You Give and Still Give
You send still more grace as our labors increase,
To added afflictions you add your great mercy,
To multiplied trials you multiply peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Your gracious, full giving is only begun.
Your love has no limits, your grace has no measure,
Your power no boundary known unto men;
For out of your infinite riches in Jesus,
You give, and still give, and still give yet again.
(revised from a hymn by Annie Johnson Flint)
Labors
Almighty God, the giver of all good things, without whose help all labor is ineffectual, and without whose grace all wisdom is folly; grant, I ask, that in this undertaking your Holy Spirit may not be withheld from me, but that I may promote your glory, and the salvation of myself and others; grant this, O Lord, for the sake of your son Jesus Christ, amen.
(a prayer of Samuel Johnson, from Boswell's Johnson, slightly updated; photo by Zach Camp via unsplash.com)
May We So Break Our Bread
May we so break our bread
In constant, costly giving
That others may be fed. Amen.
(by Lillian Cox; photo via freeimages.com)
For Me, For Me
Jesus, thank you that in you
there is grace my every debt to pay,
blood to wash my every sin away,
and power to keep me spotless day by day,
for me, for me.
(from a hymn by Herbert H. Booth)
For Not Snickering
God,
thank you for not snickering
at my delusion
that I am doing
Really Important Things.
(suggested by a line in Close Enough to Hear God Breathe, by Greg Paul;
photo illustration by @carrier_lost via unsplash.com)
Everywhere
Help me, Lord, to remember that religion is not to be confined to the church...
nor exercised only in prayer and meditation, but that everywhere I am in Your Presence.
(a prayer of Susanna Wesley, slightly updated; photo by Ben White via unsplash.com)
For Those Who Have Served
God of peace,we pray for those
who have served our nation
and who laid down their lives
to protect and defend our freedom.
We pray for those who have fought,
whose spirits and bodies
are scarred by war,
whose nights are haunted by memories
too painful for the light of day.
We pray for those who serve us now,
especially for those in harm's way:
shield them from danger
and bring them home.
Turn the hearts and minds
of our leaders and our enemies
to the work of justice and a harvest of peace.
Spare the poor, Lord, spare the poor!
May the peace you left us,
the peace you gave us,
be the peace that sustains,
the peace that saves us.
Christ Jesus, hear us!
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer!
Amen.
(from A Concord Pastor Comments blog)
Against
Lord God, there is so much hate,
so much violence,
so many lies,
so much corruption in this world,
and so much of it
so well financed and organized.
Expose it all, Lord.
End it all.
Deliver us from evil,
in Jesus' name, amen.
(photo illustration by Will Porada via unsplash.com)
Keep Me Looking Forward
Heavenly Father, please
keep
me
looking
forward,
not backward;
outward,
not inward;
upward,
not downward;
to Jesus,
and
not
to
other
people,
in Jesus’ name,
amen.
Who is Like You
Jesus, sweet Jesus?
You are the light
of those who are spiritually lost.
You are the life
of those who are spiritually dead.
You are the liberation
of those who are imprisoned by guilt.
You are the glory
of those who hate themselves.
You are the guardian
of those who are paralyzed by fear.
You are the guide
of those who are bewildered by falsehood.
You are the peace of those who are in turmoil.
You are the prince of those who yearn to be led.
You are the priest of those who seek the truth.
(a prayer by Johann Freylinghausen; photo by Gift Habeshaw via unsplash.com)
Pour Out Your Grace to Me
Lord God, I have indeed transgressed your commandments.
I have been impatient in reverses and trials.
I am unsympathetic and unmerciful.
I do not help my neighbor.
I am unable to resist sin.
I do not tire of doing wrong.
Dear Lord, pour out your grace to me
and give me your Holy Spirit
so that I may be obedient and keep each of your commandments.
Help me to be at odds with the world
and to give my heart and soul to you. Amen.
(a prayer of Martin Luther, from a collection entitled Luther's Prayers, by way of the Daily Prayer blog)