Daily Scripture:
Genesis 12:1
Now Adonai said to Avram, “Get yourself out of your country, away from your kinsmen and away from your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, I will bless you, and I will make your name great; and you are to be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
4 So Avram went, as Adonai had said to him, and Lot went with him. Avram was 75 years old when he left Haran.
The days since the terrorist attacks on Paris have not been easy. Many of us feel surrounded by evil and conflict and even danger and fear. Our hearts hurt for the pictures the news brings us of a beautiful city turned into a scene of terror, of peaceful people going about their very common lives and suddenly forced to face hatred and death, and of refugees fleeing similar terror near the homes they were forced to leave.
At times like these, we are naturally drawn to prayer. This week (and probably for the foreseeable future) we need to pray for peace, in whatever way seems best. Here is one suggestion:
Be silent for a few minutes. Listen to your body, feel each breath. Let the peace God’s presence wash over you as you put aside the cares of your day for the time that you have set aside to pray. Lay them aside. You can always pick them right back up later.
Begin by praying for peace in the world. There may be images from the past week that seem to be haunting you. You may feel like there are too many conflicts, too much evil for even God to heal. Reflect on Jesus words:
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
Next, pray for God to show you your part in bringing peace and Christ’s love to the world.Before we change the world, we must change our own hearts. When his disciples asked, “What is the greatest commandment?” Jesus said:
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-38)
Next, pray for peace in your own life. Ask God to quiet the fears and concerns you are carrying and replace them with God’s own peace. Jesus said:
”Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
Finally, end your prayer time with this prayer, adapted from an ancient Gaelic blessing:
Deep peace of the quiet earth to us all
Deep peace of the shining stars to us all
Deep peace of the gentle night to us all
Moon and stars pour out their healing light to us all
Deep peace to us all, deep peace to us all. Amen.[Jennifer Creager, Resurrection Prayer Ministry]
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The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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