A Prayer for the Oxford, Ohio, Metroplex

(A prayer of U2)

Take this city,
A city should be
shining on a hill;
Take this city,
If it be your will.
What no man can own,
no man can take;
Take this heart,
Take this heart,
Take this heart,
And make it break.

Amen.

Constant Prayer

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

God, Give Me the Head of a Baptist

God, as J.D. Greear says,
give me the head of a Baptist,
the heart of a Pentecostal,
and the feet of a Jehovah’s Witness.
And I add, please give me the hands of a Salvationist,
the joy of the Church of God in Christ,
and the commitment of a Mormon.
Give me please the integrity of Billy Graham,
the generosity of Rick Warren,
the prayer life of Hudson Taylor,
the servant heart of Mother Theresa.
Help me also to work like an Arminian
and sleep like a Calvinist,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Betrayal and Desertion

Lord Jesus, I've never thanked you
for enduring the betrayal and desertion
of your closest friends.
But I thank you now.

It means something to know
that you know
that pain,
and you forgive.

Morning Prayer

Whatever comes my way today,
whatever men may do or say,
have your way in me
so everyone may see
I belong to you.

In all my hands may find to do,
let all the glory go to you,
give grace and peace I pray,
let all my actions say
I belong to you.

In waking and in sleeping, Lord,
give what strength your will affords,
and keep me through it all,
make sure I do not fall,
for I belong to you.

(copyright 2005, Bob Hostetler )

On My Son's Birthday

Abba, Father, how I thank you for my son, Aaron,
and all the good things you have placed in him.
On this, his twenty-sixth birthday,
please bless him and keep him,
make your face shine upon him and be gracious to him,
smile on him and give him peace,
in the name of Jesus, your Son, amen.

The Lorica, or St. Patrick's Breastplate

I arise today
Through a mighty strength,
the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through the strength
of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength
of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength
of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength
of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches
and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today
Against poison,
against burning,
Against drowning,
against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

People Pleaser's Prayer

Abba, Father, please save me from the error
of believing I can please everyone;
and grant me the wisdom
to be satisfied if you are pleased.
Amen.

Prayer for Church Finances

Lord, I lift up our church finances. May we sow generously into our church without reluctance or compulsion. Make all grace abound so we have all we need for every good work You’ve assigned us. Make us rich in ways that result in generosity on our part so You will be praised. Keep reminding us of your promise to throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out blessing on all who bring the whole tithe into Your house (2 Cor. 9:6-11; Mal. 3:10).

(A prayer from http://prayerleader.com)

Prayer for Cobblestone

Lord, for your church,
my family, Cobblestone, I pray.
Inspire our worship,
empower John's speaking,
inhabit the praises of your people,
show your glory,
make the fellowship of the saints glorious,
and let the distant be drawn close,
and the close be drawn closer,
in Jesus' name, amen.

My Psalm 84

I love your dwelling place,
Lord God Adonai!
I hunger to worship you,
I thirst to gather with your people,
and commune with you.

Like a sparrow in its nest,
or a swallow sheltering in a chimney,
I am utterly at home in your presence,
O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.

I love your house;
I love your people.
I love being around those whose strength is in you,
who enter your house intent on worship.

Thank you for those who worship you
wherever you show up,
in a tiny chapel or a majestic cathedral,
in a desert or a rainforest.

You lead such true worshipers from strength to strength,
you show yourself to them without fail.

Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty;
listen to me, O God of Jacob.

Look upon us, Lord God;
look with favor on your servants and ministers.

Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand anywhere else;
I would rather sweep your floors, O Lord,
than be exalted in the palaces of the wicked.

For you, LORD God, are a sun and shield;
you bestow favor and honor;
you withhold no good thing
from those who walk with you.

O LORD Almighty,
I am thrilled and honored to trust in you
and call you mine.

The Magnificent

(A prayer of U2, believe it or not)

I was born to sing for you
I didn't have a choice but to lift you up
And sing whatever song you wanted me to
I give you back my voice
From the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise...

Justified till [I] die....I will magnify
The Magnificent.

A Prayer of Clement XI

O my God, I believe in Thee; do Thou strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee; do Thou secure them. I love Thee; teach me to love Thee daily more and more. I am sorry that I have offended Thee, do Thou increase my sorrow.

I adore Thee as my first beginning; I aspire after Thee as my last end. I give Thee thanks as my constant benefactor; I call upon Thee as my sovereign protector.

Vouchsafe, O my God! To conduct me by Thy wisdom, to restrain me by Thy justice, to comfort me by Thy mercy, to defend me by Thy power.

To Thee I desire to consecrate all my thoughts, words, actions, and sufferings; that henceforward I may think of Thee, speak of Thee, refer all my actions to Thy greater glory, and suffer willingly whatever Thou shalt appoint.

Lord, I desire that in all things Thy will may be done because it is Thy will, and in the manner that Thou willest.

I beg of Thee to enlighten my understanding, to inflame my will, to purify my body, and to sanctify my soul.

Give me strength, O my God! To expiate my offenses, to overcome my temptations, to subdue my passions, and to acquire the virtues proper for my state of life.

Fill my heart with tender affection for Thy goodness, hatred of my faults, love of my neighbor, and contempt of the world.

May Thy grace help me to be submissive to my superiors, [gracious] to my inferiors, faithful to my friends, and charitable to my enemies.

Assist me to overcome sensuality by mortification, avarice by alms-deeds, anger by meekness, and tepidity by devotion.

O my God! Make me prudent in my undertakings, courageous in dangers, patient in affliction, and humble in prosperity.

Grant that I may be ever attentive at my prayers, temperate at my meals, diligent in my employments, and constant in my resolutions.

Let my conscience be ever upright and pure, my exterior modest, my conversation edifying, and my comportment regular.

Assist me, that I may continually labor to overcome nature, to correspond with Thy grace, to keep Thy commandments, and to work out my salvation.

Make me realize, O my God, the nothingness of this world, the greatness of Heaven, the shortness of time, and the length of eternity.

Grant that I may prepare for death; that I may fear Thy judgments, and in the end obtain Heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today is the Day

(A prayer of Lincoln Brewster)

I'm casting my cares aside,
I'm leaving my past behind,
I'm setting my heart and mind on You, Jesus,
I'm reaching my hands to Yours,
Believing there's so much more,
Knowing that all You have in store for me is good,
It's good.

Today is the day You have made;
I will rejoice and be glad in it,
And I won't worry about tomorrow,
I'm trusting in what You say,
Today is the day.

I'm putting my fears aside,
I'm leaving my doubts behind,
I'm giving my hopes and dreams to You, Jesus,
I'm reaching my hands to Yours,
Believing there's so much more,
Knowing that all You have in store for me is good,
It's good.

I will stand upon Your truth
And all my days I'll live for You.

Amen.

To My Dread Warrior

Lord God Adonai, Dread Warrior,
please shield me and mine
from the Enemy's attacks.
Please defend us
and mend us
and superintend us,
in Jesus' name, amen.

God You Reign

(A prayer of Lincoln Brewster)

You paint the night,
you count the stars and call them by name;
the skies proclaim:
God, you reign!
Your glory shines;
you teach the sun when to bring a new day;
Creation sings: God, you reign!

God, you reign,
God, you reign,
forever and ever,
God, you reign!

You part the seas,
you move the mountains with the words that you say;
my song remains:
God, you reign!
You hold my life,
you know my heart and you call me by name;
i live to say: God, you reign!

What Trials

Lord God, you know what trials afflict me,
and what trials await me.
You know all things.
In your wisdom, love, and power,
come to my assistance;
make haste to help me,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Lord of the Starfields

(A prayer by Bruce Cockburn)

Lord of the starfields,
Ancient of Days,
Universe Maker,
Here's a song in your praise.

Wings of the storm cloud,
Beginning and end,
You make my heart leap
Like a banner in the wind.

O love that fires the sun,
Keep me burning.
Lord of the starfields,
Sower of life,
Heaven and earth are
Full of your light.

Voice of the nova,
Smile of the dew,
All of our yearning
Only comes home to you.

O love that fires the sun,
keep me burning.

Peter's Prayer

Lord, you know all things;
You know I love you.

Small Thanks

God, thanks so much for the things in my life--
big and small--
that give me pleasure.
Help me to notice all of the ways that you've blessed me. Amen.

Visit

Abba, visit your people Cobblestone today with your love and power. Send a mighty rushing wind, in Jesus' name, amen.

Morning Prayer

Lord, let my every thought, movement, word, and deed today be guided and inspired and approved by you, in Jesus' name, amen.

A Prayer of Richard Slater

I have not much to give Thee, Lord,
For that great love which made Thee mine;
I have not much to give Thee, Lord,
But all I have is Thine.

A Spring of Living Water

Abba, Father, Lord God Almighty,
make me a spring of living water,
rising up and rushing forth.
Let my ministry, my life,
be an outflow of your gracious work in me,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Games

My Enemy plays games with me; I know that. And my mind and moods, on a natural level, play games with me, too. Maybe it's also in the nature of things, working with people, to periodically be overwhelmed, panicked, attacked, misunderstood, whatever. So, Lord, when will I be "grown up" enough to greet such times with "My help is in the name of the Lord," or "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" and truly KNOW it? Let it be soon, please, even now--from now on. Amen.

Exceedingly Blessed

Lord, thank you that my son is a much better, healthier, brighter, more talented man than I am, and thank you that my daughter is better, healthier, brighter, and more talented than me...and so very much like her lovely mother! I am abundantly blessed, beyond all that I could ever have asked or even imagined! Oh, my, if their children exceed them as much as they have exceeded me, oh, what will be?

My Psalm 83

O God, do not keep silent;
O Lord, don't choose now to hold your tongue.

Your enemies are not holding back;
they are yet plotting and scheming.
Evil takes no holiday;
their cunning has not ceased.

Though they may hide,
they still act against your people.
Though they may lie under cover,
they continue to oppose you,
to hinder your work,
to divide your people,
to prevent your kingdom from expanding.

Do to them as you did to Midian,
as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon;
defeat all evil
and rout all workers of evil
and drive them from our midst.

Blow them away,
like tumbleweed, O my God,
like chaff before the wind.

As fire consumes the forest
and sets whole mountainsides ablaze,
so pursue them with your fury
and dispel them with your rage.

Humiliate our Enemy,
break his teeth before our eyes,
so that men will seek your name, O LORD,
so that all will know that you, LORD, King of my heart,
that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.

God of New Things

Abba, Father, God of new things,
how I praise you and thank you
that I wake this morning with a new granddaughter,
born yesterday.
How great are your works,
and this tiny girl among them,
Mia Marie,
who has been growing
under your all-seeing eye
for almost nine months now,
whom I just met
but you have known from eternity past,
in your omniscience.
Grant her grace and health and growth,
as you have granted her life and beauty and love,
and wonderful parents as well.
And grant too that today,
in and through the worship of your church,
you will reveal yourself as God of new things
as you did in introducing this world
to Mia Marie,
in Jesus' name, amen.

I Love You As

Oh, Lord, you have been good.
I love you, Lord, with all my heart.
I love you as a child loves a perfect father.
I love you as a slave loves his redeemer.
I love you as a near-victim loves the rescuer,
as an orphan the adopter,
as a wanderer the guide,
as a student the teacher,
as a lover the beloved.
Grant that today I may love you even more,
in Jesus' name, amen.

First Learner

Lord God Adonai, as I study your Word today
in preparation for the privilege of preaching,
please come to me
and teach me
that I may be merely the first learner
and the first life changed
of all those you will reward
for having given attention
to your Word,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Another Prayer of Christina Rossetti

O God the Holy Ghost
Who art light unto thine elect
Evermore enlighten us.
Thou who art fire of love
Evermore enkindle us.
Thou who art Lord and Giver of Life,
Evermore live in us.
Thou who bestowest sevenfold grace,
Evermore replenish us.
As the wind is thy symbol,
So forward our goings.
As the dove, so launch us heavenwards.
As water, so purify our spirits.
As a cloud, so abate our temptations.
As dew, so revive our languor.
As fire, so purge our dross

A Prayer from Mozart's Requiem

Remember, merciful Jesu,
that I am the cause of your journey.

A Prayer of Gerard Manley Hopkins

Thee, God, I come from, to thee go,
All day long I like fountain flow
From thy hand out, swayed about
Mote-like in thy mighty glow.

What I know of thee I bless,
As acknowledging thy stress
On my being and as seeing
Something of thy holiness.

Once I turned from thee and hid,
Bound on what thou hadst forbid;
Sow the wind I would; I sinned:
I repent of what I did.

Praise Belongs to You

Praise belongs to you, Lord.
I praise you for your faithfulness,
your kind and merciful willingness
to hold onto me in spite of all my sin and stubbornness.

I praise you for your constancy
and at the same time your creativity;
you are always merciful,
yet your mercies are new every morning.

I praise you for your power,
your purity,
your sweetness,
your majesty,
your holiness,
your goodness,
your patience,
your truth,
your love, your great love,
and your grace, in Jesus' name, amen.

A Prayer of Christina Rossetti for the Lord's Day

Open wide the window of our spirits, O Lord,
and fill us full of light;
open wide the door of our hearts,
that we may receive and entertain you
with all our powers of adoration and praise.

Valentine

Like summer snow
floating from a sun-filled sky,
draping airy-white on flowered fields,
Your love astonished me.

No frilly show,
no assorted-chocolate pledge,
no candy hearts or silver kisses
disclosed your care for me;

But unsparing,
cross-bearing, thorn-wearing love
that opened hands and feet and side
to spill your heart for me,

To recreate,
inundate my longing soul
with giving, holding, accepting,
enfolding love for me.

Whom have I in heaven but you? And being with you, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but you are the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73:25, 26).

God, Renew Me by Your Spirit

God, renew me by your Spirit!
Come and touch my weary soul.
Grant me joy so I can share it;
Oh, restore me; make me whole!

God, revitalize our mission!
Bless your church from pole to pole!
May we overcome division!
Oh, restore us; make us whole!

God, revive my congregation!
Be our center and our goal!
Help us join in adoration!
Oh, restore us; make us whole!

God, refresh your whole creation!
Timeless is salvation’s role!
Grant us boundless celebration!
Oh, restore us; make us whole!

(Revised from GOD, RENEW US BY YOUR SPIRIT! © 1992 John Dalles)

Your New Word Amid Our Anxiety

On reading 1 Kings 2:1-9

The promises roll of your lips
and into our ears:
I will be with you;
I will love you faithfully;
I will be your God;
My covenant is forever.

We count on your words that flow from our ears
to our hearts, and we are glad.

But even while we listen,
we live much of our lives underneath the table.
We read these old stories, and
we know about intrigue and fear and
anxiety and near violence
and deception.
We mostly do not act out our violence
but we imagine and ponder and scheme;
and then we, too, must cover up
and the cover-up ferments;
our lives become complex and burdened.

We keep inventing ourselves and our underneath selves turn out
to be less than adequate
and we wish we were other than we are.
We juggle your good purposes and
our hidden yearnings and
try to serve two masters,
try to live two narratives,
try to live two dreams,
and we are weary.

Because we know our hearts of anxiety so well,
we seem fated to disease.
But because we know your heart of fidelity so well,
we know you will defeat our demons
and make us new.

We know about your abiding fidelity in
Jesus of Nazareth.
Give us patience and steadfastness as we
process the ragged edges of our lives.

Amen.

(a prayer by Walter Brueggemann, from his book, Prayers for a Privileged People)

A Prayer by Bruce Cockburn

O love that fires the sun,
Keep me burning.

Let Your Spirit Rest on Me

Abba, let your Spirit rest on me,
fill me with the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
baptize me with the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Favor in Abundance

Show up for us today, Lord.
Please grant us your presence
and your favor in abundance,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Gift

I give myself to you, Lord.
I give you this day.
Take my offering,
sanctify it,
burn it up on the altar,
and make it acceptable,
pleasing to you,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Drive Us to the Cross

"Our Lord and our God, you are indeed the source of our life in Christ Jesus. Of what then could we boast? And yet, we seek constantly to lord it over each other. Even in the darkest questions, those in which the information available to us is scant, we assume that we know enough to dismiss those who disagree with us with a curt 'He doesn't get it.' We laugh, we criticize, and we talk about each other in ways that demean, in ways that give evidence of the pathetic attempt to elevate ourselves above all others. Forgive us our sin. And drive us to the cross. For beneath the cross, the ground is completely level. There is no room for boasting unless it be that boasting in the Lord whose power was made complete in weakness. For he alone is worthy of our praise, our veneration, our adoration, and the complete devotion of our hearts and our minds.
It is in his name that we pray. Amen."

(Prayer offered before a lecture by Bruce McCormack, professor of systematic theology at Princeton)

Isaiah 60:1 Thanks

Abba, thank you so much
that the glory of the Lord
has risen on me and mine.

Your Will

Abba, today I pray:
may your will be done.
I submit to your will.
I agree with your will.
I commit to doing your will,
in Jesus' name, amen.

A Prayer from Steven Curtis Chapman

(Today is my friend Jim Rose's funeral, which makes apropos this lyric, from "Last Day on Earth" by Steven Curtis Chapman)

I pull over to the side of the road and I
Watch the cars pass me by;
The headlights and the black limousine tell me
Someone is saying goodbye.
I bow my head and I whisper a prayer,
“Father, comfort their broken hearts,”
And as I drive away there's a thought that I
I cannot escape, no I, cannot escape this thought
I can't get away:

Oh, if this should be my last day here on earth,
How then shall I live.
Oh, if this should be the last day that I have
Before I breathe the air of heaven
Let me live it with abandon to
The only thing that remains
After my last day here on earth....

Amen.

A Prayer for Super Bowl Sunday

The world of fast money,
and loud talk,
and much hype is upon us.
We praise huge men whose names will linger only briefly.

We will eat and drink,
and gamble and laugh,
and cheer and hiss,
and marvel and then yawn.

We show up, most of us, for such a circus,
and such an indulgence.
Loud clashing bodies,
violence within rules,
and money and merchandise and music.

And you--today like every day--
you govern and watch and summon;
you glad when there is joy in the earth,
But you notice our liturgies of disregard and
our litanies of selves made too big,
our fascination with machismo power,
and lust for bodies and for big bucks.

And around you gather, as every day,
elsewhere uninvited, but noticed acutely by you,
those disabled and gone feebles,
those alone and failed,
those uninvited and shamed.
And you whose gift is more than "super,"
overflowing, abundant, adequate, all sufficient.

The day of preoccupation with creature comforts writ large,
We pause to be mindful of our creatureliness,
our commonality with all that is small and vulnerable exposed,
your creatures called to obedience and praise.

Give us some distance from the noise,
some reserve about the loud success of the day,
that we may remember that our life consists
not in things we consume
but in neighbors we embrace.

Be our good neighbor that we may practice
your neighborly generosity all through our needy neighborhood.

(a prayer by Walter Brueggemann, from his book, Prayers for a Privileged People)

My Psalm 82

God, you preside in heaven’s court;
yours is the authority over every authority.
How you must grieve at our injustice,
at our petty squabbles,
at our failure to defend the weak and fatherless,
at our attitude toward the poor and oppressed,
our failure to rescue the weak and the needy
from the hands of the wicked.
We stumble around,
and get it wrong most of the time.
You have made us just a little lower than the angels
and crowned us with honor and privilege,
yet we fail you as though we’ve practiced it.
Forgive us, O God, judge of all the earth,
and rise up to lead us and teach us and change us,
amen.

Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth, through all its pulses move.
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as you are,
And make me love you as I ought to love.

Teach me to feel that you are always nigh;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear,
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh;
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Teach me to love you as your angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The baptism of the Heaven-descended Dove,
My heart an altar and your love the flame.

(From a hymn of George Croly, slightly revised)

A Prayer of St. Ephraim of Syria

O Lord, Master of my life, grant that I may not be infected with the spirit of slothfulness and inquisitiveness, with the spirit of ambition and vain talking.

Grant instead to me, your servant, the spirit of purity and humility, the spirit of patience and neighborly love.

O Lord and King, bestow upon me the grace of being aware of my sins and not thinking evil of those of my brethren. Amen.

Prayer for a Granddaughter Not Yet Born

Abba, Father, Author of life,
I thank you for baby Mia,
waiting to be born to my son and daughter-in-law.
Keep her safe, please,
grant her health,
and make her strong
for that day when she becomes known to us
as she is already known to you.
Please be gracious to her mother, Nina,
in providing as much comfort and strength
as possible--and even more than possible.
And grant when baby Mia is born
that she will be in every way further evidence
of your power to answer prayer,
your willingness to grant health and happiness,
and your awesome creativity and variety.
Attend to her, Lord God, please attend to her,
and thank you for her, in Jesus' name, amen.

A Prayer of E. Stanley Jones

Oh, Eternal Christ,
understandable to even me,
I thank you for putting the latchstring so low I can reach it.
I can reach the Highest, for you are the Highest become lowly, reachable.
And so I come, for in You I "see" everything I need. I thank you.

A Jackson Browne Prayer

(A prayer based on Jackson Browne's song, "The Pretender")

I’m going to wake up in my house
And go to sleep in your arms;
I’m going to say my prayer in the morning
And go to work each day
And when the evening rolls around
I’ll go on home and lay my body down
And when the morning light comes streaming in
I’ll get up and do it again,
Amen.

Song of Joy (My Psalm 81)

I sing for joy to you, God my strength;
I shout my praise to you, O God of Jacob!
I will sing and dance and clap and bow

 to the music of drum and guitar and keyboard today!
Here at the New Moon,

 I will sing songs to you and lift you up.
I will give thanks to you in my native tongue
and with whatever language you care to supply.
For you have removed the burden from my shoulders;

 my hands are the hands of a free man.
I called, and you rescued me,

 you answered me in the storm,

 you refined me through the fire.
I once more cast down my idols,
I once more declare you to be my God, God alone in my eyes.
I cast down my idol of security,
my idol of popularity,
my idol of man’s approval,
my idols of comfort,
ease,
and peace.
You are the LORD my God,

 who brought me out of Egypt.

 I will open wide my mouth, for you to fill it.
I will listen to you;

 I will submit to you.
Mold my stubborn heart
and deliver me from my own devices.
I will follow your ways,
and watch for you to quickly subdue my enemies

 and turn your hand against my foes!
Let those who hate cringe before you,

 and let their punishment be a warning to all.
But let me and mine be fed with the finest of wheat,

 let me and mine be satisfied with honey from the rock.
Amen.

Leader's Lament

Lord God Adonai, I am so tired of being a leader.
I'm tired of being the one people look to for answers,
and then being ignored or criticized
because they don't like the answer.
I'm sick of unrealistic expectations,
of being always under the gun,
under the microscope,
on call.
I'm sick of my best not being good enough.
I'm sick of having to make decisions,
and then being second guessed by those
who never suggested anything better,
who have the luxury of sniping from the sidelines.
I'm tired of backseat drivers.
I'm tired of "damned if I do, damned if I don't."
I'm tired of throwing myself in front of the bus for people
and then have them gripe because of how I did it.
I'm tired of not being able to win for losing.
I'm tired of keeping confidences
that put me in an impossible position
while others say all sorts of things,
untrue and unfair things,
and then suspect or accuse me
because they don't understand my actions.
I'm tired of having to play by a different set of rules,
a higher standard,
than people who feel free to lash out at me.
Just once, can I lash out?
Can I be petty?
Can I be childish?
Can I be unforgiving?
Can I be bitter and resentful?
Can I blame everyone else while accepting no responsibility myself?
I'm sick of being the one who has to persevere,
the one who can't quit,
who can't turn his back,
who can't leave people holding the bag.
Please, LET me step aside and let someone else lead.
Let someone else have the responsibility.
Let someone else pay the price.
I'm tired of the attacks,
I'm tired of the grief.
I'm tired of being talked about behind my back.
I'm tired of giving.
I'm tired of leading.
And lest you be tired of me whining,
even while YOU try to lead poor, pathetic, self-pitying ME,
I will say,
Amen.

My Psalm 80

Please listen, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead your people in green pastures.
O God, enthroned above the heavenly beings,
display your radiant glory
to me, and to the flock I love.
Show us your mighty power.
Come to rescue us!
Turn us again
and ever more completely
to yourself, O God.

Smile on us.

Only then will we be delivered,
only then can we prosper.

O Lord God of Heaven’s battalions,

hold off no longer in routing our Enemy,
utterly defeating him.
We are muddy from the battlefield
and shell-shocked in the fight.
Lift our heads, Conquering Hero.
Turn us again to yourself, O God of Heaven’s battalions.

Smile on us.

Only then will we be delivered,
only then can we prosper.


You have brought us into a good
and spacious place.
You cleared the ground for us,

and we have persevered through many trials.

Now, Lord, O God of Heaven’s battalions,
if you choose, you can refresh us with victory,
with one victory after another.

Look down from heaven,
look favorably on us,
and rally your weary troops.
Strengthen the people you love,

the children you adore.

By your grace, we will never abandon you again.

Revive us so we can call on your name
and declare your glory to a watchful world.
once more.
Turn us again to yourself, O God of Heaven’s battalions.

Smile on us.

Only then will we be delivered,
only then can we prosper.


Restore

Abba, please restore to me the joy of your salvation
and, with it, please restore my faith in people
and my ability to think and expect
the best of them,
in Jesus' name.
Amen.

Don't Know What to Pray For

Abba, my Abba, help.
I don't know what to pray for today.
There is so much I could praise and thank you for,
so much I could ask,
so much I could lament,
so very much I need.
More than anything, I need you.
Come, in Jesus' name, amen.

A Prayer for Our New Administration

(Based on an ancient prayer by St. Clement of Rome)

You, Master, have given our new president and this new administration power through your majestic and inexpressible might, so that we, acknowledging the glory and honor which you have given them, may be subject to them, resisting your will in nothing. Grant to them, Lord, health, peace, harmony, and stability, that they may blamelessly administer the government which you have given them.

For you, heavenly Master, King of the ages, give to the sons of men glory and honor and authority over those upon the earth. Lord, direct their plans according to what is good and pleasing in your sight, so that by devoutly administering in peace and gentleness the authority which you have given them they may experience your mercy. You, who alone are able to do these and even greater good things for us, we praise through the high priest and guardian of our souls, Jesus Christ, through whom be the glory and the majesty to you both now and for all generations and for ever and ever. Amen (1 Clement 61.1-3).

Enlarge

Abba, enlarge my heart.
Increase my faith.
Improve my leadership skills.
Expand my territory.
Magnify my vision.
Multiply my insight,
understanding,
discernment,
and wisdom,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Send the Fire!

O Christ of burning, cleansing flame,
Send the fire!
Your blood bought gift today I claim,
Send the fire!
Look down and see this waiting host,
Give us the promised Holy Ghost;
We need another Pentecost,
Send the fire!

God of Elijah, hear my cry:
Send the fire!
To make us fit to live or die,
Send the fire!
To burn up every trace of sin,
To bring the light and glory in,
The revolution now begin,
Send the fire!

To make our weak hearts strong and brave,
Send the fire!
To live a dying world to save,
Send the fire!
O let us on your altar lay
Our lives, our all, this very day;
And crowning all, Lord, let us pray:
Send the fire!

(Revised from a hymn by General William Booth)

Inadequate Praise

Abba, Father, I praise you for your patience and perseverance,
and thank you for not giving up on me!
I praise you for your transcendence and ineffability,
and thank you that though you are so far beyond me
and my little mind and heart,
you condescend to me --
not only in Christ, but daily, moment by moment.
I praise you for your grace and mercy,
and thank you that you looked beyond my faults -- and still do!
I praise you for your creativity and inventiveness,
and thank you that your inventions so enrich my life --
coffee, grass, clouds, rain, wind, sunrises, colors, textures, music, and more.
I praise you, Lord God, because you are worthy, completely worthy,
to receive my praise,
so much so that I could praise you all day and all week,
all month, doing nothing else but praise you,
and still not come close to exhausting your worthiness!

Good Hand

Abba, please put your "good hand" (Ezra 7:9) on me today.
Amen.

Six Degree Thanks

Abba, Father, thank you for furnaces
and fireplaces
and shelter from the cold. Amen.

Three Word Prayer

Abba, hold me.

Psalm 108 Prayer

Oh, grant us help against the foe,
for vain is the salvation of man!
With you, Lord, we shall do valiantly;
it is you who will tread down our foes.

(Psalm 108:12-13)

All in All

I've little strength to call my own,
And what I've done, before your throne,
I here confess, is small;
But on your strength, O God, I lean,
And through the Blood that keeps me clean,
You are my all in all.

(From a song by Herbert Booth, slightly revised)

Servant Prayer

Lord, I am selfishly born
and remain to this day, one loving to be served.
Change me, Lord.
Remake me from the inside out
into one who who serves with a loving heart.

(A prayer of Virelle Kidder, from her wonderful book, The Best Life Ain't Easy, But It's Worth It).

My Psalm 79

O God, the world is too much with us.
The ways of the world defile your people,
and weaken your church.
We are prey
for our enemies,
and we cooperate in our own destruction!
We turn on each other
and devour each other with our words,
our attitudes,
our sin.
We make our Enemy’s job easy!

How long, O LORD? Will you let this continue?
How can you let your children, your chosen ones,
live so deceitfully, so unfruitfully?

It would be different if it came from people who do not acknowledge you or call on your name;
but it is your own who devour and destroy your house.

Deliver us from the sins of the fathers;
may your mercy come quickly to meet us,

 for we are in desperate need.
Help us, O God our Savior,
for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
for your name's sake.

Save us from making a mockery of you,
of your Gospel,
of all you have taught us and commanded us and done for us.

May the groans of the wounded come before you;
by the strength of your arm
preserve those who have been hurt by friendly fire.
Throw our Enemy’s attacks into his teeth,
even seven times over.
Then we your people,
the sheep of your pasture,
will praise you forever;
from generation to generation
we will recount your praise.

Strength

God, my Rock, show your strength in me today as I serve your church, in Jesus' name, amen.

Epiphany

Almighty and everlasting God, who has made known the incarnation of your Son by the bright shining of a star, which, when the wise men beheld, they presented costly gifts and adored your majesty; grant that the star of your righteousness may always shine into our hearts; and that, as our treasure, we may give ourselves and all we possess to your service, through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.

(from the Gelasian Sacramentary)

Clasp Your Hand

Lord, I would clasp your hand in mine,
And never murmur or repine,
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since it is your hand leading me.

(from the hymn, He Leadeth Me, by Joseph Henry Gilmore, slightly updated)

Sunday Plea

Abba, send your blessing on your people today.
Please grant us to worship you
in spirit and in truth,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Workday Rest

Adonai, only you could do what I ask:
please help me rest today,
even though I work,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Mindful Prayer

Abba, Father, I thank you
that you have made me passably smart.
I ask also:
please make me miraculously wise,
in Jesus' name, amen.

A New Year Prayer

(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.

Tired Prayer

Lord God, I'm tired.
But I thank you for the work that makes me tired.
Thank you for the breath to feel out of breath,
and for the consciousness to feel all but unconscious,
amen.

My Maker and My King

My Maker and my King,
To Thee my all I owe;
Thy constant goodness is the spring
Whence all my blessings flow.

The creature of Thy hand,
On Thee alone I live;
Thy countless benefits demand
More praise than I can give.

O let Thy grace inspire
My soul with strength divine!
Let all my powers to Thee aspire,
And all my days be Thine.

(A hymn by Anne Steele)

Needs

Abba, how can I possibly pray
for all the people I have to pray for?
How can I bring the great needs of the flock before you every day?
I need your grace just to be able to pray!
You know my need.
You know theirs.
Give grace to me to pray,
and Holy Spirit please intercede with me and for me
in my shortcomings, in Jesus' name, amen.

Two Verses

My Lord God Adonai:
God of earth and sea and sky,
I lift my voice, I speak my prayer,
And cast on you my every care.

This day, Lord, now is past,
And I am much in need of rest.
I need your peace, I need your calm,
I beg your Spirit's healing balm.

A Christmas Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson

Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

A Prayer for Christmas Eve

(This prayer, written by a young Italian seminarian named Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli in 1902 who would later become Pope John XXIII, has become a Christmas Eve tradition for me).

Night has fallen; the clear, bright stars are sparkling in the cold air; noisy, strident voices rise to my ear from the city, voices of the revelers of this world who celebrate with merrymaking the poverty of their Saviour. Around me in their rooms my companions are asleep, and I am still wakeful, thinking of the mystery of Bethlehem.

Come, come, Jesus, I await you. . . .

I am a poor shepherd; I have only a wretched stable, a small manger, some wisps of straw. I offer all these to you, be pleased to come into my poor hovel. I offer you my heart; my soul is poor and bare of virtues, the straws of so many imperfections will prick you and make you weep--but oh, my Lord, what can you expect? This little is all I have. . . . I have nothing better to offer you, Jesus, honour my soul with your presence, adorn it with your graces. Burn this straw and change it into a soft couch for your most holy body.

Jesus, I am here waiting for your coming. Wicked men have driven you out, and the wind is like ice. I am a poor man, but I will warm you as well as I can. At least be pleased that I wish to welcome you warmly, to love you and sacrifice myself for you.

Amen.

O Lord, I Will Delight in Thee

O Lord, I will delight in Thee
And on Thy care depend,
To Thee in every trouble flee,
My best, my only Friend.

When all created streams are dried,
Thy fullness is the same;
May I with this be satisfied
And glory in Thy Name.

No good in creatures can be found
But may be found in Thee;
I must have all things and abound
While God is God to me.

O Lord, I cast my care on Thee,
I triumph and adore;
Henceforth my great concern shall be
To love and please Thee more.

(A hymn by John Ryland)

God of Ice

God of ice, God of cold,
I praise you for your power
and creativity displayed
in frigid temperatures,
icy blasts,
gray skies,
frosting breaths,
in all the awesome array
of your ways in nature.
You are God of all:
arctic and tropic,
cold and heat,
ice and magma,
and you are worthy of praise
in all your ways,
amen.

Sunday Morning Prayer

O Lord, Abba, Father, at the beginning of another week I come to You for help and light.

Please make this a sacred day of worship and service to you. Call forth wholehearted worship, joyful and effective service, and faith from all who gather. Make your praise glorious today. Make your servants joyful. Stir up the spiritual gifts that are in us. Call those who are lost out of darkness and into the light. Revive your church. Renew us all. Unite us with you and with each other as we worship. Tear down strongholds. Break through barriers. Cast out Satan. Fill us with the Holy Spirit, and build us up in our most holy faith, in Jesus' name, amen.

I Take the Blessing From Above

What am I, O Thou glorious God,
And what my father's house to Thee,
That Thou such mercies have bestowed
On me, the chief of sinners, me?
I take the blessing from above
And wonder at Thy boundless love.

Honor and might and thanks and praise,
I render Thee, O pardoning God,
Extol the riches of Thy grace
And spread Thy saving name abroad,
That only name to sinners given
Which lifts poor dying souls to Heaven.

Jesus, I bless Thy gracious power,
And all within me shouts Thy name;
Thy name let every soul adore,
Thy power let every tongue proclaim,
Thy grace let every sinner know
And find (with me) their Heaven below.

(from a hymn by Charles Wesley)

Yours

Abba, I am yours.
I am in your hands.
I ask nothing today except what you have in mind,
in your limitless mind,
for me to enjoy,
suffer,
discover,
learn,
endure,
realize,
acquire,
or lose.
Be it unto me according to your will,
in Jesus' name, amen.

From A Diary of Private Prayer

O Thou whose eternal presence is hid behind the veil of nature, informs the mind of man, and was made flesh in Jesus Christ our Lord, I thank Thee that He has left me an example that I should follow in His steps.

Jesus Christ said, Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.

Jesus Christ said, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.

Jesus Christ said, Do good and lend, hoping for nothing again. O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.

Jesus Christ said, Love your enemies. O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.

Jesus Christ said, Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.

Jesus Christ said, Fear not, only believe. O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.

Jesus Christ said, Except ye turn again and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.

Jesus Christ said, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.

Amen.

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

Meetings

Lord God Adonai,
how I thank you for days free of meetings!
Amen.

Sabbath Gift

Lord, your Sabbath command,
your Sabbath gift,
is a boon to my soul.
Please forgive me for often
neglecting it,
and missing out on your best for me.
Thank you for the refreshment
it brings me
when I remember the Sabbath
and keep it holy.
Amen.

Insight

Lord, you answered my prayer
for insight and understanding.
I don't like the insight,
but I thank you for the answered prayer!

A Prayer of Clement

You, Lord, through your works have revealed the everlasting structure of the world.
You, Lord, created the earth.
You are faithful throughout all generations,
righteous in your judgments,
marvelous in strength and majesty,
wise in creating and prudent in establishing what exists,
good in all that is observed
and faithful to those who trust in you,
merciful and compassionate;
forgive us our sins and our injustices,
our transgressions and our shortcomings.

Do not take into account every sin of your servants,
but cleanse us with the cleansing of your truth,
and "direct our steps to walk in holiness and righteousness and purity of heart,"
and "to do what is good and pleasing in your sight"
and in the sight of our rulers.
Yes, Lord, "let your face shine upon us" in peace "for our good,"
that we may be sheltered "by your mighty hand"
and delivered from every sin "by your uplifted arm";
deliver us as well from those who hate us unjustly.

Give harmony and peace to us and to all who dwell on the earth,
just as you did to our fathers
when they reverently "called upon you in faith and trust,"
that we may be saved,
while we render obedience to your almighty and most excellent name,
and give harmony and peace to our rulers and governors on earth. Amen.

O Master, Let Me Walk With You

(A hymn by Washington Gladden, slightly revised)

O Master, let me walk with you
in lowly paths of service true;
Tell me your secret; help me bear
the strain of toil, the fret of care,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Holding Fast

Lord, I hold fast to you.
I will not depart from following you,
but will keep your commandments,
by your grace.
Please be with me wherever I go,
prosper me,
for the sake of your kingdom,
and your flock,
in Jesus' name, amen.
(2 Kings 18:6-7)

Not Enough

Abba, I confess.
I am not smart enough to get through this day without you;
I need your knowledge and wisdom.
I am not strong enough;
I need your power and might.
I am not NEARLY righteous enough;
I need your holiness to course through me and flow from me.
I am not joyful;
I need your help to "rejoice always;"
I am no communicator;
I need you to empower my poor attempts at communication.
I am poor and needy, Abba,
and my poverty and need are all I have
to give you today--or any day.
I bring my emptiness to you
and ask for a fresh filling,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Enter

I will enter your gates
with thanksgiving in my heart, Lord;
I will enter your gates
with praise.
I will enter with anticipation.
I will enter with faith.
I will enter humbly,
expectantly,
adoringly,
grateful simply for the privilege
of entering,
and hopeful of giving you the honor
that is due you,
and whatever I may receive from you
is added blessing.
Amen.

A Prayer for Safe Travel

Lord, I know there are millions of travellers on the roads (and in the skies) today, and you love and care for them all. But please keep an eye out for a black 2004 Mazda Tribute heading home from Kenosha. Grant us Godspeed, in Jesus' name, amen.

Unbroken Thanks

Sleepwakingcomfortablemattresscomfortablechairwarmhomelovingfamilyphonecallsfromkidshealthcleanclothesgoodbooksnewspaperscoffeecinnamonrollsbreadturkeystuffingpumpkinpiecomputeriphonecleanwaterbeautifulwifesafetraveldishwashersunlightfaithcomfortlaughtermusictoothbrushfriendshopehairsightabilitytowalkplantsandflowersmoneytobuygiftshappymarriageprayerandsososomuchmore!Thankyou,inJesus'name,amen.

No Need to Wait

Abba, there is of course no need to wait
for tomorrow to give thanks
for all you are
and all you've given
to me.

How can I possibly
thank you
adequately,
let alone generously,
for all your grace and mercy
and manifold blessings to me?

I who am so rich
in blessings
must unavoidably
be so poor
in thanks.

I can no more thank you sufficiently
than I can repay you.
But I give you thanks nonetheless:
Please forgive my poverty of thanksgiving
even as you have blessed me far,
far,
far,
far,
beyond my deserving,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Just Like Jeremiah

Lord God Adonai, by your great grace
make me, like Jeremiah,
"a fortified city, an iron pillar, bronze walls,"
in Jesus' name, amen.