Prayer for Peace—Psalm 119:161-168

Prayer for Peace

Psalm 119:161-168


Peace. In this world, peace can seem pretty elusive. So many things threaten peace within our countries, communities, families, and within ourselves. It seems a day cannot go by without the peace we desire being injured or even seemingly destroyed. In the beginning, when God first created the world, there was peace. God made the world and it functioned in perfect harmony. Adam and Eve tended the garden in unity, each one fulfilling their role and design in perfect capacity. God Himself came and walked with them and talked with them. They experienced peace with God, between themselves, and there was nothing that could disrupt their inner tranquility. All was as it should be. Until the Fall. 
 
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, suddenly the peace they had known and never lived without was broken. They no longer enjoyed the intimacy of God's presence. Instead, they hid in fear. They no longer selflessly loved one another, but instead cast blame, unwilling to bear the burden of their own guilt. And emotions unknown to them before, shame, guilt, fear, now replaced the joy and freedom of peace they had always known. And ever since that moment, when peace was broken, the human heart has longed for the return of unbroken, unhindered, lasting peace. And our God has been unfolding His plan to restore what has been lost.
 

Peace with God

The most important peace we need is the reconciliation of ourselves to God. Even in the garden, after Adam and Eve rebelled against God, God was already giving promises and pointers to the One who would make a permanent reconciliation between man and God possible. God promised He would send One who would crush the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15), and throughout Scripture, He continued to make promises about this One who would be a prophet like Moses but greater (Deuteronomy 18:15; Hebrews 3:3), be the Son of David with an everlasting kingdom (2 Samuel 7:13), be the promised Child who would be called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and the Suffering Servant crushed for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5). In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son, and Jesus took our place bearing the wrath we deserved in order that He might bring us to God, reconciling us to Himself through the blood of the cross. "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). This is the most important peace that must be ours. Have we been made right with God through the blood of the cross? Have we been justified, forgiven of our sins and clothed in Christ's righteousness? Is this the peace we need, or our loved ones need?
 

Peace with Others

But there are other categories of peace. We also long for peace within our relationships. Because of the Fall and the sin that is within us, we live at times in tension with other people, even those we are most intimately attached to in this life. Selfishness, misunderstanding, indifference, fear of conflict all contribute to fractured peace in some of our relationships. As children of God, when fractures happen, it should be our desire to reestablish peace. We keep this promise before our eyes, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). Those who fear God seek peace and pursue it (1 Peter 3:11). They diligently seek to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). But, sometimes, even when we have done all we can, some fractured relationships will not be fully reconciled in this life. But, as much as depends on us, if it is possible, we strive to live at peace with all men (Romans 12:18).

Peace Within

One more category in which we long for peace to reign is in our inner man. The anxieties and pressures of this broken world, coupled with our own brokenness, can amount to inner turmoil and a lack of calmness and tranquility in our hearts and minds. But there is peace promised to the believer. When situations tempt us to become anxious or fearful, or when we face the pressures of the workforce or home life, we need to recognize that we need to keep our focus on Christ. Those who trust in the Lord, make their requests known to God, give Him thanks, and His peace guards their heart and mind (Philippians 4:6-7). The steadfast of mind He promises to keep in perfect peace because he trusts in Him (Isaiah 26:3). If we are in Him, He has given us His peace so that we do not need to be troubled or fearful (John 14:27). It is not usually easy or quick to speak the truth to our anxious minds and calm our troubled hearts, but His promise of peace remains. In our times of distress, we need to keep pouring our hearts out to Him, trusting His providence, and pursuing His peace.

Great Peace in Christ

How does all of this connect to this section of Psalm 119? Psalm 119:165 states, “Great peace have those who love your law, nothing can make them stumble.” Christ holds the key to the peace promised in Psalm 119:165. Without Christ, this promise of great peace would be out of our reach and unattainable. Without Christ being the One that perfectly fulfilled all the lofty love and rejoicing in God's Word that is found in this section, we have no confidence to pursue and claim great and perfect peace. We would have no boldness to approach the throne of grace to obtain the peace He has promised. But if we are in Him, that makes all the difference. He is the One, who in our place and on our behalf, can say, "My heart stands in awe of your words. I rejoice at your word...I love your law...and I do your commandments. My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly. I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you" (119:161-168). And His life, sacrifice, and victory obtained for us the most needed peace: reconciliation with God, but it also made peace with others and the peace of a settled heart and mind obtainable. Can there be turmoil surrounding us and yet tranquility within? Can our peace WITH God be the defining factor for all other kinds of peace we need? Could the reconciliation that is ours in Christ stabilize our hearts and minds when peace in our circumstances eludes us? Yes. In Christ, yes. "Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble"(119:165). That is ours in Christ and because of Christ. God is even now giving us a taste of the permanent and everlasting peace we will experience in that Place where there is no longer any curse (Revelation 22:3). 

What kind of peace are you in need of today? Our God is the God of peace. He blesses His people with peace (Psalm 29:11). Let us pray through this section of Psalm 119 for great peace in whatever circumstances we are in need.

119:161-162 Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.
Heavenly Father, we pray:
▫️As Your children, we face persecution in this world. The prince of this world would have us fearful, in conflict, discouraged, weary, and acting contrary to our heavenly citizenship. Strengthen us to live in such awe of Your words that we live upon them and pursue Your peace, not in our own strength but in Yours.
▫️We rejoice at Your Word. Your Word reminds us that You are the God of peace who can continually grant us peace in every circumstance (2 Thessalonians 3:16). Please bring Your great and perfect peace to ________.
▫️You told us that we would have trouble in this world. The trouble we face is _________. But You also told us to take courage because You have overcome the world (John 16:33). Give me courage to pursue peace in the midst of this trouble.
 
119:163-164 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law. Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules. 
Heavenly Father, we pray:
▫️Falsehood, dishonesty, lying, manipulation, unfaithlessness are contrary to Your law and disrupt peace in families, friendships, and business relationships. Help us as believers to love Your law and keep it as our guide for speaking the truth in love to promote peace in _________.
▫️We praise You for the reconciliation You have accomplished for us in Christ. Thank You for justifying us so that we have peace with You. Teach us what Your peace looks like and acts like. Give us wisdom from Your Word on how to bring peace to the circumstances or relationships where it is needed.
 
119:165-166 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. I hope for your salvation, O Lord, and I do your commandments. 
Heavenly Father, we pray:
▫️You have promised peace to those who trust in You, perfect peace to the steadfast of mind. Build our faith so much in You and the faithfulness of Your Word that when we are faced with trying circumstances that tempt us to fear or anxiousness, we would quickly turn our eyes back to You and rest in Your providential care of us.
▫️You said You have given us peace, not like the world’s peace, but a peace that means we do not need to be troubled or fearful. In _________, we have felt troubled and fearful. Exchange that fear with Your peace.
▫️We hope for Your salvation. We need Your help and deliverance in _________. Please restore peace to this relationship/circumstance. Help us, as much as it depends on us, to be at peace with those in our lives (Romans 12:18).
▫️Where there is disrupt in any friendship/relationship, help each one of us on both sides to seek peace and pursue it (1 Peter 3:11).
 
119:167-168 My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly. I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you.
Heavenly Father, we pray:
▫️We would be obedient to You and keep Your testimonies. In these areas where we need peace, we would be obedient to You in pursuing peace. If we have loved ones who are not at peace with You, we ask that You call them to Yourself, out of darkness into Your light. For those relationships where there is discord, grant us humility to obtain peace. In our times of fearfulness, do Your work in us to help us to learn to more quickly turn to You, casting our cares on You.
▫️All our ways are before You. Reveal to us areas where we are hindering peace and help us to repent from our sin and embrace Your way. 
▫️God of peace, please continually grant us peace in every circumstance (2 Thessalonians 3:16). Fill us with all joy and peace in believing that we would abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). 
 
May the Lord do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, for His glory and our good. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All right reserved.



Photo credit to kiendo.

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