DECEMBER 2021 MBUMC FOCUS PRAYER

DECEMBER 2021 MBUMC FOCUS PRAYER

You are invited to join the Prayer Ministry team in praying this month’s focus prayer.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children!
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
(Matthew 5:9 NKJV/GNT/NLT)

Holy God, we thank you that Christ himself is our peace. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death upon the cross, and our hostility towards each other was put to death.

He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers or foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of the dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:14-22 NLT)

Holy Father, your servant Paul teaches us that your Kingdom is about living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If we serve Christ with this attitude, you will be pleased and others will approve. So then, we must always aim at those things that bring peace and that help strengthen one another. (Romans 14:17-19 GNT). I pray that you, God, the source of hope, will fill us completely with joy and peace as we put our trust in you. Then we will
overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13 NLT)

Since God chose us to be the holy people he loves, we must clothe ourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends us. Remember, the Lord forgave us, so we must forgive others. Above all, let us clothe ourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in our hearts. For as members of one body, we are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. (Colossians 3:12-15 NLT)

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me;
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God our creator, children all are we. Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me; let this be the moment now.
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.

H 431, words & music by Sy Miller & Jill Jackson, 1987.