Books: Praying for a World in Crisis

Praying for a World in Crisis by Pete & Pip Gardner is a very timely book indeed. Pete and Pip are aware of the times we live in and have a lot of insight into the spiritual dynamics at work and the political crisis at hand, having had experience in an NGO closely affiliated with the UN. Even though they have been praying for and watching the growing crisis that is coming upon the world for many years, the Lord only released them to write a book about it in 2024, published in 2025. Therefore, this book is incredibly relevant to the times we are in now, with tensions in geopolitical agendas, wars, and rumours of wars. More importantly, they give prophetic vision as to what the Spirit is calling for His Church in these days, amidst the difficulties, reminding us that, “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint”, Proverbs 29:18. If anyone wanted to be encouraged and directed by the Spirit amongst these increasing global tensions, then I strongly recommend you read and take to heart the message in this book.

Pete and Pip very clearly expose the work of the ‘Cosmic Powers’, the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, and how they work to cause crisis on the earth. It is really helpful to read their insight into what these cosmic powers are and how they ended up in the place they are now. They link the Old Testament “sons of God” in the early chapters of Genesis to the “spiritual forces of evil” written about in Ephesians 6. Their main goal is to delay the return of Christ by hindering and preventing the fulfilment of the Great Commission which precedes the Lord’s coming, Matthew 24:14.  

They write, “Every advancement of the Great Commission is a judgement on Satan and speeds up his eternal demise. Michael E. Norton writes, ‘The great commission is the highest, most pure form of spiritual warfare’. This is why Satan continues to fight and resist its completion. He continues to manipulate the minds of men to resist the progress of the Great Commission.”

Pete and Pip focus the believer’s attention therefore, to the return of Jesus. Prayer is so crucial to wrestling these powers at work against the coming of the Kingdom. But how do we pray and what are the most strategic areas for prayer in a world that is in crisis? This is what Pete and Pip write about, highlighting 5 key areas of prayer; the Church, the persecuted church, the unreached, geopolitics, and the Middle East/Israel/the Jewish people. More than that, Pete and Pip guide the reader with accurate biblical insight into how best to pray for these areas. When I read it for the first time it struck me how simple it was, how clear it is in the Bible, and how it can be so easy to still not pray what the Scriptures are guiding us to. One point to note is their very helpful insight into why it’s so important to be praying for the leaders and authorities within nations, explaining that they will be main targets for the cosmic powers to influence, as biblical history reveals. I am grateful for the encouragement and direction written in this book. It continues to fuel the fire for faith-filled prayer.

The book finishes with chapters guiding the believer how to be alert and watchful in the last days and to not come under the depression and hopelessness that global events and the mainstream news can easily put people under. Our focus is the Day of the Lord, the return of Christ, our eternal salvation, and it will be a wrestle to continue to hold that as the priority focus in our lives. Prophetic, insightful, encouraging and comforting! This book is fantastic!