The Ministry of Intercession - Day 18 - Pray for Peace

Pray for peace among nations.

The encouragement from yesterday in 1 Tim 2 to pray for rulers and kings is repeated today with focus on peace. 

Peace because God is a God of peace. He makes peace happen. 

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.  - Psalm 46:9

If God didn't interfere there would not be peace. The enemy wants war, death and destruction. They are all consequences of what Israel was warned against when they asked for a king: Watch out when kings get prideful and begin to trust in armies and weapon instead of God. They are not satisfied with the land they have but want more. That goes for all rulers. When they want more and think they diserve more. They they will try taking it with force from the neighboring countries. 

How to pray. 

We are called to pray for peace. Both because it has our own interest to live in a country of peace, but also becase God has called us to it. 

We are specifically called to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. 

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! "May they be secure who love you! 

7 Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!" 

8 For my brothers and companions' sake I will say, "Peace be within you!"  - Psalm 122:6-8

That is God's chosen city to a testimony to all nations, but also because it means that when there's peace in Jerusalem the permanent peace of Christ is at hand. 

Paul encourages us to pray with both spirit and mind. Andrew Murray encourages us to understand with our mind what war is and the terrible consequences it has for people suffering under it. Especially the innocent victims. When we understand or at least realize how bad it is we can let our mind move our hearts in prayer. And as we saw yesterday when our heart is moved to prayer in faith the prayers reaches God and He then moves to make peace.