Today in our prayers for the people of Macao.

PRAYER FOR PEACE

Unknown

Creator of the Universe,

You are beyond our comprehension, yet you are ever near and desire our companionship. We know enough of you and your actions that we often are aware of your presence. At those times, we have no doubt regarding your love for us.

We realize that you love every individual and that you would like us to be more loving. We sometimes find it hard to love those we know, and we don’t understand what it means to love those we do not know. Help us, O God, to be more like you in loving and caring. The world would be a much better place if we could just arrange our lives to reflect your divine love in all our daily associations.

We find it hard to understand why people would wage war. It seems to be human nature to distrust. We limit our association with those who have different cultures, attitudes, or values. Help all of us, but be especially with the leaders, so that they may be free from such limiting, selfish attitudes. We could recite a list of nations arrayed against nations, and rebellion and strife within nations. May there be a healing, with justice, of some of the conflict-causing differences.

If we have power or privilege, it is hard to relinquish even a little of that advantage we might have over others. Heal us of such self-centeredness, we pray.

Great God, the Psalmist has said that we are created a little lower than the angels, but often our actions and attitudes fall short of that which we could be, and what we could do for you. We are aware that you are the god of all nations, tongues, and people, and yet we tend to think ours is the only “right” way, and we have first call on your goodness. Help us to overcome selfishness and pride as we strive to be your peacemakers and peacekeepers in the world we have inherited and will pass on to our children.

We pray the name and spirit of the Christ, the prince of peace. Amen.

Tags: prayer, peace, daily