2026.01.20

A Prayer for these times

Last Friday, I spent time in silent reflection, trying to process this disturbed culture we live in. Truth be told, I was wrestling with my role as a Christian pastor at a time when a number of people I serve have taken sides and expect me to take theirs. The product of my reflection was a prayer based on an essential Hebrew word, Jesus’ opening to the Sermon on the Mount, and the prayer our Lord taught us to pray.

Below is the prayer I delivered from the pulpit on Sunday.

LORD, 

Shalom is such a profound word.

Shalom embraces concepts of completeness, soundness, welfare, safety, tranquility, friendship, peace, and harmony.

Shalom hovers across the Scriptures like your Holy Spirit,  and describes right relationships with You, neighbors, fellow Christians, and creation.

Shalom speaks to internal serenity and societal order.

Shalom is also intimately linked to Wisdom. 

God, we so need your Shalom now.

Lord Jesus, we so need your wisdom in these troubled times.             

Great Spirit, we so need your inspiration in our own lives as we navigate the way toward peace.

We pray for the persecuted and the persecutor. 

We pray for the righteous and the unrighteous.

We pray for the peacemakers and the antagonists.

We pray for those with pure hearts and those with hearts corrupted by anger and hate.

We pray for those who are satisfied and those who hunger and thirst.

We pray for the meek and the powerful.

We pray for those who celebrate and those who grieve.

We pray for the haves and the have nots.

We pray for the seen and the unseen.

We pray for your Universal Shalom.

And now we pray the words that Jesus taught us:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.