Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Pray for the Peace of Our Need
It is a new month. February (my birthday month!). I have been wondering what to pray for in this new month, and peace came to mind. With all of the bickering, fighting, dissension and alienation in the world today, I think the world needs some peace. Certainly the city of Chicago and the suburbs surrounding it need peace.
Not only does this country need peace, but also the political process which will go on for some nine months. Not only the disparate regions and tribes and political parties of the world need peace, but also the warring nations and factions and opposition groups from all over.
And—I need some peace. Very much so.
I opened one of my lovely collections of prayer, The Oxford Book of Prayer. I turned to the small section on peace, and found one from the editor, George Appleton (Prayer 225). [1] In it, Mr. Appleton has the words “We pray for peace … The peace of Your will/The peace of our need.”
That last line of the prayer struck me. “The peace of our need.” Our corporate need (and needs), as well as each individual’s need. On top of that, I considered “the peace of my need.”
What is the peace of my need, Lord? I know I did not pray for very long. Perhaps I didn’t listen hard enough, or calm my heart enough to hear Your voice, Lord. Please, tell me. Help me to find out. Let Your peace infiltrate my heart and mind. I pray for Your peace—like a quiet rabbit or mouse—to make its way softly into my very soul. I pray this not only for myself, dear God, but for all who wish for peace. Lord, in Your mercy, hear all of our prayers.
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[1] The Oxford Book of Prayer, edited by George Appleton. (New York: Oxford University Press, reissued 2009), 78.
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