When it comes to prayer, God doesn't see sides

​If you've been hanging out on social media the last several days, you've likely seen a wave of sentiments from people who are praying for the people of Ukraine.

And maybe, like me, you've wondered - is anyone praying for the people of Russia?

I mean, let's be real, the man who is trying to confiscate an entire country has long held in confiscation his own country. The brutal measures he's taking to claim ownership of another country, he has long used to retain ownership of his own country.

It's easy to break a war down to one side against another. It's easy to distribute prayers that way. But both sides have stories. Histories. And none of those histories include people who chose to be born into the situations they've been born into any more than your history or my history includes that choice.

Many of us are very privileged to be in a space of choosing who to pray for. The people in Ukraine AND Russia - they are all in a space today of desperately needing every prayer we might choose to offer on their behalves.

Prayer is an act of love. Jesus said we are to love everyone. He offered exactly zero exceptions to that command. So I suspect he is not only receiving, but longing to hear and join us in prayer for every single person in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

I find comfort in that. Because there are days when I could be labeled more worthy of prayer than others. There are days I could be labeled the bad guy easier than the good guy. Yet, God's longing for me has only one label: unconditional.

Which is how I think God wants us to pray for others: unconditional.

Father God, for every person in the Ukraine and Russia conflict who knows and feels your presence, may they find strength and feel
your love and our love in that presence today more than ever.

For every person who has never felt or known your presence, will you help them discover it? They need you.

For every person who knows you and has turned their back on you - like I surely have from time to time - draw them back to you. Back to you where they will find wisdom and love to guide their next steps.

Thank you God. Thank you for being the only source of unconditional love we have. Thank you for seeing there are not sides to our conflicts, but stories. Thank you for always being willing to meet us where we are in our stories.

With love. Unconditional.

Amen.