Pray to the Prince of Peace
Sovereign Lord,
govern the course of this world,
that it may be peaceably ordered,
and that your church may joyfully serve you in all godly quietness,
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen.
It is hard to think of a more relevant prayer to pray given the troubled times in which we live. There are wars, rumours of wars, oppression, hunger, disease, corruption, violence, murder, and injustices of many kinds. Our news programs, newspapers, and social media platforms are relentless in laying before us the grim and bleak picture of a world broken under the weight of sin and wickedness. Confidence in our national and world leaders is at a low ebb, and the church itself faces increased ridicule and persecution from without and division from within.
How on earth do we begin to pray into a world so fraught with pain and brokenness, and is there any point in doing so?
The collect for the fifth Sunday after Trinity begins by acknowledging the one to whom we pray: the one who rules over all creation from his heavenly throne. We are reminded that when we pray, we are addressing the sovereign Lord, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. There is no king, no president, no prime minister, no Ayatollah who can resist the sovereign will and purposes of God (Proverbs 19:21).
Therefore, we don’t resign ourselves to the inevitable; we can, and should, pray with all confidence for both our world and for all in authority. But what are we to pray?
At first glance of our collect, it may seem like a somewhat selfish prayer to pray. ‘Lord, please sort things out in the world so that as Christians we can joyfully live our lives in peace and quiet.’
However, when we consider that this collect has in its mind (so to speak) the teaching of Paul from 1 Timothy 2:1-4, we see that it is in fact a gospel prayer.
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
We pray that the sovereign Lord would intervene in our world bringing a measure of peace and order, so that God’s people (the Church) may be free to get on with the work of mission, proclaiming the message of the gospel so that people can come to a knowledge of the truth and be saved. This is good and pleases God our Saviour.
Therefore, let us pray for our world and all in authority, as the collect directs us. Pray this with me:
Sovereign Lord,
govern the course of this world,
that it may be peaceably ordered,
and that your church may joyfully serve you in all godly quietness,
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen.