Prayers for peace

Loving God, we are sad when people cannot live together in harmony.  We are conscious that you have given your people commands that, “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not ill-treat them.  The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”1

We ask your care for people who are hurt and your care for those who hurt others.  We ask that hatred and animosity will come to an end, and that the people will find ways to live as neighbours, and that neighbourliness will be fostered among them.

Be with leaders of people around the world that they will work to facilitate an end to conflict and prioritise humanity over dogma and land, so all may live without fear.

Direct the leaders of all factions to embrace peace and love.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God of peace, you taught us that there will be wars and rumours of wars and that nations will rise against nations. Only through you will the world be saved.

Loving God, we pray for peace in the world.  We pray that human beings will not seek to kill, maim, and destroy, but to give life, supporting people who are sick, hungry or homeless.

When our dreams and aspirations conflict with those of others help us not to resort to violence and war but to seek ways to live together in harmony.

When we wage war help us to see the devastation and hurt we do to one another - creating orphans and widows, destroying homes and schools, and the impact on people who are frail, elderly and sick.

Lord, put an end to killing across the globe.  Jesus taught us to love one another.  His example to us is to love sacrificially. Remove from us greed and the desire to have power over others.

Send the Holy Spirit into our hearts that the world might know true peace.

We look forward to that day when, you "shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Isaiah 2:4)

Almighty God, hear the cries of our hearts. Amen. 

Almighty and eternal God, you are the source of all love and you call us to love one another.  We recall the words of John in his first letter, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 

So we pray the words of hymnwriter, John G. Whittier, "Dear Lord and Father, forgive our foolish ways and re-clothe us in our rightful mind."

We thank you that Jesus has shown us a new way to live.  We thank you that he calls us to love, even our enemies.  Loving God, if we love only those who love us how does that distinguish us as your children?

Prevent us from being agents of death and destruction. Bring peace to the peoples of the world. Work through us as agents of change and transformation bringing life and hope not death and despair - feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless.  May we live together in peace as people of your creation, made in your image.  Help us to value diversity and to recognise one another's needs.  When dreams and aspirations conflict help us to differ peacefully with understanding and humanity.  May our love for one another be sacrificial, giving up self for the sake of others following the example that Christ gives us through his death upon the cross for our redemption.  Amen.