Introduction
Many of us are praying for peace, so I thought it might be helpful to group my prayers on this subject into a little book. I add to this page regularly, so they are in date order, starting with the most recent at the top.
She is mine 27.5.22.
All of you together are Christ’s body,
and each of you is a part of it.
(1 Corinthians 12:27; NLT).
She is mine!
She’s my body –
So do her no harm.
He is mine!
He’s my body –
Don’t hurt, or destroy.
They are mine!
They’re my body –
Don’t wound, rape, or kill.
You are mine!
You’re my body –
Like me, do God’s will.
God’s will is for you to be holy.
(1 Thessalonians 4:3; NLT).
All are one in Christ 27.5.22.
Didn’t one God create us?
Why then do we act treacherously against one another?
(Malachi 2:10; NIV).
There is neither Jew nor Gentile,
Male nor Female,
Slave nor Free.
There is neither Black nor White,
Kin nor Stranger,
You nor Me.
There is neither Saint nor Sinner,
LBGTQ,
Nor Straight.
There is neither East nor West,
Creed nor Dogma,
Church nor State.
There is neither Friend nor Foe
Nor Refugee,
Nor Us, nor Them –
For All are one in Christ:
Our Mother, Father, Spirit, Soul.
Amen.
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,
nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
(Galatians 3:28; NIV).
Heal our hatred 10.5.22.
“O Lord,” I prayed, “have mercy on me.
Heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
(Psalm 31:4; NLT).
Lord,
Heal our hatred
With your love,
Our lies and boasting
With your breath;
Our lust for power
With your tears,
Our cruelty
With your distress.
Lord,
Heal our malice
With your blood,
Our greed and envy
With your pain;
Our barbarism
With your death:
Then we will all
Be whole again.
He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
(Isaiah 53:5; NLT).
I pray for peace 2.5.22.
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
(Psalm 34:14; NIV).
I pray for peace in every mind,
In every heart, Lord,
Every soul.
May every life be filled with peace –
Forgive us;
Make us whole.
I pray that peace will reign on earth.
Lord, hear me:
Bring an end to war!
May every nation live in peace –
Today,
And evermore.
He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more.
(Isaiah 2:4; NIV).
Sad and angry 23.4.22.
The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the Lord.
(Psalm 14:2-4; NIV).
How sad and angry
You must be
To witness
All our cruelty,
Our hate,
And inhumanity –
Our lack of love,
Lord God.
I beg you
For a halt to strife,
Respect
For every human life,
Forgiveness,
And an end to war –
Then peace will reign
For evermore.
The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war any more.
(Isaiah 2:4; NLT).
Easter Saturday 16.4.22
The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
(Galatians 5:22-3; NLT).
Lord,
I pray for peace, not war,
For kindness, Father, evermore,
For self-control in every mind:
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done.
Lord,
I beg for joy, not war,
For patience, Father, evermore,
For gentleness in every heart:
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done.
Lord,
I plead for love, not war,
For goodness, Father, evermore,
For faithfulness in every soul:
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.
(Matthew 6:10; KJV).
Good Friday 15.4.22.
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you,
pray for those who mistreat you.
(Luke 6:27-8; NIV).
Beyond all torment, come what may,
Is Christ, who shows us how to pray.
Beyond all darkness and distress
Is Christ, who teaches us to bless.
Beyond all anguish, hate, and blood
Is Christ, who teaches us to love.
Beyond all hunger, thirst, and pain
Is Christ, who died, and rose again.
Beyond all terror, grief, and war
Is Christ, who lives for evermore.
I died, and behold I am alive for evermore.
(Revelation 1:18; RSV).
Hearts of stone 6.4.22.
Surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the Lord, or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins.
(Jeremiah 4:4; NLT).
Take away our hearts of stone,
Our foolishness and pride:
Please give us tender hearts of flesh –
Your teaching, Lord, our guide.
Take away our hearts of flint,
Our anger, hate and greed:
Then give us gentle, loving hearts –
Your pattern, Lord, our creed.
Take away our hearts of ice,
Our senseless use of force:
And give us warm, responsive hearts –
Your gospel, Lord, our source.
I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
(Ezekiel 36:26; NLT).
Even when we don’t trust others 4.4.22.
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you …
Even when we don’t trust others,
Father, may we offer peace.
Even when they hate and curse us,
May we serve them, doing good.
Even when we fear them deeply,
May we help and bless them all,
And even when they treat us badly,
May we pray for them, with love.
… pray for those who mistreat you.
(Luke 6:27-8; NIV).
World-wide justice 3.4.22.
Let true justice prevail.
(Deuteronomy 16:20; NLT).
We pray for world-wide justice, Lord:
For shame about the lies we’ve spun;
For confession, and contrition
As we weep for what we’ve done.
We pray for widespread mercy, Lord:
For sorrow that we’ve used brute force;
For repentance, and forgiveness
As we face our deep remorse.
We pray for global fairness, Lord:
For readiness to love our foe;
For penance, and for reparation
As we pay back all we owe.
We pray for perfect wisdom, Lord:
For faith and hope; an end to war;
For reconciliation, truth
And peace on earth, for evermore.
The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war any more.
(Isaiah 2:4; NLT).
Beyond all weariness 27.3.22.
All glory to him who alone is God, our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time,
and in the present, and beyond all time!
(Jude 1:25; NLT).
Beyond all weariness and pain
Is Christ, who died, and rose again.
Beyond all worry and dismay
Is Christ, who teaches us to pray.
Beyond all anguish and despair
Is Christ, who shows us how to care.
Beyond all fear and loss of hope
Is Christ, who always helps us cope.
Beyond all ignorance and sin
Is Christ, the Lord, who dwells within.
Beyond all darkness, war, and strife
Is Christ, who gives eternal life.
He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good.
(Romans 2:7; NLT).
Pray for peace 19.3.22.
I will pray for peace.
(Psalm 122:8; CEV).
I pray for peace in every mind,
That pride and hate will always fail,
That all will turn to you at last, Lord God,
And faith prevail.
I pray for joy in every heart,
That rage and greed will always fail,
That you will reign in every life, Lord God,
And hope prevail.
I pray for truth in every soul,
That lies and force will always fail,
That all will grow in unity, Lord God,
And love prevail.
Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love –
and the greatest of these is love.
(1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).
A prayer for peace 18.3.22.
Let true justice prevail.
(Deuteronomy 16:20; NLT).
Father,
May your justice reign,
Your wisdom bring
An end to pain;
Your truth be praised,
Your kingdom come,
Your peace prevail –
Your will be done.
May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
(Matthew 6:10; NET).
Save us! 17.3.22.
Lord, save us!
(Matthew 8:25; NLT).
Jesus,
Save us from ourselves,
For we are ignorant and weak.
The last thing we remember, Lord, is:
Blessed are the meek.
Jesus,
Save us from ourselves,
For we are always wanting more.
The last thing we consider, Lord, is:
Blessed are the poor.
Jesus,
Save us from ourselves,
For we pursue what makes us glad.
The last thing we acknowledge, Lord, is:
Blessed are the sad.
Jesus,
Save us from ourselves,
For we are blind, and immature.
The last thing we reflect on, Lord, is:
Blessed are the pure.
I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.
(Matthew 18:3; NLT).
Fire against fire 16.3.22.
Nation will go to war against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom.
(Luke 21:10; NLT).
Fire against fire,
And hate against hate;
Fear against fear:
Lord, it’s too late!
Hope beyond hope,
And light beyond light;
Strength beyond strength:
Lord, you are life!
Peace upon peace,
And good upon good;
Truth upon truth:
Lord, you are love!
God is love.
(1 John 4:8; NLT).
A prayer for us all 12.3.22.
I will give you a new heart and I will put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
(Ezekiel 36:26; NIV).
Lord,
Remove our stony hearts –
Give us new hearts, of flesh.
Please take our greed and hate away –
Help us to start afresh.
Lord,
Remove our cold, hard minds –
Give us the mind of Christ.
Please take our selfishness away –
Show us your sacrifice.
Lord,
Remove our iron souls –
So we can share all pain.
Please take our love of power away –
May we be born again.
Unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.
(John 3:3; NLT).
A prayer for President Putin 8.2.22.
You do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful,
poor, blind and naked (Revelation 3:17; NIV).
Lord,
Remove his stony heart
And give him a heart of flesh.
Take his hate and greed away –
Help him to start afresh.
Lord,
Remove his hard, cold mind
And give him the mind of Christ.
Take his lust for power away –
Show him your sacrifice.
Lord,
Remove his iron soul
So he can share our pain.
Take his ruthlessness away –
May he be born again.
Unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.
(John 3:3; NLT).
Truth beyond falsehood 9.3.22.
Save me! Rescue me from the power of my enemies. Their mouths are full of lies; they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead.
(Psalm 144:11; NLT).
Truth beyond falsehood,
Hope beyond fear,
Peace beyond battle –
Lord, you are here.
Faith beyond anguish,
Rest beyond pain,
Light beyond darkness –
Father, you reign.
Joy beyond terror,
Wine beyond gall,
Life beyond bondage –
Love, beyond all.
Three things will last forever –
faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love.
(1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).
The song of the dead 8.3.22.
No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light.
(Isaiah 60:19; NLT).
Father, brighter than the sun,
Jesus, every battle won,
Spirit, all your work is done:
We love you.
Lord, we walked the path you trod,
You, our guide, with staff and rod,
Leading us straight back to God:
We love you.
Every enemy outrun,
Here, no hatred, fear, or gun,
All will live in union:
We love you.
Father, we have run our race,
Jesus, we can see your face,
Spirit, overwhelming grace:
We love you.
Lord, in paradise, at last,
Every pain and grief is past,
You have saved us, held us fast:
We love you.
Now, our joy, Lord, has begun,
Now, we hear you say: Well done!
Now, we know you, Three-In-One,
And love you.
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.
(1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT).
We are wretched 4.3.22.
All the days of the oppressed are wretched.
(Proverbs 15:15; NIV).
Father,
We are wretched,
Pitiful and weak,
For we have been invaded,
And the strong oppress the meek.
Father,
We are anxious,
Hungry, thirsty, poor,
For we are now blockaded,
And the strong despise your law.
Father,
We are homeless,
Distressed in heart and mind,
Yet everyone is fragile,
And all lives are intertwined.
Father,
We are battered
By hardship, bomb and gun,
But weak and strong are suffering –
For all of us are one.
There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free,
male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.
(Galatians 3:28; NLT).
A prayer for President Putin 2.3.22.
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
(Luke 6:27-8; NIV).
Father,
I pray that President Putin will come to his senses, repent and turn to you, and that you will forgive his sins.
May he follow Christ, taking him as his way, truth and life, his Teacher, example and guide.
Please heal him in mind, heart and soul. May he be born again, and be filled with your Holy Spirit.
I pray that he will come to know, accept, and return, your perfect love.
May he recognise and love you in every human being, and in this astonishing world you have created – the only place in which we, your people, can live together.
Thank you for hearing my prayer, Lord.
I ask all this in your dear Son’s name. Amen.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
(1 John 4:8; NIV).
Hear my heartfelt prayer 28.2.22.
Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto thee.
(Psalm 102:1; KJV).
Hear my heartfelt prayer, Lord God:
End our greed and hatred.
Take away our minds of stone,
And make our thinking like your own:
Loving; joyous; full of peace –
Help us, I implore you.
Hear my earnest prayer, Lord God:
Turn us from all evil.
Take away our hearts of stone,
And make our passions like your own:
Patient; kindly; generous –
Till all of us adore you.
Hear my urgent prayer, Lord God:
Forgive our sins; have mercy.
Take away our souls of stone,
And give us spirits like your own:
Faithful; gentle; self-controlled –
Then all will bow before you.
Bow down and worship the Lord.
(Ezekiel 46:3; NLT).
Prayer for peace 24.2.22.
Friends, let us pray for peace in Ukraine, and for peace in President Putin’s heart:
I pray that President Putin will become a Christian through revelation, as Saint Paul did, that he will suddenly come to his senses, realise what he’s doing to his fellow human beings, repent, and experience a profound conversion of mind, heart and soul.
I ask all this in Jesus’ blessed name. Amen.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.
(Isaiah 65:25; KJV).