Ecclesiastes 4:1-16 NIV
Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun:I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors—and they have no comforter. And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun. And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves. Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
Lord,
Help me to find one handful of tranquility. This is the Christmas season when we celebrate the Prince of Peace coming to Earth, but this is not a peaceful time. I think of all those around the world who have no peace. They live in war or disease or pain. Some of the pain is physical and some is mental, but it hurts the same. I want to be an agent of your peace. To spread tranquility and love and hope to others and I pray Lord that I will be able to do these things without thinking of my goodness or glory or praise from others for doing Your work. I want to be in the background and have no reward except the knowledge of a day’s work done well. Thank you for the small times of peace that I am granted. Help me to hold your peace in my heart that I might always feel You near.
Amen.
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Christian Wisdom and Prayers in Five Minutes a Day 