Protection

We've had a spate of incidents over a couple of months now that have made me realise that we can't take living peacefully for granted:

• One of our families lives on a street that has a poor reputation for drugs another unwelcome activities. They regularly have to put up with having their sleep disturbed by antisocial behaviour; rows, fights and the occasional Police raid on houses close by.
  
  
• A friend of our was threatened and assaulted by a group of youths as he was collecting his car after leading a cell group meeting.
  
  
• Some time before that an older female friend of ours had her bag snatched by a gang of youth whilst walking home from church one day.
  
  
• Even the relatively quiet backwater where my family and live had it's peace disturbed in the early hours of Saturday morning by youths fighting. When we awoke the next morning the road was littered with broken bottles and I found a full house-brick in the garden where one youth had thrown it at another - fortunately missing.
  
  
• Further away some Christians who have formed a Street Pastors group to help bring peace and make a positive difference in the live of young people, have recently found themselves being threatened and their cars vandalised.

Now I don't want to make more of these incidents than is factual, where I live is a relatively low crime town, although like any town it has it's troubled areas. What these incidents do is make me aware of how precious peace and good order are. They also bring home to me once again how stressful life must be for people who live in the tougher areas, where this type of behaviour is an everyday part of life.

So in this prayer blog I want to encourage those of you that are reading this to pray for peace. Even if where you live is peaceful, as we can't take for granted that tomorrow will be as peaceful, and for sure there are areas not too far from any of us that are far from peaceful.

Some scriptures to encourage you in this:

PROTECTION:
John 10:28-30 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”

Psalm 91:3-7 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you

PEACE:
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace,Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “ Your God reigns!”

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

1 Timothy 2:1-3 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior..

JUSTICE
Deuteronomy 10:18 He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.