Peace In Unlikely Places

 

...but those who plan peace

            have joy.

                Proverbs 12. 20

(Peace does not just happen

    without some kind of effort

    on our part.

How can we approach, plan,

equip ourselves, and navigate

differently this brokenness

      before us?

As much  as it is up to you,

 live peaceably with all.

                -- Romans 12. 18

Not a matter of wishing

     the conflict away,

but preparing our hearts

    by planning what to do,

what to say,

and snapping in place

           a loving attitude.

Peace is not 

      the absence of conflict,

but realizing and grasping

    the Presence of God

    right in the middle of strife.

Realizing our need for Him

   is what makes peace possible

   in unlikely places.

Yet not I,

    but Christ in me.)

 

O LORD,

Infiltrate our hearts with Your peace

that we may be peacemakers

   wherever You place us.

Help us to love others

             right to You,

even those who stir up strife,

those we may not even like,

    or who do not like us.

Fill our pockets

           and hearts

with Your grace and love

that we may instead

seize this opportunity

    to serve up peace.

Show us Your way through

  to pave peace in this situation

  today.