Pray for Peace

I often listen to the artist Jewel while driving in the car. Her songs are poetry. In one song she sings, "Plenty of people pray for peace, but if praying were enough it would have come to be." Well I do know that praying is enough; it is enough that we pray, but how are we praying?

God wants us to pray with our hearts; not our minds. God wants us to pray out of a feeling of love; not fear. So when we pray 'globally' for peace, just how heartfelt is that prayer. Is it from your heart, or is it felt somewhere outside yourself? Is it only personal to you because of fear, or is there a way to make it personal with love?

"Who stirred up one from the east whom victory meets at every step? He gives up nations before him, so that he tramples kings under foot; he makes them like dust with his sword, like driven stubble with his bow. He pursues them and passes on safely, by paths his feet have not trod." Isaiah 41:2-4 RSV

So I pray to you Lord - please save Osama bin Laden. I pray that your Holy Spirit will come into his heart with conviction changing the stone into flesh as the leaves change in the autumn. I pray that your conviction will wither his anger and fear as the winter winds wither the autumn. I pray that you will give him a new heart as fresh and supple as new spring growth. Save him, Father. I claim his soul for your kingdom. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Pray for peace with forgiveness and love. Make it personal.