Ukraine Prayer # 457

Ira Kapitonova
God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
and those who hate him shall flee before him!
God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
Psalm 68:1, 6
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This year, for the first time, all Ukrainians will celebrate Christmas on December 25 (before, we celebrated it on January 7 because of the difference in church calendars). It is exciting to finally feel this unity and be a part of the global celebration (while being apart from the Russian tradition is also a nice bonus).
 
While many of us cherish Christmas and look forward to it, doing the actual celebration part is hard. We will have family reunions, dinners, and gift exchanges. There will be lots of joy and laughter, but it will be tinted with gnawing thoughts about the loved ones on the frontlines, the wounded on hospital beds, and those in Russian captivity. I know that we all will be hoping for a Christmas miracle, but whether it happens or not, we can rest assured that God will keep His promises and care for those who are far away from us because "Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation." (Psalm 68:5)
 
Please pray that this Christmas will bring peace to the souls of the Ukrainian people. May their songs and gatherings bring hope and joy in the midst of sorrow and fear. Pray for protection in the midst of the constant bombardment.
Al Akimoff and the Slavic Ministries Team