“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens… a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1,8
On September 7th, 2021, the National Unity Government (NUG) in Myanmar announced the “people’s resistance war” against the Myanmar military. This shadow government’s acting president, Duwa Lashi La, called on armed ethnic rebel groups, local People’s Defense Force (PDF) militias, and the military-allied Border Guard Forces to fight against the junta. He called on all the people of Myanmar to act in support of the resistance as much as they could.
The Myanmar military dismissed the NUG announcement, claiming that it was a stunt to draw attention away from the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week. One of the military generals, General Zaw Min Tun, dismissed the announcement and the NUG as a call made by extremists to destabilize the country.
Since Duwa Lashi La’s announcement, fighting between the military and ethnic rebel armies has intensified in the borderlands. Clashes have broken out in Southern Kayin State and Northern Kachin State between rebel armies and the military. In Mandalay, a police checkpoint was bombed. All across the country, protests against the coup have begun with fierce renewal of passion to resist the junta.
Over 100 local PDF militias are scattered across the country, many of which have been awaiting the NUG’s signal to wage all-out war against the military junta for months. It is difficult to know how large the PDF numbers in total, but it is believed to have several thousand fighters. Even alongside the rebel army fighters, this resistance faces the 11th largest army in the world with an estimated 400,000 troops. The only certain outcome is the escalation of violence and the loss of many, many lives.
O God, You are faithful and sovereign. You are not surprised or alarmed by this or any other war. We ask for Your guidance and Your wisdom. Teach us how to pray. Make us faithful stewards of the things You have given to us — our time, our ability to pray, our finances, our compassion — and would You move in the hearts of Your people to give towards Myanmar? Towards the broken and the downcast, the oppressed and the suffering, the wicked and the vile? Would You move us to intercede for the people of Myanmar, both children of God and the lost alike?
Move us in Your compassion. Move us in action. Protect the people of Myanmar. Save the people. Draw them to Yourself. Bring justice and freedom to a land covered in the blood of innocent men, women, and children. Make Your light shine forth like the dawn over this nation, our God and King. In Your Name we pray, Amen.
Prayer Requests
- Pray for Myanmar’s Christians in this season. Pray that they would let their light so shine before men, that they would see their good works and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
- Pray Isaiah 58 over the nation — that the Lord would move all the people of Myanmar to loose the bonds of wickedness and let the oppressed go free. Pray for righteousness, generosity and care for the poor, and incredible healing to sweep through the land.
