With all the noise in the world, do you hear the voice of God? Your calendar tells you what to do, but do you remember who you are? Being comes before doing. This is a call to put first things first. Return to the Lord with this daily pattern of prayer and devotion. Set aside this time as a sanctuary. Find a space free of distraction and follow this pattern.
Invocation
Make the sign of the cross, and say,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
If you have an advent wreath, light the first two candles and pray:
Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. The light no darkness can overcome.
Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace. Teach us to make peace with our words, with our hands, for our own place and all places. Amen.
Word: Psalm 29:11
“The Lord sat as King over the flood. The Lord sits as King forever. The Lord will give strength to His people. The Lord will give His people peace.”
Meditation
The Hebrew word for peace in the Bible is shalom. Shalom means more than calm or happiness. It’s not just the absence of war. Shalom means: Wholeness. Soundness. All is right. All is as it should be. Shalom is like the Garden of Eden before the fall. When everything was just . . . shalom.
Here’s a question to think on: How does biblical peace differ from the ways that the world talks about peace?
This is not Eden. We do not have true shalom here. Why don’t we have peace? The culprit is not primarily guns, Tweets, or fists. It’s not politics or policies. The problem of peace is in the human heart. So the remedy needs to start here.
Doctors can do heart surgery, but only God can work in the heart of the human soul. No one else can remedy the spirit. Psalm 29:11 describes a King with supernatural abilities. “The Lord sat as King over the flood. The Lord sits as King forever. The Lord will give strength to His people. The Lord will give His people peace.” He is over nature. He is eternal. And he is the Giver a peace that cannot be humanly attained. Take a deep breath right now. He is your King. You are his child. Simply receive his peace.
Prayer for Life as a Child of God
– For the Father to give me care and guidance.
– For forgiveness when I wander and want my own way.
– For the Father to keep me childlike in faith even as I age.
– For growth in faith, that I love and trust in God above all things.
– For strength to obey God.
– For the Father to heal my hurts.
– For assurance when I doubt.
Closing Prayer
O Lord and King, give peace to your people. We need more than a treaty, a policy, or a program. We ask for a change of heart. We repent of our sins. We seek your forgiveness. We ask for your peace that passes all understanding. You alone are the great Giver of peace. Amen.