Many years ago, my husband and I participated in a marriage course.  It was recommended by our Church as preparation for marriage.  The leaders were happily married and had been through their share of ups and downs over a long marriage.  They taught us a technique that proved to be very helpful in resolving arguments.  Their instructions were ‘when you have a fight or a disagreement about something, do this.  Instead of arguing your point of view, change sides and argue your spouse’s point of view.’  This would involve each spouse saying something like this: ‘I understand that you are angry because of ….’  Now this may lead to ‘You have no idea why I am upset!’  So, what this now leads to is a conversation for understanding.

Did you know that knowledge, understanding, wisdom and good judgement are all gifts of the Holy Spirit?

Our world needs God to send us His Holy Spirit!

It is God’s Holy Spirit that can turn a fragile peace negotiation into a sustainable peace agreement.

It is God’s Holy Spirit that can silence the power of the evil one that wants violence and continuous war.

It is God’s Holy Spirit that helps us to see the promise of peace transforming lives.

Many years ago I saw a picture of a little girl in a war-torn country. This image remains in my mind because she was only 4 years old but her eyes were so full of pain.  Her face seemed to project such profound sadness, a disappointment and despair that her words would never be able to describe.

How is it that leaders engaged in war cannot see the children’s eyes and realize that they are the ones creating pain beyond their imagination.  They are turning hope into hopelessness, laughter into tears, futures full of promise into futures full of pain!

The world is investing in military might as a solution to ensure safety and stability, but the only true way to ensure safety and stability is through the Power of God and His Holy Spirit.

Let us pray that God sends His Holy Spirit upon the leaders of our world to create peace, to end conflict, injustice, violence and war.  Let us pray for God to help them to be able to look into the eternal horizon and see the futility of trying to ‘kill one’s enemies’ and the infinite power of God to convert enemies and silence the power of evil.

“The Spirit of the Lord

will be with him

to give him understanding,

wisdom, and insight.

He will be powerful,

and he will know

and honor the Lord.

His greatest joy will be

to obey the Lord.”  Isaiah 11:2-3

It is easy to feel powerless as we read the news full of reports of evil, violence and conflicts that do not end.  The devil want us to feel powerless.  He rejoices in making you lose hope, BUT this is what God wants.

God wants you to remember that He is all-powerful and He gives His Power to His Believers.

Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”  Luke 18:27

Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  Acts 1:8

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”  Matthew 5:9

“But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord…”. Micah 3:8

Disciples of Jesus,

I invite you to pray, pray as you have never prayed before, pray for God to send us His Holy Spirit to end violence, to make peace and to transform us into the people of faith, hope and love that He is calling us to be.  Let us have faith that is unshakable.  Let us believe with steadfast conviction in the power of God to change our world for the better.

Please join Christians all over the world that are stopping daily, at The Time Jesus died for us, three o’clock, to remember His Passion and thank Him for dying for us.  At this time ask Jesus to send us His Holy Spirit to help us to repent and to turn away from sin, so that we can honour Him as He deserves to be honoured.  We call this movement that is uniting Christians daily in a moment of great reverence, as we remember the sacrifice of Jesus and thank Jesus for His infinite love, The Mercy Movement.

The world needs God’s Mercy.  We need Our Saviour Jesus to help us to live in peace, without violence, with respect for the dignity of each human being.

The only true, sustainable way to peace is through God.

Remember the tears of our children, caught in places of violence, violated, abducted, living in fear and let us ask God to dry their tears and restore their laughter, their joy, their peace.

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16