Keeping with the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr., we are sharing a week of prayers for peace today. Will you commit just a few minutes to sit in silence and pray for peace each day this week?
Sunday
Lead me from death to life,
from falsehood to truth.
Lead me from despair to hope,
from fear to trust.
Lead me from hate to love,
from war to peace.
Let peace fill my heart,
my world, my universe.
Amen.
~Universal Peace Prayer
Monday
Keep us, O God, from all pettiness.
Let us be large in though, in word, in deed.
Let us be done with fault-finding and leave off all self-seeking.
May we put away all pretense and meet each other face to face, without self-pity and without prejudice.
Grant that we may realize that it is the little things of life that create differences, that in the big things of life we are as one.
And, O God, let us not forget to be kind.
Amen.
~Mary Stewart
Tuesday
I am Peace
surrounded by Peace
secure in Peace.
Peace protects me
Peace supports me
Peace is in me
Peace is mine–
All is well.
Peace to all beings
Peace among all beings
Peace from all beings
I am steeped in Peace
Absorbed in Peace
In the streets, at our work
having peaceful thoughts,
Peaceful words, peaceful acts.
Amen.
~A Buddhist Meditation
Wednesday
The world before me is restored in beauty.
The world behind me is restored in beauty.
The world below me is restored in beauty.
The world above me is restored in beauty.
All things around me are restored in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.
Amen.
~A Native American Prayer
Thursday
Let nothing disturb you.
Let nothing frighten you.
All things are changing.
God alone is changeless.
Patience attains the good.
One who has God lacks nothing.
God alone fills all our needs.
Amen.
~St. Teresa of Avila
Friday
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there in injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
Amen.
~from the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Saturday
If anyone speaks ill of you, praise them always.
If anyone injures you, serve them nicely.
If anyone persecutes you, help them in all possible ways.
You will attain immense strength.
You will control anger and pride.
You will enjoy peace, poise and serenity.
You will become divine.
Amen.
~Swami Sivananda
*Prayers from the “Let Peace Fill My Heart” brochure, shared by Pax Christi, USA and Benetvision.