Introduction
What is Inner Peace?
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Inner peace is what we feel when our body, mind, heart, and soul are at rest. Instead of striving to control or resist ourselves and others, we feel a sense of profound acceptance, forgiveness, love, and compassion. Inner peace is synonymous with being in touch with your True Nature or Soul. And above all, inner peace can only and ever occur in the present moment (which is all we truly have).
What is Stillness?
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10
Stillness is quiet being with God. The body is immobile. The mind slowed. The spirit is open.
Stillness is unplugging from the noise of the world and the chatter of your ego.
Stillness is letting go of busyness. Our agenda. Our fears. Our requests.
Focus only on God. Enter his stillness.
“the most important factor in maintaining peace within oneself in the face of any difficulty is one’s mental attitude. If it is distorted by such feelings as anger, attachment, or jealousy, then even the most comfortable environment will bring one no peace.”
The Dalai Lama
To establish peace in the world, we must first establish peace within our hearts. Inner peace then is established through re-connecting with the heart. This kind of work, my good people, is very hard and it requires a great amount of “heavy lifting”, and the love and support of others and the community.
As one journey into the heart, the recognition comes that it is not only the self that has suffered- rather it is that all beings have suffered some form of loss, sadness, or despair in their lifetime. Beyond this, we will all at some point suffer an illness, death, and other challenging aspects of the human condition. I believe that when we connect to the universality of suffering, an internal transformation begins to happen. We begin to awaken self-compassion.
Self-compassion is a deliberate practice of cultivating and offering ourselves kindness, friendliness, and love over and over again and most importantly in our darkest hours. Again, this is a very challenging practice requiring a great deal of courage and perseverance. Why is it so difficult you may wonder?
It is an incredible challenge to offer oneself kindness because of the many messages we receive every day suggesting that we are everything but OK- you do not have to look very far to see an airbrushed supermodel smiling on a billboard or the swank-looking people sporting fancy clothes driving expensive cars on television- these kinds of messages are everywhere in our culture. I think you know what I am talking about!
It is the judgments we receive from the environment that layer the heart over with what I will call the “veils of separateness”. As we begin to believe these negative messages that we are inadequate, we begin to separate the self from our true heart. As we dissociate from the heart we begin to create what I will call the “shadow self”. This shadow self consists of a lot of self-hatred and judgments that overwhelm us. Unable to contain these raw emotions, we project them out into the world because we think they are so ugly and unacceptable. We put this shadow self in the world and others and subsequently create even more separateness. We begin to think in terms such as “that person is ‘different’ or that culture is ‘not good or evil'”. We go on to try to destroy the other as a way to destroy the shadow self.
Wars, violence, and aggression, might all be forms of mistaken identity. We think we are battling persons who are not the same as us. Remember, we all share in suffering; it even turns out that physically we are all mostly made up of water; human beings mostly share in our gift of consciousness and have the ability to dream, and to give and receive love. By dropping into this realization that we all exist in a shared environment and are even linked through our subtle energy fields, these veils of separateness begin to thin.
Inner peace then is about reclaiming our true heritage of the heart. This human journey is about lifting away those veils of separateness and spending time each day getting reconnected with our hearts. As we reharmonize the internal landscape, we can only act in ways that bring us harmony with all of existence. This extends beyond others and includes all of Mother Nature herself.
I truly believe what inspires people is not the money, the car, the designer clothes, or the “things”, but it is the ability to love unconditionally, to be able to look into the eyes of the other and open to grace. To recognize that we all stem from the same sacred waves of creation. To know, we are all one wild dance of atoms moving through space. What transforms communities are individuals who are committed to awakening and being of service.
Inner peace is rooted in taking a pause, spending time in silence, lovingly gazing inward, and breathing into the radiant light of the heart. It is about lifting away the veils of separateness, reclaiming and illuminating the shadow self, and embracing all of life’s challenges with our arms wide open. The tools of psychotherapy, meditation, and yoga are a few among the many that have been in use over the centuries. These practices give us a chance to transform, awaken, and infuse our lives with love and compassion. They bring us to the realization that we are all perfectly OK, and we always have been.
As we learn to fully accept and love ourselves, then there is no reason to wage any battles against anyone or anything. We realize that the conditions of being human limit the time that we all have here on this planet together and we better spend that time wisely.
The Peace that Gives Inner Stillness
And if we give it some thought, we realize that stillness has a much deeper meaning than we’ve ever imagined. In the Bible, we find many helpful passages on stillness. They bring out the spiritual and human significance of the word. Is this of any use to us? Most definitely!
Christ Jesus did his healing work with an inner stillness, a peace based on an understanding of God. He acknowledged God as the only power in all that he did. The Bible tells us, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Christ Jesus understood this point. And through Christian Science, we too learn to apply it to what we do to achieve harmony and healing.
Humanly, stillness is inactivity; indeed it could be a waste of time or idleness. But this is not what Christ Jesus expressed. Although the press of people seeking healing was very great, he never lost his inner peace—his clear sense of spirituality and his inseparability from God. This peace can be ours as we gain a more spiritual sense of identity and experience the regeneration of which our Master spoke. This reformation comes as we give up human will in response to the divine, as we willingly accept the fact that we are spiritual. Through prayer, we can claim our true spiritual identity as God’s child and our right to this inner peace. We acknowledge only the thoughts that come from God, who has all power, all truth, and all love.
This stillness is a spiritual force within us and enables us to feel God’s presence in our lives. We attain this inner peace through prayer. In so doing we turn away from sin, suffering, death, and all material circumstances. Here in this inner stillness we find our relation to God and feel our actual unity with our creator. This peace, whose source is God, Soul, is the holy rest that knows no disrupting element.
In prayer, we acknowledge, “Father, Thy will be done.” We say: “Not what I will with my limited views of all things, but what You, heavenly Father, lead me to do. I am willing to hear, to listen to Your voice.” We give up our human opinions—all wishful thinking, every “if” and “but.” We allow God to speak, to reveal Himself to us. But this learning has very little to do with intellect. In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes, “In the quiet sanctuary of earnest longings, we must deny sin and plead God’s all-ness.”
Through prayer based on absolute faith coupled with spiritual understanding, we gain a better concept of God. As we acknowledge God to be all good, we are no longer able to accept evil, whether it appears as in harmony or lack. We deny it any power because it does not come from God. As we do this, we begin to see the spiritual facts of the case, even while the healing may still be invisible to the human senses.
One of these facts is that harmony is a divine law. Everyone in reality expresses harmony because in truth we are all God’s children. God provides abundance for all His offspring, and all can claim their right to limitless good. We find many examples in the Bible of how people proved this to be the case in their own lives. The account of Joseph, given in the book of Genesis, is one.
In this inner stillness, we find our relation to God and feel our unity with our creator.
Likewise, there is no place for unemployment, because His goodness is expressed by all His offspring, without exception. Knowing ourselves as God’s reflection, we express His stillness as strength and inner calm. Through complete consecration to God, we make these lessons step by step. God’s creation has always been without flaws, yet it is up to us to understand and demonstrate this.
“But what does stillness have to do with everyday life?” you may ask. “What I need is something practical. How do I make use of this tool?”
Now, stillness is right where we are; there is no special place or time for it. So it is always available wherever we are. Every morning we can begin by joyously looking forward to the day. This is God’s day; He leads us through this day, whatever demands we face. On the way to work, we can pray to include all in God’s love, no matter whom we are dealing with. Not even outward sounds can disturb us in this. In truth, my colleague is expressing God through wisdom, understanding, and intelligence.
What about a spouse or relative? Words may bring problems along with them—every individual interprets them differently. And thus misunderstandings based on ignorance may arise. Do we know, for example, what our loved one has on his or her mind right now, or what kind of experiences he or she had today? We see only the outward picture! Let us not seek a solution outwardly, but let us go into the inner stillness where we can turn to God for direction. In this way, we will be inspired to speak words that will help and heal.
We can trust that our loved one is also able to hear God’s guidance. Instead of focusing on him or her as a material mortal with faults and weaknesses, we can appeal to the spiritual qualities the individual expresses. These include, for example, intelligence, beauty, goodness, purity, and truth. This process helps us to see through the false picture that would blind us to the good around us. Similarly, we don’t need to accept the image of a disobedient child or young person, because man as God’s child expresses obedience now. It is in his nature.
Within this inner spiritual stillness, we each can hear God’s wisdom and find the answers to our questions. Thus we experience the peace that the world cannot give. When we reject every thought that does not come from God—from the spiritual, divine—and replace or reverse it by claiming God’s all-power and all knowledge, we are doing the best work for mankind. Yet the change takes place within our consciousness, for this is where healing begins.
Through such prayer, we can accomplish much for the world! No purely human effort can replace the deep effects of demonstrated “spiritual stillness.” It is a tool that I have begun to use daily, and I am experiencing more and more fully how this stillness does its work and has an effect on all my tasks. Everyone, whether he knows it or not, can prove the value of this approach for himself.
What a blessing comes from demonstrating this stillness! All can indeed make it their own and follow our great Exemplar, Christ Jesus.
Twelve ways to find inner peace, summarized:
- Be aware of the self-improvement treadmill
- Stop expecting that life and people should be different
- Release grudges and resentments
- Sit with your emotions (and embrace them)
- Quit getting lost in the past or future
- Be aware of your obsessive need to control
- Embrace being dislikable
- Let go of playing the martyr or victim
- Forgive yourself (and therefore others)
- You don’t need to be “perfect”
- Release the need to be right
- Stop dwelling in the past (or future)
Other Ways of Experiencing Inner Peace
- Spend time in nature often – this is a powerful way of connecting with your inner wellspring of peace and tranquility
- Make space for solitude – spending time alone helps you to re-orient to your heart and soul’s innate serenity
- Embrace essentialism and minimalism – simplify your life and commitments and prioritize your inner peace (the external world influences your internal world, and vice versa)
- Meditate each day – even if you’re not “a good meditator,” realize that there are so many forms of meditation out there to try, from mantras and visualization to dancing and vipassana (Vipassana, which means to see things as they are, is one of India’s most ancient techniques of meditation. It was taught in India more than 2500 years ago as a universal remedy for universal ills, i.e., an Art of Living. For those who are not familiar with Vipassana Meditation, an Introduction to Vipassana by Mr. Goenka& related videos and Questions & Answers about Vipassana are available.)
The source of peace
Two verses in the Gospel of John reveal the source of this lasting peace.
1. John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
In this wonderful verse, the Lord Jesus promised to give us His peace. As the eternal God of peace, He is the unique source of true peace, which is altogether different from what the world gives. There is no way to find true or lasting peace in the world. But no matter how impossible our outward circumstances may seem, we can enjoy true peace from our dear Lord Jesus, and we do not need to be troubled or afraid.
2. John 16:33
“These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have affliction, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
The Lord never promised that we wouldn’t experience difficulties in our lives. He plainly said, “In the world you have affliction.” Although we’re saved, we still live in this world full of suffering and distress. But these words from the Lord Jesus bring us comfort, assuring us that even amid our trials, we may have peace.
How can we experience this enduring peace? The Lord Jesus said that in Him we may have peace. This tells us peace isn’t separate or apart from Him; it’s in Him. That’s why it’s vain to look for lasting peace anywhere else.
These verses show us that having true inner peace doesn’t depend on our environment is easy, but on looking to the Lord Jesus, the source of peace, no matter what our circumstances may be.
What does the Bible say about finding peace of mind?
Most people would define peace of mind as the absence of mental stress and anxiety. The expression “peace of mind” conjures up images of Buddha-like composure wherein calm, comfort, and composure are so prevalent that nothing can disturb the one who has peace of mind. An imperturbable, placid person is said to have peace of mind. The only time “peace of mind” is found in the Bible is in the NIV translation of 2 Corinthians 2:13where Paul says he found no “peace of mind” because he didn’t find Titus in Troas. The literal translation of this phrase is “rest of my spirit.”
The Bible uses the word peace in several different ways. Peace sometimes refers to a state of friendship between God and man. This peace between a holy God and sinful mankind has been affected by Christ’s sacrificial death, “having made peace through the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:20). In addition, as High Priest the Lord Jesus maintains that state of friendship on behalf of all who continue to “come to God by him, seeing he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). This state of friendship with God is a prerequisite for the second kind of peace, that which sometimes refers to a tranquil mind. It is only when “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1) that we can experience the true peace of mind that is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, in other words, His fruit exhibited in us (Galatians 5:22).
Isaiah 26:3 tells us that God will keep us in “perfect peace” if our minds are “stayed” on Him, meaning our minds lean on Him, center on Him, and trust in Him. Our tranquility of mind is “perfect” or imperfect to the degree that the “mind is stayed on” God rather than ourselves or on our problems. Peace is experienced as we believe what the Bible says about God’s nearness as in Psalm 139:1-12, and about His goodness and power, His mercy and love for His children, and His complete sovereignty over all of life’s circumstances. But we can’t trust someone we don’t know, and it is crucial, therefore, to come to know intimately the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.
Peace is experienced as a result of prayer. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
A peaceful mind and heart are experienced as a result of recognizing that an all-wise and loving Father has a purpose in our trials. “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
God can bring a variety of good things, including peace, from the afflictions that we experience. Even the discipline and chastening of the Lord will “yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness” in our lives (Hebrews 12:11). They provide a fresh opportunity for “hoping in God” and eventually “praising Him” (Psalm 43:5). They help us “comfort” others when they undergo similar trials (2 Corinthians 1:4), and they “achieve for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Peace of mind and the tranquility of spirit that accompanies it are only available when we have true peace with God through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross in payment for our sins. Those who attempt to find peace in worldly pursuits will find themselves sadly deceived. For Christians, however, peace of mind is available through the intimate knowledge of, and complete trust in, the God who meets “all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Instructions
{This Novena runs from 10thFeb 3.00 am, to 2ndMarch midnight, and the closure Mass on 3rd March 8.00 pm. Just like other Novenas, every day has a theme, a prayer, and at least two bible verses. Apart from the prayer of the day, there are other three prayers provided for every day. Those participating are free to add on daily basis, a prayer of their own to enrich the prayer journey. In case one gets stuck, Fr. CK will reachable through 0721 421 139}.
Daily Prayers
Push my Buttons Prayer
Lord, it’s likely that sometime today:
someone will push my buttons
challenge my goodwill
misread my intentions
tick me off
try my patience
rattle my cage
judge me in haste
test my kindness
or do all of the above…
Give me the grace I’ll need at such times:
to respond with patience
to trust and accept
to listen carefully
to reach out in peace
to be fair and just
to anticipate goodness
in all my words and deeds…
I know this is a lot to ask, Lord,
but I need your help
to do for others
as I’d have them do for me…
Amen.
A Prayer for Inner Peace
Lord, please put Your peace in my heart.
I’m worried and anxious.
My mind races and obsesses.
I can’t help thinking about my problems.
And the more I think about them,
the more depressed I become.
I feel like I’m sinking into quicksand
and can’t get out.
Calm me, Lord.
Slow me down, put Your peace in my heart.
No matter what problem I have, Lord,
You are bigger,
You are more powerful than it is.
So I bring my problem to You.
I know what I want.
I know my will.
I do not know Yours.
I do not know how You will use this problem for my salvation.
I do not know what good You will work out from this evil.
But I trust You.
I trust Your goodness and Your wisdom.
So I place myself in Your hands.
Please fill my heart with peace. Amen
Prayer to Let Go
Dear God,
It’s difficult to fully let go of our anxiety, or the world around us when we can’t see evidence of all that we’re doing – when we can’t understand or see your purpose or plan. Today, we pause and remind ourselves of our dependency on you, for we know in our hearts that our circumstances and futures are touched by your hands.
Isaiah 55:8 reminds us that our thoughts are not your thoughts – and that our ways are not your ways. When we are struggling to see clearly and make decisions, we are not alone and that inner peace is something only you can supply.
So today Lord, we purposefully, even urgently, say again that we choose to believe in you. We know that it’s often in the most challenging times that you are most at work. Thank you for being the one who gives us the strength to help each other and to see distinctly the choices we face. As we scan our horizons, we know that we also must look to you alone for the power and possibility that is our future.
We ask for your guidance so that we might walk fully in your path – a path that you have blessed. We also ask for your face to shine on us – individually, and as a team of colleagues and partners.
Please bring to fulfillment all that you have given us to do in the weeks ahead. Give us a heart of wisdom to hear your voice, and then make our footsteps firm. Please make us strong through your favor and grace.
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 1
Pray for Peace & Calm
May today there be peace within.
May you trust your highest power that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, and dance.
It is there for every one of you.
Amen.
Prayer 2 for Day 1
Slow me down, Lord! Ease the pounding of my heart by quieting my mind. Steady my harried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.
Give me, amidst the confusions of my day, the calmness of the everlasting hills. Break the tension of my nerves with the soothing music of the singing streams that live in my memory.
Help me to know the magical power of sleep, teach me the art of taking minute vacations; slowing down to look at a flower; chat with an old friend or make a new one; pet a dog; watch a spider build a web; to smile at a child; or to read a few lines from a good book.
Remind me each day that the race is not always won by the swift; that there is more to life than increasing its speed.
Let me look upward into the branches of the towering oak and know that it grew great and strong because it grew slowly and well.
Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life’s enduring values. That I may grow toward the stars of our greater destiny.
Psalm 119:165
Great peace has those who love Your Law, and nothing can make them stumble.
James 3:18
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 2
Pray for Calmness amidst the chaos
Prince of Peace, I find myself unable to cope with life sometimes. Instead of feeling grateful, I feel bogged down by the responsibilities of all that You’ve given me. I want to live out Your love, but I find myself consumed with frustration, jealousy, or worry. I want to grow closer to You, but in practice, I’m too tired or bored or busy. Circumstances will rarely be ideal; I know that. But I also know that the only thing that makes life worthwhile is living it with You. Show me how to pray when things aren’t perfect. Show me how to put aside all of the weights and sins and emotions that tangle me up. And demonstrate to me, daily, the reality that if I spend time with You, things will be better. I will be better. Amen.
Isaiah 43:1-2 “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in You.
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 3
Pray for Joy and Strength
Dear God, at the start of each day, please help us to recognize you above all else. Enlighten the eyes of our hearts so that we might see you, and notice how you’re at work through our lives. Give us the wisdom to make the best choices, and fill us with a desire to seek after you more than anything else in this world. Let your Spirit and power breathe in us, through us, again, fresh and new. Thank you that you are greater than anything we may face in our day. Thank you that your presence goes with us and that your joy is never dependent on our circumstances, but it is our true and lasting strength, no matter what we’re up against. We ask that your peace lead us, that it would guard our hearts and minds in you. We ask for your grace to cover our lives this day. We love you Lord…we need you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 4
Pray for Positivity
Lord, how I long to break free from negative thinking and embrace peace and joy, and optimism. I invite You to begin transforming my thought patterns and help me recognize, reject and replace thoughts that are not pleasing to You.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Psalm 23:4 – “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 119:76 – “May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.”
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 5
Pray that you may see the character of God
Dear Father in Heaven, Thank you for your steadfastness and continual presence in our lives. Sometimes, we can feel you right next to us. But sometimes, it is hard to know that you are there at all. Sometimes life gets so difficult that our hearts just cannot feel you through the pain. Sometimes you take away those feelings so that we may seek you even more fervently. I pray today, Father, that I may rely not on my feelings but rather on your love for me. Help me to rely on your Word to be the truth that rules my life over my understanding. Help me to see you and believe in your character even though my feelings may tell me otherwise. You are kind, you are good, and you are gracious. You are both all-powerful and all-loving. You care deeply for me and my loved ones. Be with me as I live out these truths no matter what my circumstances are today, Lord, as we walk forward together. I love you and pray all of these things in your Son’s amazing name, Amen.
Proverbs 3:3-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Psalm 46:1-3 – “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 6
Pray that God may guide your every step
Dear God,
Thank you for being the God who never sleeps.
Thank you for always being here for me, even when I’m not always here for you.
Thank you that you are loved and that you want the very best for me.
Thank you for your promises and that you never change.
I am feeling overwhelmed. Please help me.
Help me to rest in the fact that you know what is best for me.
Forgive me for turning away from you and trying to control the outcome of situations in my life.
The Bible says that you are not the God of confusion but of peace.
Help me to rest in your love and to feel the peace that surpasses all understanding.
Help me to feel your love and comfort.
Help me to be still and know that you are God and that you will take care of me, just like any loving parent takes care of their children.
Your Word says to cast all of our anxiety on you because you care for us.
I turn all of my burdens and concerns over to you.
Please guide me at every step and help me to be attentive to your loving direction.
Amen
Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all who are weary and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest.”
Deuteronomy 31:8-9 – “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 7
Pray for spiritual comfort
Holy Spirit, You are God. I praise you because you are holy, and I thank you for dwelling in my heart. Thank you for working in my life. You guided me into salvation, renewed my dead spirit, and you opened my eyes to the Truth. Thank you.
Help me to see you more clearly – to recognize your movement in my life. Make me more sensitive to you so I can follow you more closely. Still, I know that I am selfish and rebellious. I need you to help me be obedient when I recognize your leading. I need you.
I ask you for your help and comfort today. You know my pain and anxieties very well. Thank you for praying over me. Help me to rest in your comfort today. Help me to walk in you, the Spirit of God. Grow good fruit in my life. You are the one who produces these in me: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I cannot live out these things on my own; I need you. Amen
Psalm 27:12 – “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
John 16:22 – “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 8
Pray for healing stress
Father God,
I appreciate your present help. As I know that accepting hardships is the best way to get to know you better, I ask that you give me the healing I need. My divine master, please transform me so I may withstand the strongest storm swirling as I continue my journey toward eternal life.
Stop me the moment I attempt to commit injustice, and show me the path that will please you as my powerful creator. In the name of Jesus Christ, your Son, I pray.
Amen.
Prayer 2 for Day 8
Heavenly God,
Please grant me the peace and stillness of the everlasting hills; may they remind me that stress, negative thoughts, and worrying are nothing against your name. Continue bringing rest to our weary souls, and please make us feel the true nature of your love for your people.
As you help me break my cycles, continue giving me hope through your manifestations in my home, workplace, and community. Allow me to recognize you amidst the obscured path to righteousness. I implore these in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Psalm 32:7-8 – “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God.”
Psalm 62:1-2 – “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 9
Pray For World Peace
Father God,
As your people here on earth sleep, watch over us, and never let turmoil and deceit take over everybody’s hearts. Let them rest and cleanse their minds of evil thoughts. May the ones with weapons not cause agitation amongst our brothers and sisters.
Touch the hearts of national leaders so they may initiate peace talks and heal the wounds of the past through these powerful prayers. Please liberate this world from the violence we constantly see, O God, and make us all worthy of your eternal power.
Amen.
Romans 8:6 – “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
Hebrews 6:19 – “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Prayer 2 Day 9
For Healing Our Troubled World
Dear God, our world is hurting and broken.
We pray for those who have lost loved ones this week, please comfort them in their grief and loss, and cover them with your peace and presence, as only your Spirit can do. We know that in whatever we face, you are our peace and refuge, a very present help in times of trouble. Thank you that you remind us throughout your word, we do not face the storms alone, but you are always with us. Whispering calm. Speaking peace. Bringing rest to our souls.
We confess our need for you. We ask you to forgive us for trying to figure everything out on our own, for not trusting that you are more than able and powerful to work on our behalf. Forgive us for picking back up what we already determined to lay down at your feet. Give us the ability to trust you more, give us a heart that finds rest in your presence, and give us the wisdom to seek peace and pursue it, remembering it’s only to be found in you alone.
Thank you that your yoke is easy and your burden is light. Thank you that you care for us. Thank you that the peace of your loving and strong presence guards and protects our hearts and minds in you. Thank you that we do not have to walk in fear or live in overwhelmed cycles of worry and stress. Thank you for your voice that breaks through the greatest wind and storm swirling around us, and whispers “Peace, be still.” Thank you that you sent your One and Only Son to set us free.
In the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.
Proverbs 16:7 – “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies be at peace with him.”
Colossians 3:15 – “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 10
Pray for peaceful decision making
Father in Heaven, I come before you today with my mind swirling with different thoughts and feelings. I have a hard decision to make and I just don’t know what to do. I feel helpless and confused. I’m worried about the consequences of my decision. I worry about the impact my decision will have not only on myself but on others as well. To be honest, I fear making the wrong decision.
You know this problem before me. You know how it turns out. That’s because you are the Alpha and the Omega. You know the end from the beginning. Nothing happens apart from your will and plan. Not only are you sovereign, but you are good. All your plans are holy, righteous, and good. I can trust that you know what is best for me. When I move forward with this decision, I know that it is your will and that you will use it for my good and your glory.
You are my Rock, my Savior, and my Deliverer. Be with me as I move forward in this time of confusion and difficulty. Above all, may you will be done on earth, and in my life, as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Galatians 5:22 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness”
1 Peter 3:9-11 – “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.”
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 11
Pray that God be your refuge
Dear God, Our world is hurting and broken. We pray for those who have lost loved ones this week, please comfort them in their grief and loss, and cover them with your peace and presence, as only your Spirit can do. We know that in whatever we face, you are our Peace and Refuge, a very present help in times of trouble. Thank you that you remind us throughout your Word, that we do not face the storms alone, but you are always with us. Whispering calm. Speaking peace. Bringing rest to our souls.
We confess our need for you. We ask you to forgive us for trying to figure everything out on our own, for not trusting that you are more than able and powerful to work on our behalf. Forgive us for picking back up what we already determined to lay down at your feet. Give us the ability to trust you more, give us a heart that finds rest in your presence, and give us the wisdom to seek peace and pursue it, remembering it’s only to be found in you alone.
Thank you that your yoke is easy and your burden is light. Thank you that you care for us. Thank you that the peace of your loving and strong presence guards and protects our hearts and minds in you. Thank you that we do not have to walk in fear or live in overwhelmed cycles of worry and stress. Thank you for your voice that breaks through the greatest wind and storm swirling around us, and whispers “Peace, be still.” Thank you that you sent your One and Only Son to set us free. In the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.
Isaiah 12:2 – “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
1 Corinthians 14:33 – “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,”
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 12
Pray for deliverance
Dear God, I am in trouble. I am weary, worried, and worn out. Not knowing how to pray, I turn to the Psalms and repeat their pleas for my own heart: “O Lord, deliver me! O save me for Your mercies sake. Deliver me in Your righteousness. Deliver me from the hand of the enemy. Deliver me from all my troubles. Deliver me from my distress. Deliver me from all my transgressions. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me. I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinks of me. You are my help and deliverer.” You have said, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” I claim that promise now. Father, You know what’s happening in my life, in my family, in my church. You know the webs of worry spinning in my mind. Lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil; For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen!
1 Peter 5:6-7 – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
Psalm 4:8 – “In peace, I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 13
Pray that you can Hear God’s Voice
Bless our hearts with the peace that comes from meeting You in Your Word every day, and deflecting to Your voice over ours. May we tune into Your volume over our own, and hear You above all other noise. Help us to remain focused on You, and Your love, and extend that love to all who witness our lives. Amen.
Hebrews 12:14 – “Strive for peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
Psalm 31:24 – “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!”
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 14
Pray for Peace in the Family
Let peace return, O Lord please bless our hearts with love, our minds with rest, and our bonds with unity and trust. Help us to kneel now at your cross.
Let peace return, O Lord refill this place with gentle words until this home becomes a sanctuary, a harbor safe, a hope retreat.
Let peace return, O Lord we need your words of life, to sow new seed, to grow new hope, to rise anew, and find the light of forgiveness in you.
Let peace return, O Lord blow through our family with grace and truth. Blow through the storms of life we sing our faith is in the peace you bring! Amen
1 Peter 3:11 – “Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.”
Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 15
Pray for mercy and Grace
Dear God, the creator of all things visible and invisible, we come to you in humble adoration and give you all the praise, glory, and honor. Blanket each one of us in your tender mercy and grace. Comfort us through your Spirit. Help us to abide in you as you abide in us. Teach us how to be still in your presence and learn what it means to wait upon you.
When there is trouble, help us to remember that we have the liberty through Christ to cast all our cares upon you and believe likewise that you love and care for us. We give you the burdens, the weight of which is too heavy for us to bear. Remove the spirit of heaviness and every distraction that so easily beset us and replace them with your peace and the spirit of focus and clarity in our mind.
You are not the author of confusion, but you are the God of order. So every aspect of our lives that is out of order and in disarray, Lord just as you commanded the wind and the wave to be still and they obeyed you, we speak to our situations and say, “Peace, be still!” By faith, we look to you for the manifestation of your word to bring about change and transformation in our lives, in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
1 Peter 5:7 – “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
Romans 12:18 – “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 16
Pray that you may see that hand and the heart of God at work
Sovereign Father, whenever I hear the command to “Be still”, my first image is an array of elementary school teachers who were always telling me to “Sit still.” They had to because I was a squirmy, restless little person. But you’re telling us to be still, not sit, and there’s a world and gospel of difference.
You don’t get impatient with us or frustrated by us. Father, you never stare at us with crossed arms and a furrowed brow. If we hear your foot patting, it’s only because you are running towards us in compassion and strength. We don’t disrupt your classroom, but we often do have disrupted hearts, and you notice and you care. We’re certain you care because of everything you have done for us in Jesus. The gospel is an impregnable fortress, our haven of rest, a strong tower of grace. Thus we humbly and gladly proclaim, “The Lord Almighty is with us.”
It’s in the stillness of heart that we remember that you are God, and nothing else is. That’s the best news of this or any day. You have no competition. Counterfeits clamor, but you have no real competition. There are demigods, semi-gods, and wanna-be-gods everywhere, but only you are God.
Kings and nations are not God, for one Day, you will be exalted among all the nations. The nations are like droplets in the bucket of your providence. Storms and environmental disasters are not God, for you will be exalted in the earth. You send the earthquake and harness the hurricane for your purposes.
Neither are our circumstances God, nor the opinions of others, nor are getting older; nor the choices of people we love, the mistakes we make, and the sins we commit. The second most comforting news of the day is that I’m not God, though at times my attitude and unbelief would indicate a measure of presumed sovereignty.
Father, be exalted in the claims, confusion, and chaos of this one day. Let us see your hand and heart at work in everything. You are working all things together after the counsel of your will. You are working in all things for the good of those who love you. That includes us—it includes me, only because you first loved us in Jesus and gave him as a sacrifice for our sins. With palms, up in surrender and praise, we enter this day expectantly. So very Amen, we pray, in Jesus’ excellent and exalted name. Amen
Colossians 1:11 – “May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,”
Psalm 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 17
Pray for patience
Dear Heavenly Father, how I praise You for being gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and rich in love! I confess that too often, I grow impatient when things don’t go according to my plan, or when people don’t behave the way I think they should. I know this controlling tendency is a sinful desire to usurp the authority that only ever belongs to You. Please forgive me, and help me to be patient with others, as You have been patient with me. Please also grant me Your grace that enables me to wait patiently for Your return, and to labor steadfastly in the meantime. It’s in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, that I pray. Amen.
Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 18
Pray that God may Take Away Your Pride
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”
(1 Corinthians 13:4-5)
Lord, it’s hard to admit, but I need to be right. I just know if I explain my way one more time with one more example, the other person will see my side. But the more I push my view, the more my words and actions destroy my relationships.
Remind me that relationships are more important than who’s right and who’s wrong. Tell me to back off when I can’t seem to pull the plug on my pride. Cover my frustration with your patience. Thank you for putting things into perspective and showing me what doesn’t matter. Thank you for loving me when I think I know everything and you know I know nothing.
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 19
Pray for Peace in your marriage
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I give you all praise and adoration, because your word is ever true. I give you thanks because no weapon that is formed against this marriage will stand (Isaiah 54:17).
I declare that every arrow shot to destabilize this marriage is broken to pieces, in Jesus’ name.
With the spiritual authority given to me through Christ Jesus, I command the fire of God to consume every wedge that is meant to be put between me and my spouse, through bad and ungodly advice and false teachings.
Every evil hand of demonic manipulation is crushed, in Jesus’ name. I retrieve my marriage from the jaws of the evil one, in Jesus’ name. Thank you, Abba Father, because it is done, in Jesus’ name.
Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Isaiah 26:3 – “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.”
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 20
Dedicated to all parents
Parent’s Prayer for Peace
Heavenly Father, as I open my eyes to a new day, help me feel your presence. Please give me a fresh supply of strength, love, patience, and kindness to be the best mom I can be.
Help me to speak Your peace, give Your grace, offer Your mercy and bring Your perfect order into this home. I acknowledge Your power over all that will be spoken, thought, decided, and accomplished within these walls.
Lord, thank you for the gift of this vocation, the love of a family & a home that keeps us warm & together, no matter how humble it is. I commit to using this time and space responsibly in Your honor.
Help me see You in every small task I attempt, every project I tackle, and every caregiving act I take. Remind me that even the smallest accomplishment can bring You glory.
Father, when I am confused, guide me. When I am weary, energize me. When I am afraid, give me courage. When I am overwhelmed, infuse me with the light of the Holy Spirit. When I feel lost, help me find my way back to myself. When I feel alone, stand by my side and let me feel your presence. When I feel true joy, help me not be afraid but rather embrace it.
May the work I do each day and the way I do it bring faith, joy, and a smile to all I encounter. May the people in my life see Your light shine through me. And Lord, when I leave this home for journeys near & far, give me traveling mercy. Bless each member of my family as they go to work or school and keep them wrapped in your love.
Lord, I thank you for this season, though I acknowledge it can be hard. I thank you for everything you have done, everything you are doing, and everything I believe you will do in my life, family, and home. I pray this with much love & thanksgiving.
Amen.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 – “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”
John 16:33 – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Inner Peace and Calmness Day 21
Pray That You May be a Peacemaker
Father,
You have given Jesus as our teacher and guide and the Holy Spirit as our helper. I ask that you would fill me with the Holy Spirit every day so that His fruit would manifest in my life, in my relationships, and in every context in which I find myself. I especially ask that I would become a person whom you can rely on to extend, promote, and encourage peace in every encounter I have today and every day. I take the seeds of peace You have given me through your Holy Spirit, and I will with great intention sow them everywhere I go.
“Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”
Amen
Bible Verses
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5:9)
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace-loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:17,18)
Novena Concluding Prayer
{to be said on day 21}
A Prayer for Stillness
Be still and know that I am God. Scripture assures us that if we are still we will come to know God, but arriving at stillness is easier said than done. As Blaise Pascal once stated, “All the miseries of the human person come from the fact that no one can sit still for one hour.” Achieving stillness seems beyond us and this leaves us with a certain dilemma, we need stillness to find God, but we need God’s help to find stillness. With this in mind, I offer a prayer for stillness.
God of stillness and of quiet …
Still the restlessness of my youth: still that hunger that would have me everywhere, that hunger to be connected to everyone, that wants to see and taste all that is, that robs me of peace on a Friday night. Quiet those grandiose dreams that want me to stand out, to be special. Give me the grace to live more contentedly inside my skin.
Still the fever I inhale from all the energy that surrounds me, makes my life feel small. Let me know that my own life is enough, that I need not assert myself, even as the whole world beckons this of me from a million electronic screens. Give me the grace to sit at peace inside my own life.
Still my sexuality, order my promiscuous desires, my lusts, my polymorphous aching, my relentless need for more intimacy. Quiet and order my earthy desires without taking them away. Give me the grace to see others without a selfish sexual color.
Still my anxiety, my heartaches, my worries, and stop me from always being outside the present moment. Let each day’s worries be sufficient for themselves. Give me the grace to know that you have pronounced my name in love, that my name is written in heaven, and that I am free to live without anxiety.
Still my unrelenting need to be busy all the time, to occupy me, to be always planning for tomorrow, to fill every minute with some activity, to seek distraction rather than quiet. Give me themes with age. Soothe the unacknowledged anger I feel from not achieving much of what I’ve wanted in life, the failure that I feel in the face of all that I’ve left untried and unfinished. Still in me the bitterness that comes from failure. Save me from the jealousy that comes unbidden as I begrudgingly accept the limits of my life. Give me the grace to accept what circumstances and failure have dealt me.
Still in me the fear of my own shadow, the fear I feel in the face of the powerful, dark forces that unconsciously threaten me. Give me the courage to face my darkness as well as my luminosity. Give me the grace to not be fearful before my complexity.
Still in me the congenital fear that I’m unloved, that I’m unlovable, that love has to be earned, that I need to be more worthy. Silence in me the nagging suspicion that I’m forever missing out, that I’m odd, an outsider, that things are unfair, and that I’m not being respected and recognized for who I am. Give me the grace to know that I’m a beloved child of a God whose love need not be earned.
Still in me my false fear of you, my propensity for misguided piety, my need to treat you like a distant and feared dignitary rather than as a warm friend. Give me the grace to relate to you robustly, as a trusted friend with whom I can jest, wrestle, and relate in humor and intimacy.
Still my unforgiving thoughts, the grudges I nurse from my past, from the betrayals I’ve suffered, from the negativity and abuses I’ve been subject to. Quiet in me is the guilt I carry from my betrayals. Still in me is all that’s wounded, unresolved, bitter, and unforgiving. Give the quiet that comes from forgiveness.
Still in me my doubts, my anxieties about your existence, about your concern, and your fidelity. Calm inside me the compulsion to leave a mark, to plant a tree, to have a child, to write a book, to create some form of immortality for myself. Give me the grace to trust, even in darkness and doubt, that you will give me immortality.
Still my heart so that I may know that you are God, that I may know that you create and sustain my every breath, that you breathe the whole universe into existence every second, that everyone, myself no less than everyone else, is your beloved, that you want our lives to flourish, that you desire our happiness, that nothing falls outside your love and care, and that everything and everybody is safe in your gentle, caring hands, in this world and the next.
Amen.
If you have any questions before we start or along the way, kindly ask me, my phone number; is 0721 421 139.
I remain your Priest and Servant Fr CK.
