Persisting in prayer for Myanmar

Myanmar is at risk of being plunged further into chaos. Here is how scripture can help us to pray.

Written by Gideon Heugh | 19 Nov 2021

The crisis in Myanmar continues to grow. Violent internal conflict in the country has been escalating, forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes. This is in addition to the hundreds of thousands of people who have already been displaced in the last few years.

The turmoil is creating a desperate humanitarian situation. More than 3 million people are in need of life-saving aid. The prayers of God’s people are urgently needed. Our call is to ‘be persistent in prayer’ (Colossians 4:2, Good News Translation) – here, we will be using scripture to guide us as we lift up the people of Myanmar.

If you can, read the Bible verses out loud and let God’s word guide you as you pray.

Praying for peace

‘He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.’ (Isaiah 2:4)

‘No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.’ (Isaiah 60:18)

Pray that the violence will immediately end; and pray for a sustainable political solution that will lead to lasting peace.

Praying for people in poverty

‘He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and makes them inherit a throne of honour. For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them he has set the world.’ (1 Samuel 2:8)

‘My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, Lord? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.”’ (Psalm 35:10)

Pray that essential aid will reach people in need; pray that resources will flow to humanitarian organisations; and pray for the current crisis to end, so that people will have the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty.

Praying for refugees

‘The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’ (Leviticus 19:34)

‘He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.’ (Deuteronomy 10:18)

‘Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was ill and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”’ (Matthew 25:34-36)

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people remain stuck in refugee camps in Bangladesh. Pray for provision – for food, clean water, shelter and clothing; pray for protection from flooding and landslides, which are huge risks in the camps; and pray for political solutions that will allow the Rohingya people to return home.

Thank you for persisting with us in prayer.