Today in our prayers, we remember the people of Japan.

Prayer for Peace

Jim Davis

O God of justice and mercy,

We pray in the name of your son, the prince of peace, for all those souls who suffer from the terror of oppression and war. When we hear news concerning the strife of people in Chechnya, Bosnia, Iraq, Gaza, and other places, we are deeply saddened by their suffering. In our finer moments, we might actually grieve for our nameless brothers and sisters. We can only imagine their terrible pain and anguish.

But how much more grievous their burdens must be to you, their creator and their God. They are your children as are we, and we know you love each of them far more than we can comprehend. And their oppressors are your children, too, and you love them. Our compassion for them pales in comparison to your compassion for them.

Our concern for them is diminished by limited knowledge of their plight and absorption with our day-to-day trials and tribulations. Your concern is borne on fully understanding their external pain and the anguish in their hearts. You hear their prayers and find ways to bless them amid their turmoil.

O God, we would pray for a righteous peace in all those places. Help us to become your peacemakers, your hands and feet, to bring about conditions that overcome injustice and lead to peace. Help us to recognize the need for peacemaking in our neighborhoods, in our workplaces, in our schools. Bless our good desires, purify them, and make them righteous that we might be your servants in the building of the kingdom. Amen.