Listen

“Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.”

Matthew 5:9

Think

At the birth of Jesus the angels sang of peace on earth. Thus the story of Jesus began with a promise of peace, but the promise of God’s peace began long before Jesus. The Hebrew prophets spoke of peace as Shalom, a concept that encompassed more than the absence of strife between people. Shalom is a total wholeness, well-being, and joy that is the essence of God’s preference for human beings and society.

When we think of a peacemaker we tend to think of a mediator – someone who has the ability to enter a conflict and help the warring parties find common ground. Indeed, this is one important peacemaking role. But we must think of our roles as peacemakers in broader terms. You are a peacemaker whenever you are working for shalom. Anytime that you are working to make the world right, to bring wholeness, well-being, and joy to one person or a group of people, you are being a peacemaker, striving with God for peace on earth.

Amy Bost Henegar

Pray

Eternal God, you are the one who brings peace. I lay my burdens before you today and ask that your peace will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus. Give me peace that I may join in the peacemaking work you are doing in the world. In Jesus name I pray today, amen.

Go

Go, and know that the Lord goes with you:
let God lead you each day into the quiet place of your heart,
and speak with you;
know that the Lord loves you and watches over you -
that God listens to you in gentle understanding,
and is with you always,
wherever you are and however you may feel:
and may the blessing of God be yours for ever.

Adapted from anonymous prayer in All Will Be Well, ed. Lyn Klug