3 Powerful Prayer Focuses Jesus Taught For Effecting Change And Promoting Peace
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Our country is in crisis, and, in light of current events, I’m tempted at times to feel powerless. There are forces much bigger than me at play—forces that are overwhelming and even frightening to contemplate. I long for peace in our nation but question what I can do to foster it.
Perhaps you feel similarly.
If so, here’s some good news: Despite how we might feel, we are not powerless.
Romans 8:11 says that if you are a follower of Jesus, then the same power that raised Christ from the dead dwells within you—that’s resurrection power living inside you!
The Bible also tells us this: “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16 CJB). So even though you or I may feel powerless, the truth is, we are not.
We can make a difference, and our power-filled prayers are one of the greatest ways we can effect change and promote peace.
As we pray, is there anything specific we should focus on, besides a general petition for peace?
Though there are many wonderful lessons on prayer in the Bible, lately I’ve been reflecting on the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13. There are three prayer focuses found in this prayer that I believe are particularly powerful keys for peace (there are surely more than three, but these are the three I’ve been focusing on in my own prayer life lately!).
For each prayer focus, I’m starting first with myself—because individual change is what creates corporate change—and then praying for us as a collective whole.
Prayer Focus 1: That our hearts will be fixed on God
The first line of the prayer Jesus taught his disciples says, “Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy” (6:9 NLT).
The Passion Translation puts it this way: “Our Father, dwelling in the heavenly realms, may the glory of your name be the center on which our lives turn.”
As I pray for peace, I’m praying first and foremost that God is the center on which my life turns. That everything I think, say, and do will flow from intimate knowledge of and love relationship with Him.
In addition to praying this personally, I’m praying this for us nationally, because God is the only One who can lead us into healing, understanding, reconciliation, unity, and peace.
Let’s pray together: God, we take time to remember and meditate on who You are: All Powerful, Perfect Provider, the God Who Sees, the God of Peace. May you be the center from which we move forward in our relationships, work, and communities.
Prayer Focus 2: That we will allow our hearts to be vessels bringing Heaven to Earth
In verse 10 of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray this: “May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” (NLT).
I’m praying that God’s will be done here on Earth as it is in Heaven. May His justice be here, may His peace be here, may His righteousness be here.
As we pray in this way, we can posture our hearts toward peace by remembering that when we make Jesus Lord of our lives and He fills our hearts, our hearts become His home. They become His temple.
In ancient times, the temple was the connection point between Heaven and Earth. Now that our hearts are God’s temple, our hearts become a connection point between Heaven and Earth.
So when we pray that it be done here on Earth as it is in Heaven, that transformation begins in and flows from each of our individual hearts. We are a pivotal piece of the puzzle. To have justice on Earth, we must have justice in our hearts. To have peace on Earth, we must have peace in our hearts. We might not be able to change the whole world, but when we allow Heaven to flow through our hearts, we can change the little corner of the world we’ve been given.
Let’s pray together: God, may Your will be done. Help us bring Heaven to Earth and let it start in our hearts. Help us know how to share Your love in our everyday situations—through kind words, compassion, and wisdom-guided action.
Prayer Focus 3: Forgiveness and reconciliation
In verse 12 of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray: “Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” (NLT).
To move forward in bringing the peace of Heaven to Earth, we must repent of our own sins and be willing to forgive. I’ve been asking God to reveal any areas in my heart where I need to repent and any areas I need to forgive. Honestly, sometimes I need to repent and forgive after just reading the news or scrolling through social media.
Forgiveness can be a sensitive subject, I think because there is so much misunderstanding about it.
We don’t have space here to get too far into that subject, but forgiveness doesn’t mean your hurt doesn’t matter or you have to pretend it didn’t happen.
Rather, it means giving your hurt to God and releasing the offender into His holy and just hands. John Eldredge explains forgiveness this way: “Forgiveness says, ‘It was wrong, it mattered, and I release you.’” Forgiveness frees us to experience healing and restoration.
Let’s pray together: God, may our hearts be open before You. May we be quick to repent when You make us aware of impure motives within, and may we be willing to forgive when people hurt us, knowing we are releasing them into Your hands—hands of perfect justice.
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National peace starts with individual peace. We can each promote peace by praying the way Jesus taught us to pray, believing our prayers have power, and posturing our hearts to receive and share God’s peace.
Wherever you are, I’m praying for God’s peace and comfort to surround you this week. Our current crisis is not the end of the story. God is good, He has good plans for you, and good things are coming!
I’m listening, and I’d love to hear your thoughts! You can let me know what you’re thinking in the comment section below!
In purpose and faith,
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