PATHWAYS TO PEACE

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. [Numbers 6:26]

I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety. [Psalm 4:8]

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff--they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. [Psalm 23]

Be still, and know that I am God. [Psalm 46: 10]

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed. For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you. [Psalm 84]

Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt

bountifully with you. [Psalm 118: 7]

Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace--in peace because they trust in you. [Isaiah 26:3]

In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength. [Isaiah 30:15]

The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. [Isaiah 32: 17]

My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. [Isaiah 32: 18]

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. [Matthew 11: 28-30]

The dawn from on high will break upon us ... to guide our feet into the way of peace. [Luke 1:79]

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. [John 14:27]

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [Romans 5:1]

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Romans 8: 37-39]

For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. [Romans 15:17]

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4:7]

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. [Colossians 3:15]

Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace. [2 Peter 3: 14]

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.

The peace of God which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be amongst you and remain with you always. [Book of Common Prayer]

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood, as to understand, to be loved, as to love, for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. [St. Francis of Assisi]

O Lord, calm the waves of this heart; calm its tempests. Calm thyself, O my soul, so that the divine can act in thee. Calm thyself, O my soul, so that God is able to repose in thee, so that his peace may cover thee. Yes, Father in heaven, often have we found that the world cannot give us peace, O but make us feel that thou art able to give peace; let us know the truth of thy promise: that the whole world may not be able to take away thy peace. [Søren Kierkegaard]

Drop thy still dews of quietness, Till all our strivings cease; Take from our souls the strain and stress, And let our ordered lives confess The beauty of thy peace. [John Greenleaf Whittier]

God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other. [Reinhold Niebuhr]

O come, Holy Spirit, inflame my heart, set it on fire with love. Burn away my self-centredness so that I can love unselfishly. Breathe your life-giving breath into my soul so that I can live freely and joyously, unrestricted by self-consciousness, and may be ready to go wherever you may send me. Come like a gentle breeze and give me your still peace so that I may be quiet and know the wonder of your presence, and help diffuse it in the world. Never let me shut you out; never let me try to limit you to my capacity; act freely in me and through me, never leave me, O Lord and giver of life! [Michael Hollings and Etta Gullick]

O God of many names, lover of all nations, we pray for peace, in our hearts, in our homes, in our nations, in our world, the peace of your will, the peace of our need. [George Appleton]

May there be peace in the higher regions; may there be peace in the firmament; may there be peace on earth. May the waters flow peacefully; may the herbs and plants grow peacefully; may all the divine powers bring unto us peace. The supreme Lord is peace. May we all be in peace, peace, and only peace; and may that peace come unto each of us. [The Vedas]