~ Prayer for Courage ~

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
--Joshua 1:9

How dark the horizon sometimes looks. How clearly we see the fence against the sky. Does it hold our bodies back? Yes. Does it contain our spirits? No, definitely no. Lord, one day, in your timing, all fences will be gone and we will move freely as your children, in peace throughout the earth. In your time, in your way, healing with come, and we will sing freely and rejoice with all those who live and breathe in you. Give us the courage, Father, to stay the course, to keep praying, to keep believing, to focus on the good you are bringing about as you heal our idea of separation with each other and with you.

Have you ever thought about the word "discourage"? To discourage someone is, literally, to take courage away from that person. Today we can recognize others who would, perhaps because of their own discouragement, discourage us in our hopes for peace, our vision of the future, our dedication to love. We can encourage them, and bless our surroundings and all those we encounter with showers of joy and peace. And we can ask for renewed courage, a new sense of heart, to do the small tasks we are given this day in the work for peace.