When Jesus was born, angels visited the earth and proclaimed the most wonderful message: “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” (Luke 2:14). So today let’s echo those words from the armies of heaven in our prayers.
Loving Father, how can we proclaim your greatness? How can we tell of your glory? How can we do justice to all that you have done for us? Our prayers fall short, our voices are not loud enough perhaps and we are unworthy to show your glory to the world. But Lord we want to bring you glory, we want to shout it from the rooftops. Help us today, as we pray, to do so, as the angels did all those years ago in the fields outside Bethlehem, for we know that you are always there to hear our prayers and to action them in your own perfect way and your own timing. And so, we pray for peace.
We pray for peace in the world. Lord, we hear so much about wars and tensions, acts of terrorism and violence, all around the globe. Countries who cannot get on with their neighbours, governments jealous of what one another have, people who want to force their own way of thinking on to others. Lord, it seems too much to pray for peace on earth, but this we do today. May peace come to this earth, Lord.
We pray too for peace in our nations. Lord, we know that there are places within our own nations that are not at peace. There are areas where rival gangs look to gain dominance, where people from different backgrounds and nationalities struggle to peacefully co-exist and ever different generations and backgrounds fail to live happily with one another. Lord, it seems so difficult to pray for peace in our nations, but this we do today. May peace come to our nations, Lord.
We pray for peace in our communities. Lord, we know that people all around us are struggling and are not at peace. We pray for those struggling with debt or making ends meet, for those who use foodbanks and other social charities. Lord, as we pray for peace in our communities, help us to know how we, as individuals and churches, can do something to help the very real need all around us. May peace come to the places where we live.
We pray for peace for the unpeaceful. Lord, we know people who are separated from their loved ones, due to working away, family or relationship breakdown, people who are unwell or worried about their health, people who have lost loved ones and are struggling to come to terms with the hurt and loss they feel. Lord, it may seem impossible for them all to find peace, but this is our prayer today. May peace come to those who are unpeaceful.
Finally, Lord we pray for peace in our own hearts. Take away the busyness and the stress. Help us to come to you with the worries and hurts we may be feeling. May we hear the angels this year and echo their song in our prayers and our actions as we look to a time when all will bring glory to you, and we will live in a peace that will be over all the earth.
In Jesus, precious name we pray, Amen
Catherine Booton
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