Sunday Messages

This Week’s Message

Praying for World Peace

Do our prayers for peace really make a difference?

Yes, our prayers definitely make a difference because they are part of the rising consciousness of peace. The more people of the world who are praying for peace, the sooner peace will come and the sooner the consciousness of the world will move into peace. Peace is for everyone and all of Life. All positive prayers contain an unspoken request for peace.

How do we pray for peace in the world, especially in these troubled times? Prayers that come from the heart are the best prayers. They don’t need fancy words, just pure emotions of love and compassion and peace. No matter to whom our prayers are directed, they all go to the same place – to the Divine Creator of the Universe. If you don’t know the words to pray for peace – you can just take a few moments whenever you think about it and just simply be peaceful. Be the peace during your meditation and reflection time. Your Inner Self knows this is one of your prayers and will send this feeling of peace onward.

You can also find wonderful peace prayers from different religions online. Here is one from the Center for Interreligious Understanding that focuses on replacing negative actions with positive ones:

“In the spirit of all teachers of peace who inspire the many faith traditions, help me, and all the people of the world, learn how to replace hate, war, oppression and division with love, peace, forgiveness, freedom and reconciliation.”

Peace prayers are most effective when you don’t feel peaceful or when you are watching the news that wants you to be upset. In these times, simply saying, “May peace prevail on earth” will be an effective prayer. Blessing others, especially those with whom you may disagree; blessing situations; and blessing all of creation are good peace prayers.

Another way to pray for peace is to breathe in Light and breathe out Peace. This breath prayer is as near as your breath. Use this one when you are upset or hear or see something upsetting. You don’t have to remember any words.

Sometimes I sing peace songs while I am driving to town and back. This is one way to pray for our community, to send out peace as you are driving along the streets. We can also walk along the river and send out blessings to the water and it will carry the blessings along its journey to the sea. Or you can join the Prayer Gatherings at the Peace Pole or other peace events, like the one we are having today.

I talked to a man recently that told me a wonderful peace story. He was in Wal-Mart and he was having a very bad day. Down one aisle he noticed a group of people wandering around shopping and down another aisle another group of people. He remembered seeing a bus out in the parking lot when he came in and thought they must have come on the bus. One of the members of the group approached him and said to him out of the blue, “Sir, it seems like you are having a hard time. I don’t usually do this, but I was directed to come over here and ask you if our group, could pray for you.” The man didn’t know what to say, so he said, “Okay.” The two groups circled around him and one of the leaders prayed for him. The man thanked them and realized he felt better. The group went on about their shopping and eventually got back on the bus and drove away.

You may not be directed by your inner voice to pray for someone in Wal-Mart, but you can certainly pray for yourself, your family, your friends, and other people you meet in your private moments of prayer. You can pray for your pet companions, the birds, the animals, the trees, and all of Creation. All of these prayers add to the prayers for peace in the world.

Taking time before each meal to affirm peace in the world is also a good way to keep peace in our consciousness. Grace is a powerful prayer and also connects us spiritually to those eating with us. Food is a great peace maker. In some traditions, offering food to someone helps to make up differences. It’s often called a “peace offering.”

There are so many ways to pray for world peace. Each time we think about peace, feel peaceful, and do something in the name of peace we are also adding to the peace consciousness of the world.

Praying for world peace is an important spiritual practice. This prayer from the Baha’i faith emphasizes unity and divine guidance for all people.

“O God! Thou art kind to all, Thou hast provided for all, dost shelter all, conferrest life upon all... Unite all. Let the religions agree and make the nations one, so that they may see each other as one family and the whole earth as one home.”

Please join me in reciting this peace prayer:

May peace prevail on earth.
May peace prevail in our hearts.
May peace prevail in our families.
May peace prevail in our community.
May peace prevail in our nation.
May peace prevail on earth.
May peace prevail in the universe.
We are the peace.

You are the peace. Namaste.