Have you ever known anyone who seems to stir up trouble everywhere they go? A gathering of people can be fairly calm and enjoyable, but when that person arrives, it becomes tense and unpleasant. In contrast, have you ever known someone who can be in the midst of conflict and seem to de-escalate it with just a few words of wisdom, a look, or a steady, quiet demeanor? This is the kind of person today’s scripture describes.

Everywhere we look today, we seem to see a lack of peace. In some cases, and some places in the world, there is all-out war. In other places, there is unrest. In others, there are disagreements and differences of opinion that make living together or working together uncomfortable. People of peace can go into these circumstances and calm the people involved. They know just how to pray and just what to say to defuse anger.

Let me encourage you today: Next time you find yourself in a tense situation, choose not to join in and make it worse. Choose instead to ask God to help you bring and keep peace.

Prayer of the Day: Father, help me to be a maker and a maintainer of peace everywhere I go, and bring calm and peace in tense situations. In Jesus’ name, amen.