If You Don't Speak

Lord, if you don't speak,
it won't matter what I say.
But if you do speak,
it doesn't matter what I say.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Speaker's Prayer

Please let my speaking today be
what you want
and what others need.
Amen.

A Grove of Grace

Help me a find a place to meet you, Lord:
a shady place, a grove of grace,
where you and I might meet and sit
together in the silence, in the shade, away
from all the noise that fills my mind...

Help me find a summer refuge at the shore
or in the fields or on some mountain top:
a grotto of your presence, Lord, a haven
where I'll find with you the peace
my heart desires...

This summer, Lord,
help me find a place to meet you
down the road or out of town
or even close to home:
a place where we might meet and sit
together in the silence, in the shade
and in the prayer that makes us one.

(from A Concord Pastor Comments; photo by Mark Penta)

Let It Be Day

O Sovereign God, it is through your inconceivable greatness that we are able to call upon you: Lord, our God, our Creator, our Parent, our Savior. In that greatness you know and love us all, you desire to be known and loved by us all, you see and guide our paths, and we all may come before you and go out to be with you.

And now we pour out before you all our cares, that you may care for us; our hopes and wishes, that they may be granted not according to our will but according to your will; our sins, that you may forgive them; our thoughts and desires, that you may cleanse them; our whole life in these times, that you may bring us to the resurrection of all humanity and to eternal life. We remember before you all who are in this house, and also all the men and women in prison throughout the world. Be with the members of our families at home, with all who are poor, sick, hard beset, or sorrowing. Enlighten the thoughts and rule the actions of those who in our land and in all lands are responsible for law, order, and peace. Let it be day, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(from Karl Barth's Prayer)

Nine Years of Prayers

Lord God Adonai,
thank you for the first nine years
of this prayer blog,
for nearly 2,900 prayers,
for the blessings
and growth
and grace
that have come to me
through these prayers,
and for the many thousands of other people
who have read them
and prayed them
and shared them with others,
in Jesus' name, amen.

(to see the first prayer posted on this blog, go here; photo by Peter Kaminski via everystockphoto.com)

A Confession

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
maker of all things, judge of all people,
we acknowledge with shame the sins we have committed,
by thought, word, and deed, against your divine majesty,
provoking most justly your wrath and indignation against us.

We earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for all our misdoings.

Have mercy on us, most merciful Father.
For your Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake
forgive us all that is past,
and grant that from this time forward
we may serve and please you in newness of life,
to the honor and glory of your name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(prayer from an Australian Prayer Book)

I Surrender

When I think about what I was before
Only cared about what there was in store for me
Then You touched my life and opened my eyes
And woke me up inside
I was dead before You gave me a reason to live
And now I joyfully give my life
So use me, use me

I surrender my life to Your blood
I surrender my name for Your glory
I surrender my heart to Your will
I surrender my dreams to the plans You have for me
Thank You for showing me
the emptiness of all I held onto
I surrender it all
I surrender my everything for You

All my hopes, all my dreams
All You want me to be
I surrender it all to You
You can have my mistakes
All my plans, so well laid
I surrender it all to You
All the days I cannot see
All that's still ahead of me
I surrender it all to You
Take my stand on Your word
Of Your love I am assured
I surrender it all to You

(words & music by Phil Laeger © 2013 Weathered Music www.phillaeger.com)

Deliver Me From Fretfulness

O Lord my God, who dwellest in pure and blessed serenity beyond the reach of mortal pain, yet lookest down in unspeakable love and tenderness upon the sorrows of earth, give me grace, I beseech Thee, to understand the meaning of such afflictions and disappointments as I myself am called to endure. Deliver me from all fretfulness. Let me be wise to draw from every dispensation of Thy providence the lesson Thou art minded to teach me. Give me a stout heart to bear my own burdens. Give me a willing heart to bear the burdens of others. Give me a believing heart to cast all burdens upon Thee.

(a prayer of John Baillie, from the book A Diary of Private Prayer)