A Prayer for Peace

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. Isaiah 9:6-7

Father, you came as the Prince of Peace. You came to bring your perfect peace to this world. And right now, we see anything but peace.

We are surrounded by chaos and destruction and heartache and despair. The world swirls around us, never stopping, growing darker and more destructive every day. We long for the day when you fully reveal yourself and peace rules this world.

Until that day, we call on your name, seeking your perfect peace. We know your peace is a gift lavished on us, a gift like no other. Help us embrace this precious gift.

You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation]. Isaiah 26:3 (Amplified)

We know your peace is poured out on us when we focus our thoughts on you, when we learn to fully trust in you. Help us release our fears and hold to you in complete faith. Help us cling to you, to your character, to your faithfulness. May we embrace your goodness and grace as we wait, wait to see you show up in our lives, in our circumstances.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:6-9

In our humanity, it’s easy to lose sight of who you are and to put our focus on our circumstances. It’s easy to worry, to dwell on the waves tossing us to and fro. That’s not what we want. We want our minds to be stayed on you. We want our hearts to be filled with faith instead of fear. We want to have faith to thank you even before we see the answer, knowing you are faithful forever and always. We know that’s how we experience your peace, your peace that surpasses our understanding.

Teach us, Lord. Teach us to fix our thoughts on those things that help to keep us walking in faith. Teach us to remember the good things, the gifts that come from you. Teach us to put into practice all the words of your love letter to us, everything you teach us. We long for your presence, the presence of the God of peace.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.  Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.  And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:14-17

We know your first and greatest command is to love—to love you and to love others. We know love is the wardrobe you want your children to wear. We know love is how others know we belong to you.

As we walk through our daily lives, let us find opportunity to show your love so others may know we belong to you. May they see how our love works itself out, allowing peace to envelop our lives and flow through our hearts to others. May they see the gift of peace that becomes second-nature when we allow your love to penetrate every fiber of our beings. May they see your perfect peace as we decrease in all things so you may increase in every aspect of our lives.

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Father, you are our hope, our one and only hope in this world and in the next. Over and over, you tell us to trust in you, that our confident hope becomes the source of your power, of your Holy Spirit. May we overflow with your blessings, your gifts of love and joy and peace and so much more. May our lives be forever marked by the fruit that comes only from you.

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. Psalm 4:8

We confess our complete trust in you. We know you are our shield and our protection. We know you are our Good Shepherd who watches over your flock, protecting us from those who come to bring death and destruction. The comfort of knowing you are our protector is greater than any other gift. Thank you. Thank you for your protection so we can rest, safe and secure and in complete peace.

May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2

Fill us with your word. Fill us with your grace. Fill us with knowledge of you, of your character, of your ways. May we grow each and every day, experiencing more of your grace and peace. May we determine in our hearts to always grow, to always seek you, to always strive to become more like you. May we walk in a long obedience in the same direction.

There are few gifts greater than the gift of your peace. As we enter this season of celebrating the gift of your Son, may we see and experience a peace greater than any we’ve ever known. Help us put aside the commercialization of this season, and cling to the true reason. May we know the Prince of Peace in every area of our lives.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! Isaiah 52:7

Additional scriptures on peace:

Lord, you will grant us peace; all we have accomplished is really from you. Isaiah 26:12

I will teach all your children, and they will enjoy great peace. Isaiah 54:13

You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Isaiah 55:12

I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn, bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far,” says the Lord, who heals them. Isaiah 57:18-19

The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace. Psalm 29:11

“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:14

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17

May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God. Galatians 6:16

For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. Ephesians 6:15

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. 2 Timothy 2:22