YES to Joy and Peace

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.

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Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for your love
in the times of hatred, racial and social division,
and political divides that keep us apart.
We praise you for your spirit of unity,
your unconditional love,
and your acceptance of us through Christ our Lord.
We are so grateful that you do not accept us
based upon our works, race and nationalities,
and this fills us with hope, joy, and peace.

We pray that we do not let
these disputable matters divide us.
Make us one, as Jesus prayed for our unity.
Give us your heart to accept one another,
just as Christ accepted us through grace,
knowing and also bearing with us our faults
through your love and the power of Your Holy Spirit.
Help us to look beyond each other's faults
and see each other's needs:
the needs of the less fortunate, the forgotten;
those with no families,
so that we can bring true hope through Jesus Christ.

Thank you that we have hope in Christ,
the hope of glory.
For in Christ, hope is not empty optimism.
We thank you that it is Spirit-filled expectation,
the expectation of your YES—
that we not just survive as people, students
and Christians, but that we abound in hope.

In our moments of stress or uncertainty,
help us to remember that the joy that you have
is our strength.
Your joy and peace are not emotions to chase after,
but gifts to lay hold of
and to receive when we need it most.
When it seems hopeless, strengthen us
by the power of Your Holy Spirit,
who is our source of strength and stability.

God of Hope, fill us today with joy and peace.
Let our hearts overflow with hope in Jesus Christ
and through the power of your Spirit.

It is in Christ’s name we pray,
Amen.