It’s hard to pray for a region of the world when your country is part of the problem that the region is facing. Even if standing behind Israel (the people, not a government) is something Christians should biblically do, that stance should not come at the cost of innocent lives (Jewish, Christian, Muslim, etc.).

So, I guess my prayer would look something like this. Lord, may you make the hearts of Americans soft again so that we may be a mediator between Israel and their neighbors. May we become a help to not only your people in Israel but your people in the rest of the region. May we be able to face our Christian brothers and sisters in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Iran and other countries and humble ourselves and ask for their forgiveness in being complicit in the attacks on their homes. May we also be humble and ask your forgiveness for the taking of innocent lives. May we stop living as Jonah who refused to take your message to Nineveh because of the grace and mercy he knew you would show them, and instead live as Abraham who begged you to save Sodom and Gomorrah, if there were as few as 10 righteous people, because he knew you are merciful. May we also remember your people here as well, especially when we look at how our taxes are being used. All of this I pray in your name, Amen.