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Daily Devotion: Psalm 122:6

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Psalm 122:6    "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee." 

The Lord tells  us that we are to pray for our peace. It is not an automatic thing because we have to deal with our carnal minds. The mind tends to drift to those things which interrupt. We allow those thoughts to remain which stir us to confusion and sometimes even anger.  I realize today's passage is speaking of praying for peace in a city that was often torn apart by war. And it still is to this day. But in order for peace to be in a city or a nation, there must be peace in the hearts and minds of individuals. We read in the book of James chapter 4, verse 1, "From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?" Wars, fighting, battles, arguments - they all come from one, or more, individuals who want to have control or have things going their own way. It seems to me that in order for me to have peace of mind, I must ask God for the strength and discipline that I would not want to control my life or have my own way in my life. Therefore, I must PRAY FOR THE PEACE in my life. We have seen this week that Jesus is our peace and has full authority over it. The Lord gives us perfect peace when our hearts and minds are kept upon Him. There is peace in believing that God has full control, but then I must pray and seek grace that I might relinquish control. I tell you that I can make a complete mess out of things when I get it my way. Frank Sinatra may have sung about it, but "my way" doesn't get it for me. The verse following James 4:1 goes on to tell us that we "have not because we ask not." Lord, give me grace to let go and place my confidence and dependence upon you that I might enjoy your sweet perfect peace.

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