“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble….He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.” Psalm 46:1, 9
O Lord, we long for the day when you will make all wars cease across the whole face of the earth. We long for the day when you will dismantle every weapon, and render every instrument of war utterly powerless. We long for the day when we will no longer have any fear, because others will no longer have the capability of causing us any harm whatsoever. We long for the day when the ability to harm others is finally and forever taken from us, when you give us new hearts that aren’t able to sin anymore. We confess that even though we don’t want to hurt others, in our selfishness and sin, we continue to hurt others with our words and actions, and silences and inactions, day after day, year after year. Don’t let us excuse our sins as “being human”…let us hate our own sins, and diligently seek to root them out. And in their place, let us work diligently to sow the seeds of grace and peace, forgiveness and love, kindness and mercy, righteousness and justice.
O Lord, as we wait for the days of no more wars, as we wait for cycles of vengeance and violence to be broken by the eternal peace and community of love you will establish, we pray: grant that we might turn to you and find refuge in times of trouble. When the world rages and violence swells, and the story of the world seems to be battle after battle, help us find a different narrative as we take refuge in you. Help us see the plans you have for the world to be completely at peace. And grant that this vision might propel us forward to be your kingdom-ambassadors, your peace-makers, your instruments of grace. Let us go out into the world unafraid, knowing that while the work of making peace can be dangerous now, our future is eternally secure. Jesus, we want to not only worship you as our savior, but follow you as example and king. We pray in your most gracious name, amen.
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