Among the many prayers in the Bible are numerous prayers for peace. One example are the verses ascribed to King David, probably written around 3,000 years ago:
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you be secure.
May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels.”
For the sake of my family and friends,
I will say, “Peace be within you” (Psalm 122:6-8 NIV).
I regularly pray those words, just as they are recorded in our Bibles, praying for peace in Jerusalem (the very name of which includes the Hebrew word for peace: “shalom”). But I also apply those lines more broadly, adapting and applying them to contemporary situations, along with numerous other biblical prayers and admonitions to promote peace. Here are seven prayers for peace, drawn from the Bible:
1) Prayer for perfect peace in your heart and soul
Lord, the prophet Isaiah said to You, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You” (Isaiah 26:3 NIV). And Jesus, You said, “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 NIV). So, I pray for that perfect peace of Christ (Colossians 3:15) to rule in my heart and soul.
2) Prayer for peaceful sleep
Heavenly Father, as the psalmist sang, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8 NIV).
3) Prayer for peace in the church
God, Your word says, “The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace” (Psalm 29:11 NIV). Help me and Your whole church to “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3 NIV).
4) Prayer to be a peacemaker
Jesus, You said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9 NIV). I want to be blessed; I choose to be a peacemaker, knowing that “Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness” (James 3:18 NIV).
5) Prayer for the peace that passes understanding
Prince of Peace, I ask for You to fulfill in me the promise of Your word that “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 NIV).
6) Prayer to live in peace with all
God, since Your word says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18 NIV), I ask You to help me “make every effort to do what leads to peace” (Romans 14:19 NIV), that I and those around me “may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:2 NIV).
7) Prayer for the peace of a city, region or home
God, I pray for the peace of __________:
“May those who love you be secure.
May there be peace within your walls
and security within your boundaries.
For the sake of everyone within,
I will say, ‘Peace be within you’”(based on Psalm 122:6-8 NIV).
That last prayer, from Psalm 122, is a great one to pray while on a walk around your neighborhood or city. It can also work as a house blessing for any home you enter. And all of those prayers above can help to cultivate and spread the “shalom” of God, a fruit of His Spirit (see Galatians 5:22).
