill in the gaps…  

May Your name be honored. May Your kingdom come. May YOUR will be done here on earth just as it is in heaven.  Give those in Afghanistan a healthy portion of what they need both for today, and for tomorrow.  Forgive their sins. Show them the way of forgiveness towards their own brothers and sisters.Protect them from Satan’s tricks and deceit so they may turn from his temptations.Deliver them from his wickedness.

For, at the end of it all, YOURS is the kingdom. And the power. And the glory. Forever and ever and ever and ever.

In Jesus’ Powerful, Unmatched, Undisputed, Unmatchable name,

AMEN

**FOR THOSE ASKING: YES, you have my FULL permission to pray this from your pulpits this Sunday, your small groups on Wednesdays, or any other day of the week….Pray it in your house and pray it in your cars…Pray it in groups and pray it alone. Pray it over and over. Let’s cry out to God together!!!!***