~ Prayer for Vigilance ~

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." --1 Corinthians 15:58

Oh Father, we're faint. Tired and spent, we are exhausted from carrying our own troubles, trying to solve our problems, spending our effort on tasks that seem fruitless. Take our burdens, dear Lord, that we may rest in You. Help us to remember that we alone are not enough for this task of peace, and enable us to turn to you and let you be the work that fuels us. Bring peace to our homes and our lands, dearest Father, and endow them with new life, new hope, and complete healing. Show us moment by moment how we can help you in that effort, dear Lord, but let us not forget that we cannot do this work in our own strength. We are coworkers with you in peace--not more, but never less. And one day we will all realize, in unison, that we are already joined together in peace and love in the center of Your heart. We will then know, truly, that All is Well.

There is so much to be done in the world today--so many people, so many needs, so many hurts. In our efforts to take care of our families, to work in service to others, to help further the thought and cause of peace, it is easy for us to get caught up in the doing and forget the most important thing: simply being in the presence of God. This is what makes a life blossom; this is what brings love where hate used to walk; this is what calms the fears that make people lash out and begin the cycle of violence that only love can heal. Our time alone with God eventually brings us inner peace, which radiates outward to our families, filling our homes, schools, places of worship, businesses, communities, nations, and ultimately, our world.