By Fred W. Winterton, archived
Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Loving God,
We are thankful for the access we have to you through the grace and reconciliation of your Son, Jesus Christ. We thank you for the assurance of your continuing love and concern for us through the many trials and difficulties of our lives.
As we entreat you for peace in our troubled world, we are mindful of our many deeds of inhumanity to one another by which fear, insecurity, poverty, and brokenness have become much of our human experience. We acknowledge these as symptoms of deeper emotional causes—as extensions of our inner conflicts.
We recognize the need for repentance at personal and corporate levels, where we have so often ignored the principles of relationships you have ordained for our happiness. We further recognize, that in petitioning you for peace, we have no rightful claim on your mediation in our troubles while we persist in denying to other persons the rights of freedom, acceptance, equality, and social justice we jealously guard for ourselves, and which underline many of our problems.
Our prayer is not that you will offset the just consequences of our sinful ways, but that you will open our eyes to the more peaceful pursuits of life and engender in our hearts a more compassionate attitude toward the plight of those who are underprivileged and downtrodden.
Assist also those in roles of government throughout the world to effect the necessary reforms in political, economic, and social affairs which will lessen the tensions of war and hostility and establish a world community based on respect for the rights of all.
Moreover, may the peaceable presence of your Holy Spirit so rule in the inner courts of our lives that we will be living emissaries of peace for you in all the dimensions and interactions of our lives.
This we ask in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer Phrase
“Love your neighbor as yourself” (Romans 13:9).
Spiritual Practice
Healing for Broken Spirits
Begin with quiet prayer. Ask God to help you detect some “sore places” in the body of Christ and God’s creation. Become aware of people who feel separated, wounded, or left out. Reflect on or write a short journal entry of healing words to at least one person who comes to mind. Ask God for words that will touch this person’s broken spirit like healing ointment. Keep this person in your heart and prayers today and act on any ideas that come to bring blessing and wholeness.
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.