Be a Beacon of Hope and Joy by Internalizing These 50 Prayers for Peace

These prayers are one way to bring joy to the world this holiday season.

The Bible tells us about God. When we seek God with all our heart, soul and mind, he offers us peace, one that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). We read in Psalm 29:11: “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”

And what did Jesus, the Prince of Peace, tell his followers, in his final words to them, and us, hours before his arrest and crucifixion? He spoke words of peace over them: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” John 14:27.

Our faith can bring us great peace and comfort, even in a world that’s lacking it. In turn, we become people who usher in peace around us through our home, family, friends and community. Here are 50 prayers for peace from a Judeo-Christian perspective.

50 Prayers for Peace

1. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” — Numbers 6:24-26

2. "O God, grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference; living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next." — “Serenity Prayer” (Reinhold Niebuhr)

3. "Almighty God, the Great Thumb we cannot evade to tie any knot, the Roaring Thunder that splits mighty trees, the all-seeing Lord up on high who sees even the footprints of an antelope on a rock mass here on Earth. You are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call. You are the cornerstone of peace." — Native American Prayer for Peace (author unknown)

4. "Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace; Where there is hated, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is discord, harmony; Where there is error, truth; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, Grant that I may no so much seek To be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born into eternal life." — St. Francis of Assissi

5. "Cause us, O Father, to lie down in peace, and rise again to enjoy life. Spread over us the covering of your peace, guide us with your good counsel and save us for the sake of your name. Be a shield about us, turning away every enemy, disease, violence, hunger and sorrow. Shelter us in the shadow of your wings, for you are a God who guards and protects us, a ruler of mercy and compassion. Blessed are you, Lord, who spreads the shelter of peace over us, over His people Israel, and over all the world." — Jewish Prayer for Peace

6. "Grant peace, welfare, blessing, grace, lovingkindness, and mercy unto us and unto all Israel, your people." — Jewish Amidah Prayer

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7. "God, have pity upon us. We want peace without pain and security without sacrifice. We want peace but not the perils of peacemaking. O God, may we learn what love is." — Peter Marshall

8. "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well." — Julian of Norwich quote

9. "Deep peace of the running wave to you, Deep peace of the flowing air to you, Deep peace of the quiet earth to you, Deep peace of the shining stars to you, Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you, for ever." — early Scottish prayer

10. "O Lord our Governor, bless the leaders of our land, that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth." — Book of Common Prayer

11. "Grant, O God, that we lie down in peace, and raise us up, our Guardian, to life renewed. Spread over us the shelter of Your peace. Guide us with Your good counsel; for Your Name’s sake, be our help. Shield and shelter us beneath the shadow of Your wings. Defend us against enemies, illness, war, famine and sorrow. Distance us from wrongdoing. For You, God, watch over us and deliver us. For You, God, are gracious and merciful. Guard our going and coming, to life and to peace evermore." — A Jewish Prayer for Peace at Night

12. "Deep peace of the running waves to you, Deep peace of the flowing air to you, Deep peace of the quiet earth to you, Deep peace of the shining stars to you, Deep peace of the shades of night to you. Moon and stars always giving light to you." — Ancient Celtic Prayer

13. "Fortify me with the grace of Your Holy Spirit and give Your peace to my soul that I may be free from all needless anxiety, solicitude and worry. Help me to desire always that which is pleasing and acceptable to You so that Your will may be my will." — St. Francesca Xavier Cabrini

14. "O Lord, my God, grant us your peace; already, indeed, you have made us rich in all things! Give us that peace of being at rest, that sabbath peace, the peace which knows no end." — St. Augustine

15. "Peace, peace, wonderful peace, Coming down from the Father above! Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray in fathomless billows of love!" — “Wonderful Peace” hymn (Warren D. Cornell)

16. "Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the people of this land], that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." — Book of Common Prayer

17. "Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you today asking that you would teach us to walk in humility. Help us to see the importance of forgiveness and grace. May we learn to love as you love, and to give up our right to be right. Give us the courage to fight for our marriage and the valor to stand up for each other. Help us to lay down our pride, and to pick up the instruments of peace, kindness and grace. Thank you for being the loving compassionate God that you are. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen." – Unknown

18. "Sovereign of the universe, who created all in love, teach us to love all that is good and beautiful in this world. Teach us to honor the dignity of difference, recognizing that one who is not in our image is none the less in your image; never forgetting that the people not like us, are still people – like us. At this fateful moment in the human story, bless us that we may be a blessing to others. Guide the nations of the world to honor you by honoring one another. So that by reaching out in love, we may turn enemies into friends, and become your family on earth as you are our parent in heaven. Beloved God, bless the members of this United States Congress and guide their deliberations, that they may govern this great nation with wisdom and justice, grace and compassion, bringing honor to your name, and your blessing to humankind." — Prayer delivered to US Senate by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

19. "O God, early in the morning I cry to you. Help me to pray and to concentrate my thoughts on you; I cannot do this alone. In me there is darkness, But with you there is light; I am lonely, but you do not leave me; I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help; I am restless, but with you there is peace. In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience; I do not understand your ways, But you know the way for me…. Restore me to liberty, And enable me to live now That I may answer before you and before men. Lord whatever this day may bring, Your name be praised. Amen." — “I Cannot Do This Alone” prayer (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

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20. "I Thank Thee
O Thou whose bounty fills my cup,
With every blessing meet!
I give Thee thanks for every drop—
The bitter and the sweet.
I praise Thee for the desert road,
And for the riverside;
For all Thy goodness hath bestowed,
And all Thy grace denied.
I thank Thee for both smile and frown,
And for the gain and loss;
I praise Thee for the future crown
And for the present cross.
I thank Thee for both wings of love
Which stirred my worldly nest;
And for the stormy clouds which drove
Me, trembling, to Thy breast.
I bless Thee for the glad increase,
And for the waning joy;
And for this strange, this settled peace
Which nothing can destroy."
— Jane Crewdson

21. "O God,…we thank Thee for Thy Church, founded upon Thy Word, that challenges us to do more than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon Thee… Help us to realize that man was created to shine like the stars and live on through all eternity. Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace, help us to walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together until that day when all God’s children, Black, White, Red, and Yellow, will rejoice in one common band of humanity in the kingdom of our Lord and of our God, we pray. Amen." — Martin Luther King Jr.

22. "We shall walk through the valley in peace; We shall walk through the valley in peace; If Jesus Himself shall be our Leader, We shall walk through the valley in peace." — A.L. Hatter (Traditional spiritual)

23. "O Educator, be gracious to thy children, O Educator, Father, Guide of Israel, Son and Father, both one, Lord. Give to us, who follow thy command, to fulfill the likeness of thy image, and to see, according to our strength, the God who is both a good God and a Judge who is not harsh. Do thou thyself bestow all things on us who dwell in thy peace, who have been placed in thy city, who sail the sea of sin unruffled, that we may be made tranquil and supported by the Holy Spirit, the unutterable Wisdom, by night and day, unto the perfect day, to sing eternal thanksgiving to the one only Father and Son, Son and Father, Educator and Teacher with the Holy Spirit." — Clement of Alexandria

24. "Steer the ship of my life, good Lord, to your quiet harbour, where I can be safe from the storms of sin and conflict. Show me the course I should take. Renew in me the gift of discernment, so that I can always see the right direction in which I should go. And give me the strength and the courage to choose the right course, even when the sea is rough and the waves are high, knowing that through enduring hardship and danger in your name we shall find comfort and peace." — Basil of Caesarea

25. "When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, 'It is well, it is well with my soul.'” — Horatio Gates Spafford

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26. "Lord, we need discernment in these days. We need discernment. We are living in a time where our culture is so divided by false religions—and I want to be clear, that is what is happening—it's not just ideological, it's not just political, it's false religion. And that is why everything feels so elevated is because we are talking about hope, we are talking about joy, we are talking about peace, and we live in a world where people are seeking them in other things besides You." — Sharon Hodde Miller

27. "O LORD God Almighty, Father of angels and men, We praise and bless your holy name for all your goodness and loving kindness to humanity. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and for your unceasing generosity to us throughout our lives; But above all, we bless you for your great love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ. We bless you for bringing us safe to the beginning of a new day. Grant that this day we fall into no sin, Neither run into any kind of danger. Keep us, we pray, from all things hurtful to body or soul, and grant us your pardon and peace, So that, being cleansed from all our sins, We might serve you with quiet hearts and minds, and continue in the same until our life’s end, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen." — John Wesley

28. "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.'” — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

29. "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, dance. It is there for each and every one of you. Amen." — St. Teresa of Avila

30. "Father, I pray that you will wrap your arms around us and give us a sense of peace. Remind us daily that you are in control." – Unknown

31. "Peace be upon you, O angels who serve God, angels of the Most High—from the King who is above all other kings, the Holy One, Blessed is God. Come in peace, O angels of peace, angels of the Most High—from the King who is above all other kings, the Holy One, Blessed is God. Bless me with peace, O angels of peace, angels of the Most High—from the King who is above all other kings, the Holy One, Blessed is God. Depart in peace, O angels of peace, angels of the Most High—from the King who is above all other kings, the Holy One, Blessed is God." — Shalom Aleichem (traditional Jewish prayer)

32. "Let us pray for peace, that we may come to the knowledge of God’s holy Word and walk before Him as is fitting for Christians. Almighty and everlasting God, King of Glory, and Lord of heaven and earth, by whose Spirit all things are governed, by whose providence all things are ordered, the God of peace and the author of all concord, grant us, we implore You, Your heavenly peace and concord that we may serve You, to the praise and glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen." — Lutheran traditional prayer

33. "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." — Romans 15:13

34. "O God, the comfort of all who are sorrowful, and the salvation of those who put their trust in you, in this dying life, give us that peace for which we humbly pray, and finally receive us into eternal joy in your presence; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen." — Roman Breviary, 11th Century

35. "Lord God the Holy Ghost, may faith grow in men. May they believe in Christ to the saving of their souls. May their little faith brighten into strong faith and may their strong faith ripen into the full assurance of faith. May we all have this last blessing. May we believe God fully. May we never waver. Resting in the great Surety and High Priest of the New Covenant may we feel ‘the peace of God which passeth all understanding,' and may we enter into rest." — Charles H. Spurgeon

36. "O blessed Jesus, give me stillness of soul in You. Let your mighty calmness reign in me. Rule me, O King of Gentleness, King of Peace." — Saint John of the Cross

37. "O God, you are the source of life and peace. Praised be your name forever. We know it is you who turns our minds as to thoughts of peace in this time of war. We pray that enemies begin to speak to one another; that those who are estranged join hands in friendship; that nations seek the way of peace. Strengthen our resolve to give witness to these truths by the way we live. Give to us: understanding that puts an end to strife; mercy that quenches hatred; and forgiveness that overcomes vengeance. Empower all people to live your law of love." — School Sisters of Notre Dame

38. "All glory to God in the sky, And peace upon earth be restor’d! O Jesus, exalted on high, Appear our omnipotent Lord." — “All Glory to God in the Sky” hymn (Charles Wesley)

39. "We thank God for our homes and our food and our safety in a new land." — Linus van Pelt

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40. "Let the rain come and wash away the ancient grudges, the bitter hatreds held and nurtured over generations. Let the rain wash away the memory of the hurt, the neglect. Then let the sun come out and fill the sky with rainbows. Let the warmth of the sun heal us wherever we are broken. Let it burn away the fog so that we can see each other clearly. So that we can see beyond labels, beyond accents, gender or skin color. Let the warmth and brightness of the sun melt our selfishness. So that we can share the joys and feel the sorrows of our neighbors. And let the light of the sun be so strong that we will see all people as our neighbors. Let the earth, nourished by rain, bring forth flowers to surround us with beauty. And let the mountains teach our hearts to reach upward to heaven." — Rabbi Harold Kushner

41. "Almighty God, who through your prophets foretold a day when swords will be beaten into plowshares and who in Jesus Christ made peace through the blood of the cross, pour out your Spirit on all people everywhere so that we may be delivered from hate, hostility, and self-seeking, and find our peace in your will. In your mercy, make us instruments of your peace, that your name may be hallowed, your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, through Jesus Christ our Lord." — Liturgy and Psalms Reformed Church in America

42. "Thy perfect peace Thou givest me, My ever present Guide; Thy perfect peace thou leavest me - What can I ask beside?" — “Perfect Peace” hymn (Fanny Crosby)

43. "Lord God of peace, hear our prayer! We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain. Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: 'Never again war!'; 'With war everything is lost'. Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace." — Pope Francis

44. "[Breathe in] Peace, Be Still. [Breathe out]" — Mark 4:39

45. "O Lord, look mercifully on us, and grant that we may choose the way of peace. Rescue us from the captivity of the sins which have oppressed us, that we may attain the dwellings of the heavenly Jerusalem; through Jesus Christ. Amen." — Sarum Rite

46. "Grant peace, we pray, in mercy, Lord." — Martin Luther

47. "We thank thee with all our hearts for every gracious dispensation, for all the blessings that have attended to our lives, for every hour of safety, health, and peace, of domestic comfort and innocent enjoyment." — Jane Austen

48. "I pray that my heart might remain pure towards all, having neither ill thoughts nor judgment regarding anyone." — Amma Sarah

49. "Gracious God, may we who follow Jesus be strengthened through the power of the Spirit to both practice and share his way of love through our evangelistic witness and our commitment to justice, peace and reconciliation. May God continue to empower all of us in this Anglican branch of the Jesus movement to take seriously our missional call to turn, learn, pray, worship, bless, go, and rest. And may that blessed grace that has led us all this far continue to lead us still, for the love of God and the sake of all God’s children. This we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen." — Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry

50. "Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world…Have Mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world…Have Mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world…Grant us Peace." — Agnus Dei

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