11th April 2026

US Vice President JD Vance and Iran's delegation leader Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf  are now in Islamabad for peace talks later today. However the two delegations are not expected to speak face to face. The talks are expected to be indirect and the two delegations sitting in separate rooms with Pakistani officials will shuttling between them, mirroring the format used in earlier Oman-mediated rounds.   On Tuesday, Israel and Lebanon are also set to hold discussions. Iran has warned that failure to agree a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets could hamper the peace process. US president says that warships are being reloaded with weaponry to strike Iran if Saturday’s Islamabad talks fail to produce a deal.

Loving God, we pray that your Holy Spirit will guide the negotiators at the talks in Pakistan this weekend and into next week. May there be a genuine desire among delegates to find a way to bringing peace across the Middle East. Grant the Pakistani mediators understanding and skill in drawing all sides together and finding agreement. May truth be spoken with compassion.  May the welfare of the people living in Iran, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and the many countries across the Middle East be a paramount concern among the negotiators. May the Holy Spirit guide all to deal with each other with dignity and respect. Whatever is agreed may it be honoured and respected in practice, and with good will. May the light of your love shine through the darkness of dispute, difference, hate and hubris. In these negotiations Lord, we pray that your will shall be done.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Early one Saturday morning at the beginning of last month a fire broke out in the home of a family in Virginia, USA. At around 4:30 a.m. local time 7 year old Allison woke up to the smell of smoke. The of 6 had only moved into the house a few months before. Alison said: “I left my room, I was trying to figure out where it was coming from. I looked everywhere and then I noticed that more smoke was coming out of the basement. I touched the handle with the back of my hand to test and it was pretty hot. So I ran to my parents’ room and then I woke them up.” Alison added, “Instead of panicking, I was just focused on waking everyone up and getting out the house.”  Alison helped all five occupants and the pets get to safety. Firefighters from Richmond Hill and Bryan County arrived quickly and extinguished the fire before it engulfed the entire house.  Referring to Alison, HFD Fire Chief Matthew Tobia said, “This little girl saved her family."  Alison's mother reflected, “Hard as it is to know that we’ve lost almost everything, that we have a lot of memories, a lot of good things, we have each other and we have God; and I have faith in him and there’s a reason for everything.” 

Listen to the Lord in prayer,

in the words of Isaiah 55:1-3 & 12-13

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;

and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labour for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.

Incline your ear, and come to me;

hear, that your soul may live;

and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

 my steadfast, sure love for David.

“For you shall go out in joy

and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and the hills before you

shall break forth into singing,

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;

instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;

and it shall make a name for the Lord,

an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”