I'm Irritated

Lord,

I'm irritated. But before I take out my irritation on others, help me to pause and respond in love instead. When I want to lash out, overwhelm me with the power of your love. Keep me from saying something I will later regret. Teach me to treat others with love so that I can continue to be a credible witness for you. 

(an excerpt from the book, 365 Pocket Prayers, by Ron Beers)

For Aubrey

It's my favorite daughter's birthday, Lord.
I still can't fathom,
can't even process,
that she is all she is.

I'm still and always amazed
at how kindly, fully, and generously
you've answered my prayers
and her mother's prayers
for her.

You have made her faithful like Ruth and regal like Esther,
fierce like Deborah and brilliant like Abigail,
industrious like Lydia and a leader like Junia.

I give you so much praise and thanks
for my only daughter,
my firstborn, my Blossom;
for the child you gave me,
the woman she is,
the love we share,
the pride and joy I feel in her,
the blessings you've given her,
and the blessings you've given me through her.

Please bless her abundantly today
and in all the days to come.
Keep her safe and well.
Keep her marriage strong and beautiful.
Prosper her and her husband,
answer their prayers,
supply their needs,
fulfill their dreams.

Let her children continue to grow in happiness, health, and holiness.
Reward Aubrey's love and faithfulness and diligence as a mom
with beauty and grace, charm and wisdom,
health and wholeness, integrity and strength in each of her children
as you have done for me in mine.

Show her every kindness,
grant her your favor,
use her,
bless her,
hold her,
in Jesus' name, amen.

You're Always Welcome Here

Saturday Psalm #119 (Pt. 2)

Daleth

Dear Lord, I do get knocked down, but your Word revives me.
Deliver me from my own plans, and teach me to wait on you.

Direct me with your Word, and teach me
discernment.

Dry my weeping eyes with the consolation of your words.
Deliver me from self-deception and grant me the
distinction of knowing and heeding your instructions.

Draw me closer to you,
draw the contours of my life to align with your gracious Word.

Dread Warrior King, I cling to your laws.
Deliver me from shame and ignorance, and
drive evildoers far from me.

He

Heavenly Father, teach me.
Holy God, make me holy.

Handle me gently and mold my heart to beat in rhythm with your commands,
for that is where my happiness is found.
Hold me tightly,
fill me with an eagerness for your laws.

Heal me and turn my eyes from worthless things,
and focus me instead on your beauty.

Help me trust in your promise.
Help me abandon all shameful ways.
Help me become every day more like The Word.
Help me to be renewed every day by your goodness.

Waw

Wonderful Counselor, Lord God, give me your unfailing love,
write your salvation on my life.

Work in me the things that please you and answer those who revile me,
wake me each day with the truth of your Word.

With you, and with your Word, I can hope.
With you, and with your Word, I can thrive.
With you, and with your Word, I can walk in freedom,
with utter devotion to your commandments.
With you, and with your Word, I can talk to kings and
will not be ashamed.

Wonderful is your Word.
Wonderful are you.

Amen.

Headlong

Grant, Almighty God, that as we were from our beginning lost, when you were pleased to extend to us your hand, and to restore us to salvation for the sake of your Son; and that as we continue even daily to run headlong to our own ruin--O, grant that we may not, by sinning so often, so provoke at length your displeasure as to cause you to take away from us the mercy you have hitherto exercised towards us, and through which you have adopted us. But, by your Spirit destroy the wickedness of our hearts, and restore us to sound minds, that we may ever cleave to you with true and sincere hearts, that being fortified by your defense, we may continue safe even amidst all kinds of danger, until at length you gather us into that blessed rest which has been prepared for us in heaven by our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

(a prayer of John Calvin, in his Commentary on Hosea, translated into English in 1846 and updated by me into modern English)

Untimely Judgments

Abba, Father,
help me to do as your Word says,
and not make judgments about anyone ahead of time,
but to wait until the day of the Lord's return
when he will bring our darkest secrets to light,
reveal our private motives,
and give to each of us whatever is due,
in Jesus' name, amen.

(based on 1 Corinthians 4:4-5)

To Walk in the Day

Grant, Lord, that I may walk in the day,
and not stumble,
because I see the Light of this world (John 11:9),
in Jesus' name, amen.

(image by blanca_rovira via pixabay.com)