Prayer for Peace

The Rev. Dr. Linda Spoolstra, Executive Minster
The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts

     Loving God, who seeks a relationship of peace and reconciliation with all of the peoples of the world, we thank you for your grace and mercy throughout the days of our lives. We thank you for the ways that you have been present to us in the past: in powerful and comforting ways you encourage us when we are down; you give us strength when we are hurt; you guide us when we are lost; and you forgive us when we sin. You are a great and mighty God and we love you.

     We are at a critical moment in time in our world as we stand on the precipice of war and we plead for your help. Christ taught us to be peacemakers. O, God, may we have the desire for peace within ourselves that enables us to bring peace into the world.

     We feel unsafe and anxious because of the threat of terrorism and the dangers of war. Help us to be a nation that puts our trust in you, O God, and not in weapons that maim and kill, for you are the God over all of the nations and the God of history.

     We pray for wisdom and restraint for the leaders of the world. Give them the desire for peace and not for war. We pray especially for Saddam Hussein and George W. Bush, that they may look beyond themselves and present circumstances to see new possibilities for a world without war. Help them to see all of the people who would be devastated or lost if there is war. The suffering that would occur grieves our hearts as we know it does yours.

     We ask that you move in the hearts of those who are influential in the affairs of the nations - the United Nations, the UN inspectors, the leaders of the nations, the terrorists, to change their hearts and heal old wounds and move the world away from violence as a way to solve our problems. We have seen too many wars, loving God. We need you to bring about a miracle. Lord, we ask for this miracle that there may be a breakthrough in the coming weeks to lead away from this place on the edge of violence to a place of peace and understanding.

     In the name of the Prince of Peace, we pray. Amen.