A Prayer for Peace around the World This Christmas
By Amanda Idleman
Bible Reading
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” - Matthew 5:9
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As we embrace the joy and merriment of the holiday season, it’s important that we not forget that many enter these months with no peace. Either their country is being terrorized by conflicts or their hearts are in turmoil as they grapple with discord in their own lives. No matter what, we need God’s peace that surpasses all understanding in order to take in the beauty of Christmas fully.
In Matthew 5:9, Jesus calls us to be peacemakers, meaning we are to be the ones who help bridge the gap when a need is in front of us. Being a peacemaker looks like being the first to apologize when an offense occurs. Additionally it means we can be prayer warriors for people and places in our world that are in conflict. We may not be able to solve the conflict others are caught in, but we do have the power to intercede on their behalf, asking God of the Heavenly Armies to step in and offer peace, comfort, and protection.
When we gaze at sorrow, chaos, and loss, it’s helpful to remember that We know God is able to do abundantly more than we could ever ask, think, or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). With this in mind, we can believe with absolute faith that God can change hearts, minds, and circumstances. As we see evil around us and feel defeated, we must consider that our God, the one true God, is greater than the powers of darkness that are at work in our world. By grace, He is a light bringer to Earth, where the darkness reigns.
It’s God’s people, his sons and daughters, that are called to partner with God’s great mission to pierce the darkness. His blessings flow when we become a part of God’s peace on Earth. This Christmas, let’s not forget God’s plan to bring goodwill to men. We can be so thankful for his redemption for Earth and its inhabitants (Luke 2:14). Consider this Christmas, what issue grieves your heart the most? Is it a personal loss that has robbed your peace? Is it a loved one stuck in the darkness of addiction? Are you grieved by the warfare and turmoil across the world where needless loss is occurring? Do you find your heart broken by those who are separated from their families due to neglect and abuse in foster care?
Choose the things that weigh heavy on you, and begin to pray against the darkness this holiday. Write out your prayers and make it a part of your advent ritual to pray for those who are stuck in dark places this year. The world changes because of the faithful and diligent prayers of the saints! Don’t underestimate your value in the Kingdom of Heaven. As we pray over the brokenhearted, God will expand our view this holiday season. Christmas is less about fancy gifts, dinners, dresses, and desserts. The message of Christmas is that God saw a way to bring hope to a lost and dying world. Jesus came to Earth for the lost, broken, down-on-their-luck, least of these! As Christ's followers, we must also be FOR those who are in need, not content to live comfortably and blind to the spiritual war going on around us.
Let’s Pray:
Dear God, we thank you that you are greater than the evil one. You have power to defeat sin and death. We can live bold and fearless lives thanks to the gift of the Holy Spirit we have access to every day. Today, we ask that you bring peace around the world this Christmas. Where there is discord, bring harmony. Where there is loss, bring comfort. Where there is fear, bring calm. Breathe fresh wind of hope into the lives of those who feel hopeless. Open the eyes of the lost to see you and your beauty even in their brokenness. Bring a fresh wind of revival to our city, state, nation, and world. Would you receive all the glory and honor for your every gracious gift of peace here on Earth? Amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Sami Sert
Amanda Idleman is a writer whose passion is to encourage others to live joyfully. She writes devotions for My Daily Bible Verse Devotional and Podcast, Crosswalk Couples Devotional, the Daily Devotional App, she has work published with Her View from Home, on the MOPS Blog, and is a regular contributor for Crosswalk.com. She has most recently published a devotional, Comfort: A 30 Day Devotional Exploring God's Heart of Love for Mommas. You can find out more about Amanda on her Facebook Page or follow her on Instagram.
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
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