By Norma Torrey of Grapeview, Washington USA

Jesus Christ, the embodiment of God’s shalom, invites all people to come and receive divine peace in the midst of the difficult questions and struggles of life. Follow Christ in the way that leads to God’s peace and discover the blessings of all of the dimensions of salvation.

Loving God,
You ask us to drink the cup of forgiveness time and time again. Sometimes it is so hard to do when we have been grievously wronged. We would rather drink deeply from the cup of silence, hatred, or even revenge— anything but forgiveness. Many of our world’s problems stem from not being able to forgive. Old differences and hurts are carefully nursed, carefully fanned, and kept alive to be passed to the next generation.

Forgiveness, Lord? Do you know how hard that is? Yes…you do. When you were in agony on the cross, you asked that those responsible be forgiven for “…they know not what they do.” Even when you were in pain, you forgave.

Please help us, Lord, to put down the burden of grievances. It is heavy and weighs us down with an unnecessary load.

Help us empty our cup that is crammed full of distractions and busyness. Stress overwhelms us. We are bombarded with our lists and our tasks and errands. Noise comes from all sides. Our jobs pull us in one direction, our families in another; church and community responsibilities take our time and energy. We are totally connected in this digital age—but to what? Is it just more busyness, more noise, even more responsibility? We search for inner peace. Sometimes it is as elusive as world peace.

We offer up our cups, Lord. They are empty. Please fill them with your love and compassion, your patience, your joy. This we ask that we may take our filled cups and let others drink from them—others more thirsty and needy than ourselves. Restore us, Lord. Help us find our inner peace that we can reach out to family, friends, and community both near and far.

Thank you, Lord. You do truly bless us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer Phrase

“Happy are those who observe justice” (Psalm 106:3).

Healing and Reconciliation

Gather a small mound of stones. Meditate on the stones as symbols of differences and destructive acts that continue to separate and wound the human family. Name and anoint each “stone wound” with a drop of water or scented oil. Offer them to God in a prayer for healing and reconciliation.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.