peaceHeavenly Father I thank You for the calm You can give to my spirit when the world around me is raging, fighting, clamoring for chaos and division. I praise You that one of the unifying factors for most churches and denominations is prayer. I praise You for the differences within the body but the unity of function as a whole. I praise You for having the experience in 1997 to go to Washington D.C. and meet with men from all denominations, color and ethnic backgrounds for the event put on by Promise Keepers. When it came time to pray, over a million men became silent, a person could hear the wind slowly blowing through the trees. The spiritual moment all of shared demonstrated how united Your people can be through prayer.
Holy Spirit Jesus said to the people while standing on the mountain, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Holy Spirit I know that Jesus was and is known as the Prince of Peace and that if I can learn to be a peacemaker I become more like Him and demonstrate that I am an adopted child of the Family of God. Teach me how to be a peacemaker without compromising my integrity, my principles, and who I am. Lead me with wisdom and Your promptings to show people ways to live peaceably with each other. Help me to be in the business of restoration not tearing people down. Help me to demonstrate love to all people and show that Your Spirit reigns within me.
John wrote that people would know we were Yours by the way we showed our love to one another. Help me, and all the churches to take a stand separate of politics, and find ways to brothers and sisters to each other. Help us to demonstrate Your love through forgiveness and hospitality. Let us be an example of unity and calm in a country that is full of division, unforgiveness, hatred, and chaos. When I see other Christians let me see them as my brother and my sister not as Hispanic, Native American, Black, Middle Eastern, or Asian and let me see their hearts and love for You. Let me be the one that builds Your kingdom not break it. Help me to defend my fellow followers of Christ. Let me seek ways to bring peace and unity back into the church and into the country. Help us to accept our differences but focus on how we are similar. Let us truly become children of God.
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. For we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. But I especially urge you to do this, ….Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:14-21)