A Day of Prayer for Peace

Nothing beats a day when you remain stress-free, worry-free, full of confidence in Christ, and secure in Him Who gives you peace. Some people find peace when they have money, while others have no peace of mind and heart despite having a lot of money. But true and lasting peace is a gift from God (see John 14:27). It is not something the world can give, or material things can suffice. How do you pray to God for peace? Here is a simple prayer for peace:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your wonderful thoughts and plans for me; for never leaving me or forsaking me. As I fix my mind toward You – toward Your faithfulness, goodness, and grace upon my life – I receive the peace that guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Amen.

When you acknowledge your Heavenly Father every day and live a life of gratitude toward Him, you experience peace in your life because your mind is fixated on Him. The moment you focus on something else, notice that this peace isn’t perfect. When you think about money, it can cause you worry. Think about your children and there may be cares. Think about the future and there may be doubts. True peace is keeping your mind stayed on God and in His Word. He is the only One Who can give you perfect peace for each day.

What do you pray for in difficult times?

Sometimes, it can be challenging to receive the peace of God when you are going through difficult times in life. You can be overwhelmed by problems and situations, and many negative thoughts that affect your emotions rush through. Isaiah 26:3 says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Your mind must be fixed on God and upon His Word no matter the situations of your life; Isaiah 26:3 says that this is the only way to keep you in perfect peace. So, in difficult times, it is best to pray for things that are heavenly and speak of the Word of God instead of dwelling on the situations, difficulties, and challenges you face. His Word will give you peace and direction as you focus on this one thing called faith. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by the Word of God (see Romans 10:17) regardless of your situation. You can start declaring His Word into your situation to guard your mind and heart in Christ Jesus.

Here are some Bible verses that are encouraging – speaking life, peace, and hope in difficult times – which you can meditate upon and will give you peace for the day:

1. Psalm 118:6

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

2. John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

3. Isaiah 43:2

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

4. Matthew 6:25-26

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

5. Philippians 4:6-7

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

6. Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

7. Psalm 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

8. Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

How do I pray for peace and forgiveness?

Forgiveness is directly connected with the peace of God. Jesus said that those who don’t forgive others of their sin wouldn’t be forgiven by the Heavenly Father as well (see Matthew 6:14-16). You cannot receive peace if you are not at peace with God through His forgiveness. So, as you are thinking about praying for God’s forgiveness, it can also be a good opportunity first to forgive those who might have hurt you, offended you, or caused you pain. As you think about these people or this person, say it with all your heart and mind that in praying, you are releasing forgiveness toward them. Then you can start asking your Heavenly Father to forgive you for your sins as well. Here is a prayer that you can take as a guide:

Heavenly Father, I humbly come before Your presence as I bring to You these people (their names) who have offended me and caused me pain. I forgive them and bless them. I surrender them to Your loving grace and mercy, and I let go of every offense and pain that I have felt. Forgive me too, Father, for the things I may have done wrong. I receive Your peace, Your grace, and Your love in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The more you forgive others and let go of everything that stumbles you, the more you will experience peace in life. Romans 12:18 says, If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. We are to live in peace with everyone so that our lives will also be full of God’s peace. Sometimes you will meet difficult people that may take away your peace, but with God’s help and grace, take this as an opportunity to develop your character and spiritual muscles to become Christlike every day. Dying to self can be a painful part of the process, but peace is worth pursuing. If it is for the sake of peace, it’s worth dying for.

How do I pray for peace at home?

One crucial factor contributing to or affecting most people’s inner peace is their homelives. When something is going on with your family or a family member is going through a struggle, it can be worrisome, stressful, and even fearful if you lose sight of God and His promises. It is important to keep God’s Word close to you at all times and go on declaring His promises to your home. This is the way to keep your family in peace no matter the storm. Take a look at Jesus, who was sleeping on a boat despite the huge waves crashing in. He wasn’t moved by the situation but His disciples were already panicking. Jesus had peace, knowing that God could always protect them through the storms. 

As you pray for peace in your home each day, start by declaring God’s Word and His promises. Declare Jeremiah 29:11, that God has beautiful plans and hopes for your family, to give you a future and never harm you. You can also declare the presence of God in this manner: 

I declare the peace of God to reign in my home in Jesus’ name. No storm, no weapon of the enemy, or anything that aims to steal, kill, and destroy my family will prosper in Christ Jesus!

Seeking God each day and relying on His Word keeps your mind fixed on the One Who gives you peace. May God bless you and give you peace as you consistently pursue Him all the days of your life in Christ Jesus.