National Day of Prayer - 2012

Dearest Lord,

It is with an open heart that we come to You today on this event, the National Day of Prayer.  But, where do we begin?  There is so much conflict in our world today.  We ask ourselves how we might possibly make the tiniest impact on such a long-standing fight in the Middle East.  It is so overwhelming, Lord.  To pray for world peace is a very large order; and, as humans, we feel helpless in the process.

Yet, somehow Lord, You graciously come to us each day—the sun rises and sets, the rains come, the rivers flow and the plants flourish and feed us—and for that, Lord, we are filled with gratitude.  In our efforts to give something in return on this special day, please help us to be that mindful, that individual.  Help us to think beyond ourselves to others’ needs today—even if for just one person.

As we go about our day on this National Day of Prayer, please give us a watchful eye—help us to notice a sad face, a tired gait, an empty heart.  Please help us to know that even the smiling faces have frustrations, financial woes, or worries on their mind.  Please help us today, Lord, to extend our hand to another person—to open a door, say a kind word, express a smiling face or a cheerful hello!  And, as we go through our day, please help us to pray.  For we know, Lord, that prayer works miracles and all of life is a miracle!

Lord, it is through You that we learn peace and love—it is through You that we learn forgiveness.  Please help us to be more compassionate, to extend understanding to those who are most misunderstood.  Please help us to open our hearts and share the love that is inside everyone’s heart.  Please help us to step outside ourselves to ask for Your love and healing to be given to those who have chosen a path of evil and wickedness.

Lord, please show us the way to turn this ship around from a warring world to a peaceful one.  Please help us to realize we are all vulnerable souls, trying to do our best in a hectic, sometimes scary, society.  We, in America, have had our fears peaked recently; other nations suffer from this type of fear daily.  We need to be cognizant of their lives as our fellow human beings.

As Mother Teresa said:  “The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; but, do good anyway!”  Lord, help us to glean from her undying spirit.  Help us to see beyond the angry face, the tattered clothes, the aged stance, or the crippled walk.  Help us to know that there is a beautiful heart in every human—a heart that with the slightest, most gentle, touch, may open and flourish.

Dear Lord, lastly, I ask that You teach us to pray and to love one another.  For every moment of love that we extend, please help that to multiply abundantly toward peace in our world.  Please help us to go to our own hearts to find Your peace.

With gratefulness and thankfulness, I ask Your blessing on humanity, Lord.  Amen.