The Patriot Post® · 4 Ways Christians Can Pray for the Situation in Iran
By Joshua Arnold
America’s ongoing military campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran affects not only Iranians, but Americans too. U.S. Christians, in particular, have a role to play in bringing their petitions before the throne of grace. “This is where the Church has a distinct and indispensable role — to stand in prayer, to seek God’s wisdom and protection, and to engage the battle in the heavenlies with spiritual discernment and steadfast faith,” declared FRC President Tony Perkins.
But what should Christians pray? The answer to that question is all the more important amid momentous global changes that leave our heads spinning. The good news is, God has provided a timeless source of guidance on what to pray for in his word. Bible-believing Christians can agree in prayer by simply praying as the Bible directs us. At my church’s Sunday evening prayer meeting, we prayed corporately for four aspects of the situation in Iran. I believe all four aspects have biblical warrant, and so I share them now with you.
- Pray for America’s Leaders
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions,” writes Paul, “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
The Apostle Paul commands the church to pray for government leaders, who are outside the church, in order that Christians may “lead a peaceful and quiet life.” Here, Paul is not endorsing pacificism or the utter avoidance of war at any cost — sometimes wars are necessary — but he does recognize that the church of Jesus Christ benefits when civil authorities maintain (or restore) international peace and internal order.
Thus, Christians can pray for not only President Donald Trump, but also other leaders — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, military commanders, members of Congress — that their actions would bring about a just and swift conclusion to this conflict.
But should not Christians concern themselves solely with the advancement of God’s kingdom? Paul continues, “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4). When governing officials fulfill the duties of their office well, God providentially works that for the advancement of the gospel.
Christians can also pray that God will providentially give our governing leaders wisdom. After all, we pray to the God who “changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding” (Daniel 2:21).
“We must pray for our leaders,” Perkins urged. “I believe President Trump made the right decision. Still, there is more unfolding than what appears on the surface. The days ahead may be complex and demanding.”
In comments on “Washington Watch,” he added, “nations that God uses, they need to be used with humility, looking to God and not with arrogance, because we’ve seen … what has happened historically to nations that have not displayed mercy and gone beyond what God had called them to do.”
Through the prophet Isaiah, God pronounced, “Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury! Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few” (Isaiah 10:5-7).
As a result, God announced, “When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes” (Isaiah 10:12). May America’s leaders respond with more humility and so meet a different fate.
“We may boast in our chariots and our horses, so to speak, but as a nation that is founded upon Judeo-Christian worldview values, that means we appreciate the spiritual realm more,” advised Pastor Jack Hibbs on “Washington Watch.” “I am grateful also for the military and for Trump’s leadership. That said, we need to tread right now with humility. I get a little nervous when we start popping the cork, so to speak, too soon about how great we are and all that. We need to be talking about how great our God is.”
- Pray for America’s Soldiers
Secondly, Christians can pray for America’s soldiers, those who put their own lives at risk to secure the safety and freedom of those of us who remain at home. Scripture presents military service as a legitimate career path in Luke 3:14, when repentant soldiers (presumably in the Roman army) ask John the Baptist what repentance should look like for them. Instead of telling them to get out of the military, John tells them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14).
Likewise, Christians should pray that our troops act morally — that they would not target innocent civilians, oppress the weak, or use their position for unjust gain.
Additionally, Christians should also pray for the safety of our troops. Scripture teaches clearly that every human life is imbued with value through the image of God reflected in it. This results in a concern for the preservation of human life, even in the context of soldiers at war. As Abner entreats Joab during ancient Israel’s civil war, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you tell your people to turn from the pursuit of their brothers?” (2 Samuel 2:26).
- Pray for Iranian Christians
Every Christian lives in a particular nation under particular leaders because that is simply how God created the world (Acts 17:26). Yet Christians should be concerned beyond the borders of our own nation because “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). That more fundamental bond of heavenly citizenship is one we share with “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” (Revelation 7:9).
That includes Christians in Iran, who endure intense persecution under a regime so anti-Christian that a false religion is in its very name. In the first century, the Lord Jesus directed the Apostle John to tell the saints in Smyrna, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).
We should pray the same thing for the Christians in Iran suffering similar tribulation. May they be faithful even to death, that they may receive the crown of eternal life.
Even more, may their faithful testimony be a witness that ignites a fire of the Spirit in that dark and ancient land. As Pastor Hibbs said, “Let’s pray for 93 million people [the entire population of Iran] to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus.”
- Pray for the Iranian People
But, while Iranian believers should have priority in our international attentions, we should set our sights in prayer further still. “As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith,” Paul writes (Galatians 6:10). This was his application following the encouragement, “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
Since the Carter administration, the Iranian people have lived under a repressive regime radicalized by a false religion. The Islamic Republic of Iran cares less about the welfare of its people than the destruction of Israel and the United States — especially by means of conventional and nuclear missiles.
Living under such a government is not good for the people of Iran. Much ink has been spilt over the wisdom and merit of the U.S. government seeking regime change in a Middle Eastern country by means of military force. While that is a legitimate debate, few would dare to argue that the Iranian people are better off under their current government than under a democratic regime of their own choosing — or even under the heir of the late Shah.
Proverbs illustrates the principles at play here. “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan” (Proverbs 29:2), and “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).
Thus, Christians have solid biblical ground to pray for the God who sets up kings and removes kings to give the Iranian people a government that rules righteously, or at least one that avoids great wickedness and oppression. This prayer would apply either to a reformed version of the current regime or an entirely new one.
“Throughout Scripture, God shows the underdog winning — like David against Goliath,” Hibbs reflected, “because David was dependent upon God.” But, he added, “it doesn’t mean that a Goliath can’t fall on his knees and repent. There’s nothing wrong with being a giant that knows the Lord.”
“How does God establish his authority in the earth? Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Darius. How did he do it? He uses nations to set up his authority, and he uses nations to judge other nations. And he could be using right now Israel and America to judge the sin of Iran, or at least the Islamic leadership,” said Hibbs. “As believers, I think we should be rooting for righteousness, not so much victory. … Because without righteousness, there cannot be a revival in the church. Without righteousness, there cannot be a beautiful church that can win people to Christ.”
These are four ways that Christians can pray for the situation in Iran — ways in which Christians can pray knowing that they stand on solid biblical ground.
Finally, it’s important to remember that “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16), as any mature Christian can testify. “When we talk about praying, people want to be dismissive of that, like [it’s] some kind of personal therapy,” said Perkins. But that’s not true at all. “We’re talking about appealing to the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords.” When we pray God’s own words and promises back to him, Christians can “with confidence draw near to the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16), so let us do so.
Joshua Arnold is a senior writer at The Washington Stand. This article was originally published here.