In April at work, we heard that people were going to be laid off. At the same time, we were preparing for a possible government shut down if congress did not pass a budget or a continuing resolution of last year's budget. As you can imagine, there was a lot of stress in the workplace. I was trusting God, but not everyone was.
I wondered how I could help people through this. I didn't feel that I had the words of comfort to speak to them. What could I do? I remembered these words: Lord make me an instrument of Your peace. . .
I had heard a prayer like that. That was what I wanted and still want. I want to be an instrument of God's peace.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9 NKJV
for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9 NKJV
I Internet searched "make me an instrument of your peace." I found that this begina the prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi. Didn't know who he was, but I liked the prayer and printed it to lay on my desk so I could pray it at work. A little research found that St. Francis lived in the late 12th to early 13th century. This prayer was written on the backs of cards with his picture on the front. He did not write the prayer, however.
History aside, I like the prayer. But I think the peace that they are talking about is the opposite of war. But I was thinking about peace as in the opposite of anxiety and stress.
Peace is peace.
So the question is of course WWHIYP? What would happen if you prayed the prayer of St. Francis regularly?
Pray out loud with me with the help of and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ:
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;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
