Hello, my friend! In this crazy world, full of upheaval and trauma and discord, I think one of the things human beings long for most is peace.
Peace between nations, between tribes.
Peace between neighbors, between brothers.
Peace in our government, in our workplaces.
Peace in our homes. Peace with who we are.
And ultimately, peace with God.
Sometimes I fall into the trap of thinking that everything would be great if we could just find peace in this broken, messy place called planet Earth. What I forget too easily is that this world will never be at peace. Because until the final spiritual battle is won, God’s enemy will always be on the prowl. Always wreaking havoc. Always stirring up hatred and evil.
The good news for Christians is that personal peace is not contingent on our circumstances (it’s much like joy in that way). It does not depend on the attitudes of other people, and it does not hinge on international affairs.
Peace comes from God through Jesus Christ.
So instead of pining for this hazy utopian ideal we call “peace,” we should choose instead to abide in the Source of peace. To press into Him. To search for Him. To turn to Him. To choose Him. For He Himself is our peace.
This is true for us, and it’s true for our friends. Will you come with me, seeking His face together, and praying the Scriptures for our friends to experience His peace?
Prayers for Your Friend to Have Peace
- Praise God for His written Word, through which He reveals how to have peace. Thank Jesus for preparing your friend ahead of time for the tribulation they will have in the world, and for His assured victory over the world (John 16:33). Ask Him to impress this truth on your friend’s heart, that they might cling to His promise when they’re tempted to worry.
- Ask God to help them fix their mind on trusting Him. Claim His promise on your friend’s behalf to keep them in perfect peace as they walk by faith (Isaiah 26:3).
- Pray that the God of hope would fill your friend with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit they may abound in hope (Romans 15:13).
- Acknowledge to the Lord that for your friend to set their mind on fleshly things is death, but setting their mind on the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:6). Ask Him to enable your friend to keep making this hard choice day by day, moment by moment.
- Praise the Lord, who has compassion on your friend, for His promise that even if the mountains depart and the hills are removed, His steadfast love shall not depart from your friend, and His covenant of peace shall not be removed (Isaiah 54:10).
- Remind God of His promise that those who love His Word will have great peace and that nothing can make them stumble (Psalm 119:165). Ask Him to give your friend a love for the Scriptures that makes this promise available to them.
- Pray that God would help them to walk in sound wisdom and discretion, for they will be life for their soul and adornment for their neck. Thank the Lord for His assurance that your friend will walk securely and sleep peacefully as a result (Proverbs 3:21-24).
- Ask the Lord to keep them from worrying about anything, and to help them present every request to Him through prayer, with thanksgiving. Claim His promised peace on their behalf – a peace which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).
Dear Heavenly Father, when we look at the circumstances of our lives and at the world around us, there are many reasons to worry. Many reasons to fear. Many reasons for unrest. But when we look at You, all else fades away. I pray that my friend would remember Your unfailing love, Your unsurpassed wisdom, Your unending goodness, and Your unequaled power. After all, my friend can’t help but be at peace when they walk with this God by her side. It’s in the name of my Savior and Source of peace, Jesus Christ, that I pray. Amen.
I look forward to beginning the next leg of our journey tomorrow! Another fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) is on the agenda–we’ll be covering our friends with prayers for patience.
Click here to navigate to the main page and find Day 8 of the challenge.
