Heavenly Father, we seek Your wisdom and guidance today. In times of uncertainty and war, grant us the clarity to know Your will and the strength to follow it. Help us to make choices that honour You and promote peace. Guide the leaders of nations to make wise decisions that bring about lasting solutions. We trust in Your divine wisdom and pray that it will lead us toward a future of peace. Amen.

Prayer for Peace 14/09/2025

Take me away, Dad.

Take me away from the chaos

Towards a

green garden.

Chaos disturbs my mind, Dad!

It breaks my heart and exhausts me,

Chaos isn’t for me,

What’s for me is joy and happiness,

driving a bike and holding a flower,

I love my school, notebooks

and my toys

Dad,

Give me the freedom to choose for

myself, my hopes and my ambitions.

Asem (15) (Unicef)

This week’s prayer is a poem by Areej Essam who is 13

What if peace was a pandemic?

where everyone come close to

everyone to spread love?

What if peace was education itself?

Where we learn how to

make everyone happy?

We need peace,

We have to spread peace,

With peace we are happy,

we are calm, we are smiling.

With peace, we can get

through any conflict.

With peace, no bad dreams, no hatred.

Together, in one group,

holding each other’s hands

let’s build peace, let’s make peace.

For the next few weeks, we will read poems written by children and young people living in war zones. The children write about peace from war. We will use these poems for our Prayers for Peace.

“Isn’t it time for the war to end?

Isn’t it time for the child to feel joy?

And live at home in peace,

My future was lost in the war

And my dreams scattered in the rubble,

When does all the suffering disappear?

When will the darkness go away?

When will hope replace despair?

Peace should not be forbidden for us

Oh, corners of all the country,

say it out loud,

We want peace, we want peace.”

Mohammed Alyazidi (21)

For those who are fleeing: sanctuary

For those who are staying: safety

For those who are fighting: peace

For those whose hearts are breaking: comfort

For those who see no future: hope

Amen

(Poor Clare’s Prayer)

May God bless us with discomfort, 
at easy answers, half-truths 
and superficial relationships
so that we may live 
deep within our hearts
May God bless us with anger
at injustice, oppression
and exploitation of people
so that we may work for
justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless us with tears
to shed for those who suffer pain,
rejection, hunger and war.
so that we may reach out our hand
and turn their pain to joy.
May God bless us with just enough 
foolishness to believe we can 
make a difference In the world.

This week, another prayer by Rev Jon Humphries which he published on the “Working for Justice – Uniting Church of Australia” Facebook page.

God, help us.

God, help us know peace.

God, help us make peace.

God, forgive our fear.

God, forgive our violence.

God, forgive us.

God, we pray.

Amen.

The Prayer for Peace this week is in the form of points which you can use to Pray for Peace.

 PRAY FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE VIOLENCE

• That people in conflict zones will be protected from the violence; that there will be provision of essential supplies, such as food and clean water. Pray for vulnerable people who cannot flee, for example those with disabilities or the elderly.
• That refugees will find safe places to stay. Especially when refugees are being discriminated against on racial grounds – pray that there will be compassion and support for all.
• For healing for people who are wounded or have experienced trauma; and comfort for those who are grieving.

PRAY FOR THOSE IN POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP

• That leaders on both sides of conflict will be filled with compassion, wisdom, calm and a desire for peace. 
• That world leaders will seek ways to build bridges, de-escalate tensions, and restore global security.

PRAY FOR THE CHURCH

• That the church in the wider region of conflict will be a voice for peace; and that they will have the resources they need to help people who are vulnerable.
• That the church and other organisations around the world will have the courage and conviction to speak out against aggression and injustice.
• That God’s power will be revealed through the church in the situation you are praying about – bringing a message of love and hope in the midst of the darkness.

PRAY FOR THE GLOBAL IMPACT 

• There will be knock on effects in conflict to wider regions, and the rest of the world. Pray for the damage to be contained and stability to return. 

PRAY FOR PEACE

• That there will be an immediate end to the violence – that peace will come sooner than anyone could have expected or hoped for.
• That diplomatic solutions will be found that will lead to lasting peace in the region.
• That people who have fled will be able to return home, and that what has been destroyed will be rebuilt.
• For strength for individuals and organisations working for peace at local, national and regional levels. (Tearfund)

On 5 August 1983, on the eve of the Hiroshima bombing’s 38th anniversary, the WCC (World Council of Churches) Assembly held a night-long vigil for peace.

For peace in your country
For the victims of violence everywhere
For those struggling for peace and justice
For churches in conflict situations
For a world without war and violence

Lead me from death to life, from falsehood to truth,
Lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust.
Lead me from hate to love, from war to peace,
Let peace fill our beings, our world and our universe.
Amen.

(World Prayer for Peace from the Vancouver Assembly)

Lord of the nations, and God of all peace, pour out Your Spirit in rich measure on those in high places and low, who continue to seek peace during this time of war. Protect them from hate and violence, open their ears, their mouths, and their hearts to pursue the goal of peace, and make the citizens they represent responsive to their care; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.