Seek Peace And Pursue It

SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT

a prayer to open

Here’s my heart, Lord. Speak what is true.

Here’s my life, Lord. Speak what is true.

I will praise the LORD at all times.

I will constantly speak his praises.

I will boast only in the LORD;

let all who are helpless take heart.

Come, let us tell of the LORD’s greatness;

let us exalt his name together.

I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me.

He freed me from all my fears.

Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;

no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened;

he saved me from all my troubles.

For the angel of the LORD is a guard;

he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

Taste and see that the LORD is good.

Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

Fear the LORD, you his godly people,

for those who fear him will have all they need.

Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,

but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.

Come, my children, and listen to me,

and I will teach you to fear the LORD.

Does anyone want to live a life

that is long and prosperous?

Then keep your tongue from speaking evil

and your lips from telling lies!

Turn away from evil and do good.

Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right;

his ears are open to their cries for help.

But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil;

he will erase their memory from the earth.

The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help.

He rescues them from all their troubles.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;

he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

The righteous person faces many troubles,

but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.

For the LORD protects the bones of the righteous;

not one of them is broken!

Calamity will surely destroy the wicked,

and those who hate the righteous will be punished.

But the LORD will redeem those who serve him.

No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Words are powerful. What we say can affirm, empower, and bring peace. But our words can also tear down, silence the voices of others, and start war. We praise God with the same mouth that gossips, complains, and curses. How might our lives be shaped if we kept our lips from lies and gossip and used our words to build up others, seek peace, and speak good?

• Read this passage again slowly. What word or phrase stands out to you? Why do you think that word or phrase speaks to you? What does it say?
• Reflect on the last time you used your words to gossip or speak ill of another person. What motivated you to say what you did (for example, envy, anger, resentment, hard-heartedness, hurt)?
• Are there certain people with whom you tend to gossip or speak ill of others more than you otherwise would? Who are those people? What about your relationships with them—or your sense of self when you’re around them—causes you to slip into gossip?

Lord, I know the power that words have on me—the joy of being lifted up by good words and the pain and shame of harsh, hurtful words. I have been gossiped about, spoken ill of, and teased. And I have done the same to friends and enemies alike. Forgive me. Let my words be only tools to build up others and speak good into the world. Transform the parts of my heart that lead me to use words as weapons instead of balm. Amen.