Wednesday September 7, 2022

Today is Wednesday, September 7 and we are praying through the Beatitudes.

Loving God, as a new day begins I breathe deeply and pause to rest in You. Quiet my mind, still my wandering thoughts and fill my heart with love. Lead me into the mystery of holy silence and hold me close to Your heart.

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord Jesus, I have come here to listen to Your voice and receive the wisdom of Your teaching. Shine your light on the path of my life and reveal the way You want me to proceed in all things. Amen.

I worship the Lord my God and seek his peace with the words of Psalm 85.

Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation. I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants— but let them not turn to folly. Psalm 85:6-8

Pause and Pray

Up to this point in the Beatitudes, Jesus teaches an inward religion of the heart. This is what Christians are to be in their soul. Each blessing builds upon another – I acknowledge a poverty of spirit, mourn my sinful nature, hunger and thirst for righteousness, am meek, merciful and pure of heart. In the seventh Beatitude Jesus shifts to outward behavior – I am to be a peacemaker. The original Greek implies a constant seeking of goodness, harmony, tranquility, welfare, wholeness and completeness in all things and for all people.*

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:8

I must broaden my understanding of the term peacemaker. According to John Wesley, a peacemaker hates debate and contention and does all they can to prevent discord and strife. Peacemakers endeavor to calm the storm, soften disagreements, and reconcile differences. They preserve and restore peace in every situation. He or she knows no bounds for peace and at every opportunity goes out of the way to bring goodness and blessing. Using every opportunity the peacemaker does the most good in every possible way to family, friends, and fellow Christians, and even goes beyond that to show love to neighbors, strangers, antagonists and adversaries.*

Ask: Where do I have the opportunity today to be a peacemaker? Do I place boundaries on extending my peace to certain people or groups?

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace. Come, reign on the throne of my heart and teach me how to seek Shalom and work for blessings in the lives of others. Fill me with love for those with whom I disagree, fit my feet with shoes that bring the gospel of peace, let me always be a bearer of good news and lover of reconciliation. I read the words from Matthew again and listen for the message you have for me.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:8-9

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

Peacemakers are called children of God. The Father will bless me when I seek peace for myself and others. God will continually remind me I am his beloved child, confirm I am adopted into His family, and abundantly pour His great love into my heart. What does God want to tell me today about peace and peacemaking? Where in my soul do I need the balm of Christ applied? Who in my life needs the peace of Christ that passes understanding?

Pause and Pray

Come, Lord Jesus, speak into my heart and life and teach me the vocation of a peacemaker. In every circumstance and situation give me your perspective and inspire me to calm, soften, forgive, reconcile, and bless the lives of others. Even those most difficult for me to love. Amen.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

*Resources: Sermons on Several Occasions, Volume II – Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount: Discourse Three, by John Wesley, edited by William J. Abraham, 2021.

As I leave this time of prayer, I go with the peace of Christ in my heart carrying his love without bounds into a hurting world.

Amen