PRAYING TO NOW WHAT MAKES FOR PEACE

PRAYING TO KNOW WHAT MAKES FOR PEACE

One of my first looks at Jerusalem on a trip there years ago was from the edge of a hill in the afternoon sunshine.  I don’t know exactly where Jesus was when He said the words we are about to read but he was nearing the city.

Now as He drew near Jesus saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace!  But now they are hidden from your eyes.  Luke 19:41-42

There is so little that we finite human beings know about what is going on in our world – both the world around us and the world of our soul.  Jesus knows so much more and is so ready and willing to help us navigate things in a way that will be helpful all around.  Unfortunately, in our insanity we sometimes continue to operate on our own limited understanding and miss the good things God wants to bless us with.

“If you had known … the things that make for your peace.”  Oh Lord, forgive us for the many times we’ve missed blessings You wanted to pour out on us because we didn’t take time to let You inform us about what we needed to know.

Holy Spirit, in this day, we want to open our hearts and minds and welcome Your voice.

Jesus said: “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you …. he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” John 16:7-8,”  John 14:26

Lord we don’t even really know right from wrong.  We can read things in the Bible but even applying them correctly to our lives and circumstances is only done properly under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes we do our best and try to get things right but aren’t quite sure and we need You to affirm what’s right in us and what we are doing.  Thank you for being one who is ready and willing to give us that kind of encouragement.  Too many of us only seem to hear Your voice when we feel like we have done wrong. 

I pray Lord that many today who are seeking to walk with You and longing to do what’s right will hear your “Well done, good and faithful servant”  affirmation in their hearts and be encouraged and uplifted.  We know that we will hear that in heaven if we’ve walked with You here but I’m grateful that we can hear that today as well.  You did it for Jesus at His baptism and when He was transfigured on the mountain and so I know it’s something that You ready and willing to do for us.

Whatever we need to know today in order to have peace, I pray we would be open to the Holy Spirit and receive Your words of life.  Amen