More than 470,000 people have been killed in Syria, with an estimated 14,000 of those being children. An estimated 12 million Syrians have been displaced from their homes, of which roughly half are refugees fleeing the violence. Half the people in Syria are unemployed, and 85% of those are in extreme poverty. Constant bombing prevents doctors and aid workers from bringing in help. The situation there is dire, to say the least.

My internet friend Paul of GlobalWorship shared this article yesterday, in which a group of French nuns ministering in Syria are appealing to Christians around the world for help. I was particularly struck by a quote from one of the nuns, Sister Anne-Francoise, "The diplomatic solutions have not worked. We simply pray to the Lord that this war may stop."

We must pray with her. We must pray with Sister Anne-Francoise and her sisters. They are our sisters. They are our sisters ministering to our sisters and brothers who need help. "We simply pray to the Lord that this war may stop."

God, we lift up to you the nation and people of Syria.
Bless and keep them.
They have been a nation at war for five long years.
Make your face shine upon them.
They are in need of intervention, both divine and human.
Give them peace. (1)

Turn your attention to a war-ravaged country
The people suffer deeply:
Hunger,
Thirst,
Violence,
Children killed,
Homes and cities destroyed,
Families torn apart.

Come quickly, Lord,
And in your mercy, bring peace.
Change the hearts and minds of individuals
That they might lay down their weapons.

Bless those who labor to help the broken:
Give them strength.
Give them rest.
Give them resource.

May the Spirit of Christ be present
And the Body of Christ active,
Bringing the Kingdom of God and peace to Syria.
That this war may stop.

Amen.

(1) From Numbers 6