God,
I am so looking forward to the new year and another cycle of worship. Grant me a sense of newness, convert the two-thirds of water of my body into wine to sustain me for the coming seasons. I am standing in anticipation of your coming, and for new wisdom in comprehending your spirit pouring out into flesh as in the incarnation of the Christ.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Amen.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Teach Me to Pray
Lord,
Teach me to pray. Grant me wisdom and connection to you so that I may offer up to you the thanksgiving and the praise and the concern and whatever else you would have me pray for this day. Grant me the spirit of your presence and the assurance of your ear. Inspire my spirit within me to yearn for you, to reach out to you, and to pray to you without ceasing.
Amen
Teach me to pray. Grant me wisdom and connection to you so that I may offer up to you the thanksgiving and the praise and the concern and whatever else you would have me pray for this day. Grant me the spirit of your presence and the assurance of your ear. Inspire my spirit within me to yearn for you, to reach out to you, and to pray to you without ceasing.
Amen
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Psalm 20 - In the Day of Trouble
Loving God,
At times when I feel distressed or fatigued or brought low by troubles in my life, allow me to hear the psalmist's promise in my ear: "May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob defend you; may He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion." Might it be so in my difficult times. Allow me to raise my distress to your ear. May you comfort me with your listening presence, defend me with your love, and strengthen me.
Amen
At times when I feel distressed or fatigued or brought low by troubles in my life, allow me to hear the psalmist's promise in my ear: "May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob defend you; may He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion." Might it be so in my difficult times. Allow me to raise my distress to your ear. May you comfort me with your listening presence, defend me with your love, and strengthen me.
Amen
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Use Me
Gracious God,
Help me to re-discern the fruit that I have, and guide me in my search to water parched fruit. Guide me so that I might be a tool for your work, and give me the humility to submit to your wisdom and Word.
Amen.
Help me to re-discern the fruit that I have, and guide me in my search to water parched fruit. Guide me so that I might be a tool for your work, and give me the humility to submit to your wisdom and Word.
Amen.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Help me to forgive
God,
Help me to forgive those who hate me, that I might see your wisdom in things that don't make sense.
Amen.
Help me to forgive those who hate me, that I might see your wisdom in things that don't make sense.
Amen.
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
Gracious God,
I give you thanks for the many blessings you have given to me. Thank you for loved ones who support and nurture me. Thank you for opportunities that allow me to earn a living and serve others. Thank you for your continued presence in my life. Allow me always to remember, in good times and challenging times, these many goodnesses.
Amen
I give you thanks for the many blessings you have given to me. Thank you for loved ones who support and nurture me. Thank you for opportunities that allow me to earn a living and serve others. Thank you for your continued presence in my life. Allow me always to remember, in good times and challenging times, these many goodnesses.
Amen
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Thanksgiving: Cliched Prayer of Giving Thanks
Before this Thanksgiving, God, I am seeking pause to give thanks. Guide me so I do not fall into the "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme" attitude of the season, and not a "Thank you, Thank you, Thank you," of when things go my way, but rather a posture of gratitude for all the things you give me. In this posture help me to enter into the season of giving gifts with a true sense of gratitutde.
Amen
Amen
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
Moments of Crisis
Loving God,
O Lord, in moments of despair, grant me a presence of hope that might calm my spirit. Allow me to see you even in the darkest times, that I might not forget your light and your comfort. Help me to accept whatever challenges I face, to grieve the losses I have felt, and to face this day faithfully.
Amen
O Lord, in moments of despair, grant me a presence of hope that might calm my spirit. Allow me to see you even in the darkest times, that I might not forget your light and your comfort. Help me to accept whatever challenges I face, to grieve the losses I have felt, and to face this day faithfully.
Amen
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Opening Your Word
Gracious God,
As I open the Bible this day, allow me to gain a deeper understanding of your wisdom and guidance. Allow the Scripture to speak afresh to me, to cause me to think more about my life and your will, to cause me to live differently.
Amen
As I open the Bible this day, allow me to gain a deeper understanding of your wisdom and guidance. Allow the Scripture to speak afresh to me, to cause me to think more about my life and your will, to cause me to live differently.
Amen
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
In Time of Loss
Loving God,
You have blessed me with loving family and friends, whom I treasure. But you have called some of them home, which has left a feeling of emptiness in part of my life. Comfort my grief, and counsel it, that I might increase in faith even as I feel loss. Open me up to the depth of my emotions, that I might lay them before you, O Lord, and find healing in your presence.
Amen
You have blessed me with loving family and friends, whom I treasure. But you have called some of them home, which has left a feeling of emptiness in part of my life. Comfort my grief, and counsel it, that I might increase in faith even as I feel loss. Open me up to the depth of my emotions, that I might lay them before you, O Lord, and find healing in your presence.
Amen
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
For Days I Want to Quit
God,
Help me to keep you in my sights, give me the thirst that is only quenched by you. Guide me through the valley. Give me the courage to find empathy for those who dislike me, give me the strength to seek your spirit in my own failings.
Amen.
Help me to keep you in my sights, give me the thirst that is only quenched by you. Guide me through the valley. Give me the courage to find empathy for those who dislike me, give me the strength to seek your spirit in my own failings.
Amen.
The Mountains Will Bring Peace - Psalm 72
Almighty God,
The psalmist promises, "The mountains will bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness." I pray this day for glimpses of your eternal reign, when strife shall cease, and the lion will lay with the lamb, and the mountains will bring peace by righteousness. Make me an instrument of that peace, a vessel of your grace in this ravaged world.
Amen
The psalmist promises, "The mountains will bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness." I pray this day for glimpses of your eternal reign, when strife shall cease, and the lion will lay with the lamb, and the mountains will bring peace by righteousness. Make me an instrument of that peace, a vessel of your grace in this ravaged world.
Amen
Monday, November 12, 2007
For empathy
God,
As you are a God of empathy, guide me in seeking empathic relationships with others. Help me to seek your Son in between words, breathing, and thinking.
Amen.
As you are a God of empathy, guide me in seeking empathic relationships with others. Help me to seek your Son in between words, breathing, and thinking.
Amen.
Clouds
Gracious God,
As the bright colors of fall fade into a murkier cloudiness, raise my spirits amid the growing darkness. Buffer me from the gloom of the shadows of life, and increase my hope before the season of light and the coming spring. Allow me always to glimpse the goodness of your Son, the light of the world.
Amen
As the bright colors of fall fade into a murkier cloudiness, raise my spirits amid the growing darkness. Buffer me from the gloom of the shadows of life, and increase my hope before the season of light and the coming spring. Allow me always to glimpse the goodness of your Son, the light of the world.
Amen
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Sunday Confession
Merciful God,
Even as I have tried to follow your will, I have fallen short recently. There have been times when I have been too stubborn or too prideful or too deaf to pay attention to your word. Through my actions, I have hurt others in addition to myself. I ask your forgiveness for these sins and your continued guidance to lessen these wrongs in the future.
Amen
Even as I have tried to follow your will, I have fallen short recently. There have been times when I have been too stubborn or too prideful or too deaf to pay attention to your word. Through my actions, I have hurt others in addition to myself. I ask your forgiveness for these sins and your continued guidance to lessen these wrongs in the future.
Amen
Saturday, November 10, 2007
For Friends
Gracious God,
On this day I give thanks to you the gift of friendship. You have surrounded me not only with family but also with loving and supportive friends, who nurture me and raise me up. I ask you to continue to bless them, and I ask that you help me to be a good friend to each of them, as they have been to me. And continue to expand my horizons, offering me opportunities to connect with new people, to be touched by them and to touch them also.
Amen
On this day I give thanks to you the gift of friendship. You have surrounded me not only with family but also with loving and supportive friends, who nurture me and raise me up. I ask you to continue to bless them, and I ask that you help me to be a good friend to each of them, as they have been to me. And continue to expand my horizons, offering me opportunities to connect with new people, to be touched by them and to touch them also.
Amen
Friday, November 9, 2007
Calming Inner Turmoil
Gracious Lord,
Spread out your comforting hand over my soul that I may find peace. Recently I have felt unworthy and overwhelmed, like a storm tossed ship at sea. Help me to find security through faith in you. Grant me moments of insight and calm, so that eventually the storm will pass.
Amen
Spread out your comforting hand over my soul that I may find peace. Recently I have felt unworthy and overwhelmed, like a storm tossed ship at sea. Help me to find security through faith in you. Grant me moments of insight and calm, so that eventually the storm will pass.
Amen
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Let Everything that has Breath
Almighty God,
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Add my voice to the chorus of praise and raise it to your ear. Allow me always to remember to praise you, in good times and bad, during times of encouragement and challenge, in the morning and the evening.
Amen
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Add my voice to the chorus of praise and raise it to your ear. Allow me always to remember to praise you, in good times and bad, during times of encouragement and challenge, in the morning and the evening.
Amen
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Patience
Gracious God,
Today I ask for strength in calming my desires. Help me to be more patient -- help me to better tolerate the pace at which others act and help me better to slow my own pace to be more discerning. Help me to know that your answers to my prayers come in the appropriate time, if not always in my time.
Amen
Today I ask for strength in calming my desires. Help me to be more patient -- help me to better tolerate the pace at which others act and help me better to slow my own pace to be more discerning. Help me to know that your answers to my prayers come in the appropriate time, if not always in my time.
Amen
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Psalm 117 - The Truth of the Lord
Almighty God,
Raise my praise to you ear, O Lord. As the Psalmist said, praise the Lord "for His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever." Thank you for your merciful kindness toward me; instruct me in your truth, that I might be a reflection of that truth is this misguided world.
Amen
Raise my praise to you ear, O Lord. As the Psalmist said, praise the Lord "for His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever." Thank you for your merciful kindness toward me; instruct me in your truth, that I might be a reflection of that truth is this misguided world.
Amen
Monday, November 5, 2007
After a Terrible Week / All Saints'
God,
This past week two young people close to people I care about were killed at the hands of violence. Not only do I feel guilty for stressing over the things that create conflict in my life in the face of this loss, but I am humbled by the awe of looking directly at the void of my own finitude and non-being. Bring healing to those who suffer. Help me to reflect you as I am with those who are hurting.
Amen.
This past week two young people close to people I care about were killed at the hands of violence. Not only do I feel guilty for stressing over the things that create conflict in my life in the face of this loss, but I am humbled by the awe of looking directly at the void of my own finitude and non-being. Bring healing to those who suffer. Help me to reflect you as I am with those who are hurting.
Amen.
Open Me
Giving God,
Today I ask that you make me a more open vessel to your guidance and your will. Ease my stubbornness and my deafness to you. Grant me the discernment to hear your wisdom and the courage and faith to know it is you speaking to me. And give me strength to act according to your word.
Amen
Today I ask that you make me a more open vessel to your guidance and your will. Ease my stubbornness and my deafness to you. Grant me the discernment to hear your wisdom and the courage and faith to know it is you speaking to me. And give me strength to act according to your word.
Amen
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Friday, November 2, 2007
Protect Me, O Lord
Almighty God,
Grant me protection this day. Preserve my health and my physical being. Allow me to sense your calming and watchful presence over me that I may live more faithfully, secure in the knowledge of your love and your care.
Amen
Grant me protection this day. Preserve my health and my physical being. Allow me to sense your calming and watchful presence over me that I may live more faithfully, secure in the knowledge of your love and your care.
Amen
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Avoidance
Almighty God,
Sometimes I come upon problems that I just don't want to face. These problems may be small or large -- they may not even be problems at all. But you know what I do -- I drag my feet, I put them in my "to do" box, I try to forget they've presented themselves. Sometimes I even find myself avoiding you and your will for my life. Forgive me the times when I avoid things I should do, and help me continue to grow in faith so that I don't avoid these challenges as often.
Amen
Sometimes I come upon problems that I just don't want to face. These problems may be small or large -- they may not even be problems at all. But you know what I do -- I drag my feet, I put them in my "to do" box, I try to forget they've presented themselves. Sometimes I even find myself avoiding you and your will for my life. Forgive me the times when I avoid things I should do, and help me continue to grow in faith so that I don't avoid these challenges as often.
Amen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)