Prayer for Peace on Earth

In the midst of personal tragedy and surrounded by the Civil War Henry Wadsworth Longfellow writes in his poem "Christmas Bells":

And in despair I bowed my head;

“There is no peace on earth,” I said;

“For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

"And in despair I bowed my head;

“There is no peace on earth,” I said;

“For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

And so let this be our prayer for Miami (and the world) this Christmas.Father, Let us not despair in the midst of the turmoil that surrounds us in Miami - whether with family, job, or relationships.  We pray that you would unite us in Your Spirit as Your Church and that Miami would see You and know Your Peace this Christmas.  May the people in Miami see authentic peace in Your Church in spite of the hate, the violence, and the pain that is so prevalent here.  May they seek and find You as a result.  We are so thankful that you are neither dead nor asleep and that you prevail over all darkness.  We long to see Your Hand at work in Miami through the power of Jesus Christ whom we celebrate this Christmas.Amen and Amen