At Lifesprings we practice a rhythm of prayer before all of our meetings, and gatherings. These 6 prayers include: humility, wisdom, indifference to all but God’s will,trustworthy/faithful stewardship, peace bringing, and quiet trust. Our writers will focus on one prayer per week and will share how each one has influenced their prayer life and/or the life of teams they have served with over the years.
Listen:
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Reflect:
Many people say that peace is the absence of war. But what does it mean to me personally? Jesus knew that there are many kinds of wars that we face: physical, emotional, scriptural etc. He knew that this is the nature of the life that we live, things just crop up that unsettle our minds. He promises us his peace, the peace of Christ found in Colossians 3:15:
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful”.
In times of a tempest, how do we become the bearer of peace? Personally, I am one who doesn’t like strife. I would prefer that we are all living in harmony, happy and enjoying each day God allows me to live with others. Just the past week I had to face high levels of stress at family level. We lost my mother-in-love, who I dearly loved. Everyone was at edge and impatient. As we mourned each in their own way, I found myself consoling everyone and reminding them the 96 years God had given us with Mum, a great matriarch who cared about everyone and sacrificed for us all. I wrote tributes for the sons of the home, great grandchildren, some of the grandchildren and the daughters-in-law. I found strength from inside me that only God could give.
The word says in Romans12:18: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all”. I had that inner peace and I am so grateful I was able to be there and help those who needed help to cope with the loss of a great mum, grandma and great grandma.
I wouldn’t say I have attained perfect peace, but as the word says I am in the class of life every day to share and apply God’s peace within me “so far as it depends on me”, I will seek and bring peace . Trusting that God will always give me the words to speak or not to speak at each moment I need the apply the principle of peace bringing.
Prayer of Response:
Gracious Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Help me always to be the peace maker and not the peace breaker. I will listen to the small still voice of the Holy Spirit as He instructs me on how to handle situations and to be an emblem of peace in my community and circles.
Questions to Ponder:
- Looking back to the immediate past, can you see situations that presented themselves before you which you could have been the peace bearer?
- Looking forward would you commit to consciously and actively seeking to bring peace at times when the opportunity arises?
Breath Prayers:
As a new weekly rhythm, join us in praying breath prayers each day. We invite you to write your own as well.
Inhale: Lord, I want to be a peace bearer,
Exhale: every day.
Inhale: Give me your strength to fulfill,
Exhale: the desire to bring peace.
—Submitted by: Elizabeth Gachuiri
Elizabeth lives near Ferney Voltaire and has just retired from her job at the United Nations Office in Geneva Switzerland. Her family currently lives in different continents, some in Africa and some in France. Her love for Lifesprings started in 2009 when she attended a retreat in Lyon, France, then she attended the Grenoble LSM School, which was the first school in Europe. She was part of the Team that organized the LSM Geneva School and is now planning for a Nairobi School in 2026. Elizabeth is a people person always grateful to meet, mentor, encourage women to realize their space in God’s kingdom assignments, selfless and happy to serve always.