The Prayer of St. Francis of AssisiSample

The life of St. Francis is a remarkable story. It’s a life of love and sacrifice. It’s a life led by the Spirit. It’s a life that will lead you to a deeper love for the Spirit and humanity.

My hope and prayer are for this prayer to transform you as it has done for me and millions of others.

May your desires draw deeper to the Spirit. As the scriptures say, “may the deep call to the deep.”

Our time together will focus on, The Prayer of St. Francis. Each day will unpack a line of this prayer and its alignment with the scriptures.

I challenge you to open your heart and create a sacred space for the Lord to speak to you.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:

When I read this first line of St. Francis’ prayer, I’m immediately reminded of professional musicians. As I began to meditate on becoming an instrument of peace, the story of the Beatles and how they began came to mind.

Best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell wrote about the Beatles in his best-selling book, Outliers.

Through intensive research, Malcolm discovers and shares his 10,000-hour rule. This rule means it takes 10,000 hours of consistent focus to become great at something.

Through Malcolm’s research, he discovered the Beatles became famous not because of luck but because they practiced night after night for years logging over 10,000 hours of playing together.

Their dedication and consistency to their instruments became known around the world. Beatlemania was born.

Another musician and incredible artist is Eric Clapton. Eric is known as one of the greatest guitar players ever.

It was said Eric not only learned the guitar on his own but logged between 3-8 hours a day of practice. He became one of the greats with his instrument through consistency and dedication to it.

As you have this idea of the Beatles and Eric Clapton in your mind, let’s turn to the scriptures and see what they have to say about becoming an instrument of peace.

In 1 Samuel 16:23, it says, “And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.”

David was not only proficient with his instrument, but he became what St. Francis writes about in his prayer, an instrument of peace.

I wonder, when you read, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,” what comes to mind for you?

What does an instrument of peace look like to you?

What does it sound like?

Have you encountered someone who was an instrument of peace to you?

You may wonder why I highlighted musicians as we began this devotional.

If you want to become great with an instrument, practice and focus must be part of your routine. The same is required if you want to become an instrument of peace.

Scriptures tell us in Isaiah 26:3, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”

John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

If you are not experiencing peace, then you are not connecting to the source of peace.

Let that statement sink in.

If you are not experiencing peace, how can you be an instrument of peace to others?

There is a noteworthy line amongst drug dealers which says, “don’t get high on your own supply.” This idea has to do with not using the product on yourself, so you have enough to sell.

God’s Word says the opposite.

Don’t just use peace; become peace so you can overflow and give to others. There is more than enough. His mercies are new every morning.

What if you were the peace someone was praying for?

I want to challenge you to invite peace into your life. Become an instrument of peace (God) not just for you but for others.

Take some time to meditate about what this will look like for you. Begin to see yourself operating as an instrument of peace.

The more you envision yourself living your life this way, the faster you will become it.

Let me know what resonated with you the most.

I’m rooting for you.

I’m praying for you.

God Bless.

Coach Anthony Thompson