8 hours ago
How to Pray for the Gulf: Responding to an Ever-changing Quagmire
With such a fast-changing situation in the Gulf, and the rhetoric coming from the White House changing at breathtaking speed, how can we hold specific prayers and intentions for what is unfolding there and its implications–beyond our immediate responses to the issues of the moment? This is our focus for this edition of Impact! We quickly turn to suggesting specific intentions that are more ongoing rather than generalised as broad requests, such as desiring for lasting peace and a resolution to the deep divisions between Iranian and US/Israeli demands. The episode outlines immediate and mid‑ to long‑term concerns—displacement, economic ripple effects, and humanitarian needs—and offers short guided intentions listeners can use to pray for mercy, wisdom, protection, and fair post‑conflict governance whatever particular headlines are shifting our attention day-to-day.
Intention and prayers start at 16 minutes 5 seconds.
Suggested Intention Focus for this week
This week, as we reflect on how we can pray for what is a constantly changing situation in the Gulf, we suggest offering pure lovingkindness as our main intention:
We will that all beings who are prosecuting war in the Gulf, or who are directly impacted by such actions, will be bathed in pure, compassionate light.
Please join us in holding this.
Specific intentions we suggest holding are follows:
We ask for an outflowing of mercy for all who are suffering because of the conflict in the Gulf, for them to know and have reassurance of divine promise, whatever their physical suffering and loss.
We will that those living under threat of attack have courage and wisdom to know how best to protect themselves and their loved ones.
We pray for wisdom for leaders, diplomats and military decision‑makers, including international actors who may exert influence either within or beyond the public domain, and also for those whose national security is directly threatened by the conflict, especially in the Arabian Peninsula and Lebanon.
We ask for wisdom for those seeking to mediate a path to a just, durable peace across the wider Middle East. We will that those who come to such talks do so with a resolve to find such a peace and with an open readiness to truth‑telling and having the courage to choose a non‑violent path.
We ask for those seeking and implementing post-conflict arrangements to will for fair and sound governance, to implement what is agreed, and to commit to staying that course.
We will that the wounded, bereaved and traumatised in the Gulf receive comfort, healing and the practical help they need.
We pray that refugees displaced by the conflict will be held in protective light, welcomed and supported in their host communities.
We ask that there will be a will among Gulf nations to resist a move to draconian restrictions on free speech and civil freedoms under a pretext of tightening domestic security.
We pray for wisdom and courage for those in military, including both those who are required to obey orders, and those having to give orders that may not sit well with their consciences.
We ask that we receive the strength to stay strong when we are troubled by the news, inviting compassion and being mindful that through our prayers and intentions, we do have impact.
Of course, add to these as you feel led. We believe most of these are ongoing issues beyond the day-to-day events that we may wish to respond to spontaneously.
Mentioned in this episode:
Clive’s book: The Heart of Lovingkindness: How to Live from the Heart, Clive Johnson. Amazon.com link: https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Lovingkindness-How-live-heart/dp/1916227740/
Chapter markers:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:10 Current Events in the Gulf
00:04:37 Holding Intention Amidst Conflict
00:08:49 The Power of Lovingkindness
00:11:04 The Humanitarian Impact of War
00:16:05 Intentions and Prayers
Sources referenced in this episode:
Join us in person for intention holding:
https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/events-1 Labyrinth Activist Network Zoom calls
https://insighttimer.com/cliverj Daily intention holding with Clive on Insight Timer.
Our websites:
www.heartfulimpact.com/ Our show website.
https://globalhealingresponse.com/ Global Healing Response ~ Offers a wealth of prayers, suggested practices and prompts in response to environmental catastrophe, conflict, and other world events.
https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/ Legacy Labyrinth Project ~ Creating global energetic connections through the labyrinth; inspiring active intention sending using the labyrinth via labyrinth activism.
https://www.clivejohnsonministry.com/ Clive Johnson Ministry ~ Events and offerings aimed at building beloved community, including weekly energy holding vigils and Power of Eight group.
https://insighttimer.com/cliverj ~ Daily intention holding.
Impact! Is presented by Ellen Bintz and Clive Johnson. It is produced by Impact Productions.
Our show content is hosted by Podbean and available from all major podcast platforms.
Our theme music is by Chris Collins. indiemusicbox.com.
Our logo artwork is by AltoClassic (Getty Images/istock).
Contact us via Facebook Messenger from the Impact! Facebook group, or using any of the contact methods mentioned on our websites.
Impact! www.heartfulimpact.com.
No comments yet. Be the first to say something!