Airport Prayer

Father, what a world you have made!
What diversity,
what fecundity,
what comedy,
what activity.

Praise belongs to you, Lord,
even at DFW.

Let It Be

Lord, here's a prayer
I know you'll always answer:
Let it be to me
according to your will.

I pray it today,
amen.

Here at the Cross

(A prayer by Bramwell Coles)

Here at the cross in this sacred hour,
Here at the source of reviving power;
Helpless indeed, I come with my need,
Lord, for Thy service fit me, I plead.

Praise for Being Always What You Are

Lord, I praise you for your constancy,
for being the same yesterday, today, and forever.
I praise your immutability,
for being always what you are:
loving and compassionate toward all you have made,
merciful and good to all,
just and omnipotent and almight and lovely.
I praise you.

Move

Lord God, move the earth
and the city of Oxford
on behalf of your people Cobblestone.
Please grant us favor in the eyes of city officials,
grant them the will to keep their word,
and grant us the building permits for the Loft,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Against Infiltration and Influence

Lord God Most High,
I pray against the infiltration and influence
of any power except yours
into my life and ministry.
I pray against any "higher power" but yours
that may try to insinuate itself
into the midst of your people Cobblestone.
Break the teeth of such "powers," Lord,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Prayer for the Lord's Day

For the worship and service of this day, Lord,
I need you. Please come.
Please bless.
Please defend us and fight for us.
And may the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart be acceptable
in your sight,
O Lord,
my strength and my redeemer,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Praise Belongs to You

(A prayer by Fred Hammond)

You're worthy, so worthy,
You are Lord and Lord alone;
You're worthy, so worthy,
The Holy King upon the throne;
You're worthy, so worthy
To be praised forevermore
My, oh my, oh my.

Dominion and glory,
Lion and the Lamb, so Holy,
You are the all knowing;
All power belongs to You;
So worthy, You're so worthy,
My, oh my, oh my.
Praise belongs to You!

When I Cannot See My Way

(A prayer by Thomas Kelly, slightly revised)

When I cannot see my way,
I will trust and still obey;
If you bid me forward go,
You will not fail the way to show.

Though the sea be deep and wide,
Though a passage seem denied,
I will still in faith proceed,
Wherever you, my Lord, may lead.

Amen.

A Prayer of John Baillie

Teach me, O God, to use all the circumstances of my life to-day
that they may bring forth in me
the fruits of holiness rather than the fruits of sin.
Let me use disappointment as material for patience:
Let me use success as material for thankfulness:
Let me use suspense as material for perseverance:
Let me use danger as material for courage:
Let me use reproach as material for long-suffering:
Let me use praise as material for humility:
Let me use pleasures as material for temperance:
Let me use pains as material for endurance.
Amen.

(a prayer of John Baillie in A Diary of Private Prayer

Perspective

Oh, Lord, I'm tired of working so hard to see things
from someone else's perspective.
Give me your perspective,
and let all others
take a flying leap.
Amen.

Gravity

I have not given thanks for gravity before,
the force that keeps my feet on the floor,
so thanks for the pull that pins me in place
and saves me from spinning out into space.
Amen.

Float

(A prayer of Thomas H. Green, SJ, from the last page of his book, When the Well Runs Dry)

My Lord, my Love,
You have called me
To float blind down the dark river
which leads to the kingdom of light.
May my journey be for the healing
Of those to whom you send me
Who walk in the shadow of death.
Amen.

Valley

Abba, Father, I thank you that I am unaccustomed to valleys this deep. Amen.

My Psalm 61

Hear my cry, O Lord my God;
listen to my prayer.
I call to you
from this dark little corner;
I call out from a weak and wounded heart:
lead me to the rock that is higher than I,
my towering rock of safety,
my sheltering overhang,
a commanding overlook,
a new and inspiring peak.

For you have always been my refuge,
my sanctuary from the storm
and shelter against the foe.
I want nothing more than to dwell in your tent forever
and nestle safely in the shadow of your wings.
For you have heard my vows, O God;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
Give me more days of life as long as I can serve you,
extend my years until my mission is accomplished.
Then take me.
Take me into your presence just as soon as you please
where your love and faithfulness will triumph,
where I will sing unfiltered ecstatic praise to your name
and find absolute fulfillment at last.

A Prayer of Watchman Nee

(from his book, Let Us Pray)

O God, Your Son was manifested
to destroy the works of the devil.
How we thank You,
for He has destroyed the devil's works
on the cross.
But the devil is now again working.
Please destroy his work in us,
destroy his manipulation over our work,
destroy his devices in our environment,
and destroy all his works.
Amen.

Send My Roots Rain

(A prayer and poem of Gerard Manley Hopkins)

Thou art indeed just, Lord, if I contend
With Thee; but, sir, so what I plead is just.
Why do sinners' ways prosper? and why must
Disappointment all I endeavor end?
Wert thou my enemy, O thou my friend,
How wouldst thou worse, I wonder, than thou dost
Defeat, thwart me? Oh, the sots and thralls of lust
Do in spare hours more thrive than I that spend,
Sir, life upon thy cause. See, banks and brakes
Now, leaved how thick! laced they are again
With fretty chervil, look, and fresh wind shakes
Them; birds bild--but not I build; no, but strain,
Time's eunuch, and not breed one work that wakes.
Mine, O thou lord of life, send my roots rain.

A Prayer for the New Year

(A prayer by Charles de Foucauld)

Father, I abandon myself into your hands.
Do with me whatever you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you.
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me,
and in all your creatures.

Into your hands I commend my spirit.
I offer it to you with all the love that is in my heart.
For I love you, Lord, and so want to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands,
without reserve and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father.
Amen.