On Sunday we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, but peace is missing in so many places. Central African Republic is experiencing armed clashes between Muslims and Christians. Democratic Republic of Congo is warring against rebel groups. Egypt is has militant branches of Islamic State. Libya still has an ongoing civil war. Mali citizens are burdened with clashes between army and rebel groups. Mozambique is contending with RENAMO rebels. Nigeria is battling militants. Somalia is struggling against al-Shabaab. South Sudan is suffering continual atrocities between opposing groups. Praying into so many situations can be overwhelming, but this Christmas perhaps we could offer our imaginations to the Prince of Peace and have our thoughts inspired by the Holy Spirit. Let us paint a prayer based on ‘What would it look like if God touched this place, this situation, this nation, with His glorious colours of salvation and restoration?’ Let this Holy Spirit-inspired image fuel our prayers for 2017.

As the war in Syria rages on, Chatham House calls us to consider the humanitarian, cultural and political costs of the war, the domestic politics of Syria, and the response of Syria’s neighbours and Europe to the refugee crisis. They remind us, ‘The conflict in Syria has also placed an enormous strain upon its immediate neighbours, as they not only seek to accommodate Syrian refugees, but also manage the spill-over effect on existing social, political, demographic, economic and security challenges.’ Pray that next year surrounding countries (Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Israel) and the West will take on some of these challenges more positively and effectively. The murderous activity in Syria evolves hour by hour and is documented by the media. Let us pray for future accountability and prosecution for all perpetrators of war-crimes, through the presentation and validation of actual events recorded on internet outlets.

It seems that wherever you look, people have written 2016 off as a terrible year. But Amnesty International says that thanks to their supporters, they have found a lot to be positive about. They report that this year more than 650 people (nearly two a day) have been freed by them and their supporters from unfair and often abusive imprisonment. They have helped change laws in forty countries, brought football’s global governing body to account, and helped convict war criminals. In a year of so many uncertainties they found one thing they could be certain about: outrage is not enough, and change will happen when we take action together.

Indonesia's reputation as a stable, tolerant democracy is threatened as radical Islamists claim blasphemy in the trial of Jakarta's Christian governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, commonly known as Ahok. He is the first Christian in fifty years to govern Jakarta. Indonesia is home to the world's largest Muslim population, but it also has sizeable influential Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist minorities. In the 1960s President Suharto signed a decree banning provocative political discourse on ethnicity, race and religion in an attempt to maintain public order, and racial and religious harmony. A minor comment by Governor Ahok has been taken out of context and construed as blasphemy by political opponents seeking to discredit him. His Chinese ethnicity has also been used against him with chants such as, ‘Go back to China.’ Ahok has been praised for reforms he accomplished in Jakarta. He is supported by Indonesia's president Joko Widodo.

Vanuatu is a Pacific island beyond most cruise-ship ports or holiday resorts. It is an ancient culture, in remote and rugged islands of a scattered 80-plus island archipelago. There are an estimated 1,100 speakers of the Navut language, one of 115 languages spoken across Vanuatu. Navut speakers live in the west central part of Espiritu Santo Island, the largest island in Vanuatu. Approximately 40% of Navut speakers profess Christianity. The remaining 60% follow ethnic religions of the islands. Access to Scripture in their own language will help all Navut speakers to learn about God’s love for themselves. Pray for God to provide a team of translators to begin work for the Navut, and for more of them to come to know Christ.

A Turkish policeman murdered the Russian ambassador to Turkey at Ankara’s Contemporary Arts Centre. He passed through security using his police identity card. Russia and Turkey are on opposite sides of the Syrian war, and there is a lot of public anger in Turkey about Russia’s most recent actions. Many believe the direct rivalry between Russia and Turkey is prompting more animosity on the streets in many countries touched by the fallout of this bloody war.

Romans 8:38-39 says, ‘Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation.’ We may not have power over macro-scale world events, but every day we can make hundreds of choices to do good, love God and serve our neighbour. We can do plenty in our own spheres of influence to bring God's kingdom on earth. Philippians 4:6-7 says, ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ When we choose to lay down our anxieties before God, who sees the beginning from the end, whose mind no one can fathom, before whom dictators and despots appear like ants, we will find inexplicable peace.

A Christian teaching assistant has won an apology from a school which disciplined her for telling a pupil that she did not believe in gay marriage. Vicky Allen took legal action after she received a formal written warning from Brannel School, in St Austell, Cornwall, which she said made her feel ‘like a criminal’. They accused her of opposing their ‘equal opportunities’ policy when she told a 14-year-old autistic boy that she disapproved of gay ceremonies. The widow, who has three children, also told the pupil she did not like the way the biblical rainbow symbol had been adopted as an emblem of gay pride. Disciplinary action was launched after the teenager’s mother complained to the school. Mrs Allen said she had done nothing wrong. ‘I was asked a question and gave my answer based on my beliefs and I was disciplined for it.’ The headteacher has now apologised to Vicky.

‘And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.’ (Gen.1:3) Lord, we know Your Spirit is brooding over our nation, and we thank You for every purpose, ministry and strategy of your Kingdom in this season of Advent. We pray for Your people to continue to enter Your presence and to stand upon their watch. As You spoke and there was light, may Your people be so connected to your heart and Your words that every purpose of heaven will be achieved in this season in our land. As Your Church opens its doors in unusual ways and your message of hope and salvation goes out with clarity and creativity, we pray for those who are spiritually open and hungry from every age group and community to hear and understand your message of truth and to experience your presence.

A new study by Youthscape revealed ‘churches are losing confidence in their ability to deliver quality youth work.’ The report, launched at Lambeth Palace on Wednesday, shows that many churches across the country are failing even to offer a youth work service, and those who do are concerned about its effectiveness. Common answers to the question ‘what's going well in your youth work?’ were ‘not a lot’, ‘nothing’, and ‘it does not do so well’. There is a disparity between what young people want to engage with and what the church is actually doing. Two-thirds of churches never discuss pornography or sexuality, while over half never discuss mental health, even though a separate survey of teenagers suggests that these are topics which they are highly interested in talking about. Pray for the fear to be removed from looking at issues around sex and sexuality.