Excited about Advent

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.

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

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

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 forgive

God,

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

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