It's just me, Lord,
I've little to say.
I just ask for you
to help me today.
My Psalm 49
Lord, let everyone hear,
let all who live in this world pay attention,
both low and high,
rich and poor alike,
when I speak your words of wisdom;
when from my heart I relay your message.
Turn my ears to your wisdom;
Turn my songs into true psalms from you.
Teach me (again) not to fear when evil days come,
when naysayers surround me,
when mistrust and arrogance—
mine or someone else’s—
seem to confuse everything.
You have redeemed me, O Lord,
the only One who could give a ransom for me—
and so costly, no gift of gratitude could ever be enough,
even if I should live forever
and try to repay you every day.
Everyone can see that the wisest men die;
the foolish and the senseless alike perish
and leave their wealth to others.
The rich leave their opulent houses,
and take up residence in eternity,
though they had buildings and institutions
named after themselves.
Likewise, my best and most passionate efforts today
will pass away, like so many moths in a flame.
So let me not trust in myself,
and get worked up over the approval or disapproval of men.
Those around me are destined for the grave just like me.
But though my efforts will perish,
your works—through me, as well as others—
will endure,
and you will redeem my life and take me to yourself
whether I succeed or fail.
I belong to you
even if all my plans and hopes and dreams
come to naught.
Remind me that my times are in your hands:
the timing of my plenty or scarcity,
the timing of my success or failure,
the timing of who follows and who leaves,
the timing of my own coming or going,
in Jesus’ name, amen.
let all who live in this world pay attention,
both low and high,
rich and poor alike,
when I speak your words of wisdom;
when from my heart I relay your message.
Turn my ears to your wisdom;
Turn my songs into true psalms from you.
Teach me (again) not to fear when evil days come,
when naysayers surround me,
when mistrust and arrogance—
mine or someone else’s—
seem to confuse everything.
You have redeemed me, O Lord,
the only One who could give a ransom for me—
and so costly, no gift of gratitude could ever be enough,
even if I should live forever
and try to repay you every day.
Everyone can see that the wisest men die;
the foolish and the senseless alike perish
and leave their wealth to others.
The rich leave their opulent houses,
and take up residence in eternity,
though they had buildings and institutions
named after themselves.
Likewise, my best and most passionate efforts today
will pass away, like so many moths in a flame.
So let me not trust in myself,
and get worked up over the approval or disapproval of men.
Those around me are destined for the grave just like me.
But though my efforts will perish,
your works—through me, as well as others—
will endure,
and you will redeem my life and take me to yourself
whether I succeed or fail.
I belong to you
even if all my plans and hopes and dreams
come to naught.
Remind me that my times are in your hands:
the timing of my plenty or scarcity,
the timing of my success or failure,
the timing of who follows and who leaves,
the timing of my own coming or going,
in Jesus’ name, amen.
Though Dark Be My Way
(A prayer of John Newton, excerpted and revised from the hymn, "Begone, Unbelief")
Though dark be my way,
Since you are my guide,
'Tis mine to obey,
And yours to provide;
Though cisterns be broken
And creatures all fail,
The word you have spoken
Will surely prevail.
Though dark be my way,
Since you are my guide,
'Tis mine to obey,
And yours to provide;
Though cisterns be broken
And creatures all fail,
The word you have spoken
Will surely prevail.
Father Jesus Spirit
Father, you are my Sovereign; I bow to you.
Jesus, you are my King; I kiss your feet.
Spirit, you are my counselor; I listen for you.
Jesus, you are my King; I kiss your feet.
Spirit, you are my counselor; I listen for you.
A Prayer of Sir Francis Drake
Bob Hostetler
Disturb us, Lord,
when we are too well pleased with ourselves,
when our dreams have come true
because we have dreamed too little,
when we arrived safely
because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord,
when with the abundance of things we possess
we have lost our thirst for the waters of life;
having fallen in love with life,
we have ceased to dream of eternity,
and in our efforts to build a new earth,
we have allowed our vision
of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord,
to dare more boldly,
to venture on wider seas
where storms will show your mastery;
where losing sight of land,
we shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
the horizons of our hopes;
and to push into the future
in strength, courage, hope, and love.
(attributed to Sir Francis Drake)
Disturb us, Lord,
when we are too well pleased with ourselves,
when our dreams have come true
because we have dreamed too little,
when we arrived safely
because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord,
when with the abundance of things we possess
we have lost our thirst for the waters of life;
having fallen in love with life,
we have ceased to dream of eternity,
and in our efforts to build a new earth,
we have allowed our vision
of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord,
to dare more boldly,
to venture on wider seas
where storms will show your mastery;
where losing sight of land,
we shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
the horizons of our hopes;
and to push into the future
in strength, courage, hope, and love.
(attributed to Sir Francis Drake)
Compline Hymn
Lord, save us,
Save us while we are awake;
Protect us while we are asleep,
That we may keep our watch with Christ,
And when we sleep, rest in his peace.
Save us while we are awake;
Protect us while we are asleep,
That we may keep our watch with Christ,
And when we sleep, rest in his peace.
My Psalm 48
You are great, Lord,
and you deserve the greatest possible praise
here where I live
as well as in that beautiful city of God,
on your holy mountain.
I see it in my mind’s eye, Lord:
Beautiful in elevation,
the joy of the whole earth,
Mount Zion, at the pinnacle
of the city of David, the city of the great King.
You have made yourself known there, Lord;
your presence is palpable on that hill.
Make me like that city, Lord.
Make me a walking Jerusalem,
that causes people—high and low—to sing your praise,
that multitudes passing by might be amazed,
that doers of wickedness might be dismayed,
and run away from your might displayed in my life.
As you have established the city of God,
establish your work in me: firm, fast, forever.
I remember your lovingkindness, O God,
I praise you among worshiping throngs.
Your name is great, O God;
so let your praise be great, to the ends of the earth.
Your hand sows blessings all around.
Let Mount Zion be glad.
Let peace enter that city again.
Let the residents of Judah rejoice,
and acknowledge your wisdom and justice.
I remember fondly walking about Zion,
walking on her mighty walls,
and marveling at her bustling beauty.
As you established Zion, Lord,
please establish the work of my hands,
my eternal God;
be my guide through my life,
all the way to my death,
in Jesus’ name, amen.
and you deserve the greatest possible praise
here where I live
as well as in that beautiful city of God,
on your holy mountain.
I see it in my mind’s eye, Lord:
Beautiful in elevation,
the joy of the whole earth,
Mount Zion, at the pinnacle
of the city of David, the city of the great King.
You have made yourself known there, Lord;
your presence is palpable on that hill.
Make me like that city, Lord.
Make me a walking Jerusalem,
that causes people—high and low—to sing your praise,
that multitudes passing by might be amazed,
that doers of wickedness might be dismayed,
and run away from your might displayed in my life.
As you have established the city of God,
establish your work in me: firm, fast, forever.
I remember your lovingkindness, O God,
I praise you among worshiping throngs.
Your name is great, O God;
so let your praise be great, to the ends of the earth.
Your hand sows blessings all around.
Let Mount Zion be glad.
Let peace enter that city again.
Let the residents of Judah rejoice,
and acknowledge your wisdom and justice.
I remember fondly walking about Zion,
walking on her mighty walls,
and marveling at her bustling beauty.
As you established Zion, Lord,
please establish the work of my hands,
my eternal God;
be my guide through my life,
all the way to my death,
in Jesus’ name, amen.
Evening Prayer
(A prayer of Jacqueline Seewald, from Bedside Prayers, compiled by June Cotner)
Forgive me the mistakes I've made,
the wrong deeds done this day.
Love me most
when I love myself least.
Forgive me the mistakes I've made,
the wrong deeds done this day.
Love me most
when I love myself least.
O Man of Galilee
(A prayer of Robert Hoggard)
O Man of Galilee,
Stay with and strengthen me;
Walk Thou through life with me,
O Man of Galilee.
O Man of Galilee,
Stay with and strengthen me;
Walk Thou through life with me,
O Man of Galilee.
Accepted
Lord God, my King,
please open my eyes so I may know you accept me.
I renounce the lies of Satan that make me question
your unconditional love and gracious acceptance of me.
I choose to believe that I am accepted by you.
I choose to believe that I am a new creation.
I choose to believe that I am a child of God and an heir of your kingdom.
I choose to believe that I am your masterpiece.
I choose to believe that I am a citizen of heaven.
I choose to believe that I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved.
I choose to believe that I am a child of light and not darkness.
I choose to believe that I am part of a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a special family that belongs to God.
I choose to believe that I share the divine nature.
I choose to believe that I have the mind of Christ.
I choose to believe that I am complete in Christ,
in Jesus’ name, amen.
(Scripture references: Romans 15:7, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 8:14-17, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 3:20, 1 Thessalonians 1:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:5, 1 Peter 2:9-10, 2 Peter 1:4, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Colossians 2:10).
please open my eyes so I may know you accept me.
I renounce the lies of Satan that make me question
your unconditional love and gracious acceptance of me.
I choose to believe that I am accepted by you.
I choose to believe that I am a new creation.
I choose to believe that I am a child of God and an heir of your kingdom.
I choose to believe that I am your masterpiece.
I choose to believe that I am a citizen of heaven.
I choose to believe that I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved.
I choose to believe that I am a child of light and not darkness.
I choose to believe that I am part of a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a special family that belongs to God.
I choose to believe that I share the divine nature.
I choose to believe that I have the mind of Christ.
I choose to believe that I am complete in Christ,
in Jesus’ name, amen.
(Scripture references: Romans 15:7, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 8:14-17, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 3:20, 1 Thessalonians 1:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:5, 1 Peter 2:9-10, 2 Peter 1:4, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Colossians 2:10).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)