History and Prayer
The influence of History on our lives is undeniable as the timeline we find ourselves a part of greatly influences our perspectives and choices. However, when one views all of history through the lens of the biblical narrative that shapes Christian life it can take on a new kind of significance.
We as Christians live in a world where God is “sovereign”. He is Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end. As He spoke time emerged from eternity and at His command it will fade into eternity again. In the Bible we see His intentional intervention and direction of circumstances as He seeks to redeem humans from their past and restore them to His intended future. Humans have mucked it up, and they continue to do so, but God loves them and allows them their choices all while working in and around them to achieve his ends for their good.
It is because of this that we can allow history to inform our prayers. We partake of History past and present and can imagine a better future. We can not and therefore do not seek to change the past by our prayers, rather by knowing the past we change how it influences our futures. We acknowledge the good inviting Gods blessing of it. We also bring him the bad things like the broken ways we think, relate, or are formed, and invite his healing. Jesus healed all who came to him and we come trusting that he is unchanging and will do the same for us. By praying through our history we acknowledge God’s goodness and join with Him in His work of redeeming human History.
Timeline and Prayer Prompts
Bellow is a timeline summarising the History of Cyprus to date. Below each section are some comments and prayer prompts.
Following the words “Let Us Pray” you will find a suggested prayer. Please take the time to consider its content and pray using it as a jumping off point for deeper prayer. We welcome your comments and invite you to share your prayers with us too.
God gave the earth to Humanity to “fill and subdue” it and the settlers of Cyprus did just this.
Let us Pray… giving thanks to God for the gift the Island of Cyprus was and is to humanity.
Like the copper of Cyprus we see that God filled the world with good things that give us life and bless all its people.
Let us pray… and thank God for the resources of Cyprus and that He would continue to bless them.
Men grow jealous and war over God’s gifts desiring to have control of them and become wealthy and powerful. Even today conflict over the rights to natural gas resources continue to disturb the peace.
Let us pray… that the rich resources of Cyprus would inspire generosity and hospitality and not continue to be a source of conflict.
Cyprus’s geographical location made it a vital link in early trade routes. Many empires enriched themselves and widened their influence at the expense of peace in Cyprus.
Let us pray… that God would establish a Cypriot government that protects the interests of all the people of Cyprus preserving its peace and enabling them to be generous with their friends.
Cultures and Religions from all over Europe and the Middle East have converged in Cyprus leaving a cultural heritage unlike any in the world. This Diversity is both a blessing and a source of conflict.
Let us pray… that Cyprus learns to overcome the challenges present in such diversity and becomes an example in peace making for the world.
In Cypriot History the influence of the Ottoman Empire cannot be overstated. It was at this time that the Turkish population was introduced to the island, Islam became a major influence, and Ottoman administrative measures were put in place that played a major role in Cypriot history.
Let us pray… for Turkish Cypriots in particular, asking for solutions to any issues preventing their flourishing.
Let us Pray… that the Christian community on the island would represent Christ well as they love their Muslim neighbours.
Let us Pray… also that the church in Cyprus would search its heart and repent for any failures to do so in the past.
Let us pray… that traditional segregational policies and mindsets would be transformed allowing a more natural unity between the various people groups and religions that call Cyprus home.
Like Ottoman Rule the influence of the British empire is very strongly felt today. British Rule brings with it a growing frustration and festering bitterness over the restrictions of Cypriot political self determination. British Rulers resort to heavy handed tactics that sow the seeds of future conflict to come. This environment of mutual frustration and the application of force to achieve dominance sets the tone for the decades that follow.
Let us pray… for the minds and hearts of the Cypriot people as they navigate toward a future coloured by the anger and mistrust they inherited from the generations before them.
A precarious unity is established but in the end the fundamental differences and distrust amongst the communities erodes effective governance. Again bitterness and frustration wins the day and the deadlock is broken by the application of political and social segregation enforced with violence.
Let us Pray… for a deep healing from the trauma of coercion and its denigrating effects.
Let us Pray… also for forgiveness between the Greek and Turkish communities and that a deep trust and care for one another might take the place of bitterness and suspicion.
The Turkish military invasion is highly controversial with the Turkish labelling it as an “intervention” and The Republic of Cyprus labelling it as an “illegal invasion and occupation”. As time goes on and the effects of the islands division is compounded both communities become more entrenched and compromises more unlikely.
Let us Pray… that both the north and south of Cyprus would be able to set aside conflicting perspectives and find a common way forward.
Let us pray… for a creative and mutually honouring solution that focuses on the real issues create from current circumstances and not the superiority of a particular perspective about the past.
Since the restoration of travel between the North and the South communication between the two sides has greatly improved.
Let Us Pray… that communication would continue to improve and that future generations on both sides of the line would develop meaningful connections with one another allowing them to trust and seek the well-being of one another.
Let Us Pray… for the EU and its involvement in Cyprus.
Let us pray… too for the international community’s involvement in the Cyprus issue, and that God would give them wisdom as they seek to support Cypriots in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome.
Please remember that “should any language used in our content seem to imply an affinity with a particular (political) position this is purely coincidental”.
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