praying for peace

When I was a child my understanding of prayer was very limited.  I was taught a few memorized prayers like the terrifying "now I lay me down to sleep" one that honestly gave me nightmares (telling a kid to think about their death and then expect them to drift off to a peaceful slumber is just odd) as well as, a few others including the Lord's Prayer...but I mostly just prayed for me.  I prayed for new toys, a better bike, to do well on my test in math...very self centered.  Occasionally I would pray for others if someone was sick or if my mom told me to.  I bowed my head, folded my hands and hoped that God would answer my prayer.

Now I pray differently.  I rarely pray for myself.  I almost always pray for others or the world, often for people I don't even know (world leaders...).  One of my most common prayers is for peace.  I pray that we could lay down our weapons and live in a world without fear.  Is this a crazy prayer?  Maybe.  Do I think it will happen on this side of heaven...no, not really; but if anyone can bring peace it's gotta be God and so I keep on praying. 

In Exodus 2 we read "the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help.  Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God.  And God heard their groaning."  The prayers of the people for help reached the Lord and moved Him to action on their behalf (he sent Moses to help deliver them).

While world peace may seem unlikely, I will keep groaning, I will keep praying, I will keep asking the Lord for His help.  I will trust that He is good and that He does hear us.  I will pray for peace.

Will you join me?
 

In Christ,
Pastor Scott