Bloom

Jesus,
Jesus,
Lily
of
the
Valley,
Bloom
in
all
Thy
beauty
in
the
garden
of my
heart.

Hear My Prayer

A prayer of Moya Brennan, from her eighth recording, Signature:

Socks

Abba, Father, my Lord God, thank you for a family that blesses my socks off.

A Prayer by Edward White Benson

Teach me, good Lord:
Not to murmur at the multitude of business
and the shortness of time.
Not to magnify undertaken duties by seeming to suffer under them, but to treat them all as liberties.
Not to call attention to crowded work, or petty fatigues.
Not to gather encouragement from appreciation by others, lest this should interfere with the purity of my motives.
Not to seek praise, respect, gratitude, or regard from others.
Not to let myself be placed in favorable contrast with another.

(a prayer by Edward White Benson)

Zarephath Prayer 2

Abba, Father,
I pray again as I have prayed of late,
let it be to me as it was to the widow of Zarephath.

Let the jar of flour not be used up
and the jug of oil not run dry
until the day you send
showers of blessing on me,
on my home,
on my land,
on my life.

In Jesus' name, amen.

(Based on 1 Kings 17:14)

When Life's Circumstances Lift Me to the Crest of the Wave

Lord, forgive me
that when life’s circumstances
lift me to the crest of the wave,
I tend to forget Thee.
Yet, like an errant child,
I have blamed Thee
with my every failure,
even as I credit myself
with every success.

When my fears evaporate like the morning mist,
then vainly I imagine that I am sufficient unto myself,
that material resources and human resources are enough.

I need Thee when the sun shines,
lest I forget the storm and the dark.
I need Thee when I am popular,
when my friends and those who work beside me
approve and compliment me.
I need Thee more then, lest my head begin to swell.

O God, forgive me for my stupidity,
my blindness in success,
my lack of trust in Thee.
Be Thou now my Savior in success.

Save me from conceit.
Save me from pettiness.
Save me from myself!
And take this success, I pray, and use it for Thy glory. In Thy strength, I pray.

Amen.

(a prayer by Peter Marshall)

A Prayer Before I Preach

Lord God, what a marvel,
that I can proclaim your Word!
What an honor.
What a joy.

You dwell with the lowly
and visit those who tremble at Your Word.
Anoint me with lowliness.
Fill me with trembling.

Come upon me in spirit and truth.
Overshadow me with your Spirit.

All my springs are in you, Lord.
Flow from me
for the salvation of sinners
and for the blessing,
admonition,
and upbuilding of your church,
in Jesus' name, amen.

A Prayer for Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia

Abba, Father, God of all,
hear my prayer for the people of Egypt,
Jordan,
and Tunisia,
as political unrest and turmoil
rage in their lands.

Lord, please protect the people.
Please watch over them.
Bring about constructive change,
increasing freedom,
and peace.
Let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!

I pray especially for my brothers and sisters in Christ throughout those lands, that you will protect them as you protected your people in the days of Esther and Mordecai.

For all who are afraid, send protection.
To all who are angry, bring peace.
On all who pursue righteousness, shower success,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Not

Lord God, Heavenly Father,
I know that I am not yet
what you call me to be,
but I thank you from my heart
that I am not now what I once was.
Amen.

The Worth of Jesus Perfumes My Humble Breathings

O God of grace,
I bewail my cold,
listless,
heartless prayers;
their poverty adds sin to my sin.
If my hope were in them
I should be undone,
But the worth of Jesus perfumes my feeble breathings,
and wins their acceptance.

Deepen my contrition of heart,
Confirm my faith in the blood that washes from all sin.
May I walk lovingly with my great Redeemer.
Flood my soul with true repentance
that my heart may be broken for sin and unto sin.
Let me be as slow to forgive myself
as thou art ready to forgive me.
Gazing on the glories of thy grace
may I be cast into the lowest depths of shame.
and walk with downcast head now thou art pacified towards me.

O my great High Priest,
pour down upon me streams of needful grace,
bless me in all my undertakings,
in every thought of my mind,
every word of my lips,
every step of my feet,
every deed of my hands.
Thou didst live to bless,
die to bless,
rise to bless,
ascend to bless,
take thy throne to bless,
and now thou dost reign to bless.

O give sincerity to my desires,
earnestness to my supplications,
fervour to my love.

(from The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers, edited by Arthur Bennett)

A Prayer for Miles

Lord, look at him.
Isn't he so awfully cute?
Thank you for the glasses
that have been prescribed for him.
But for all their healing potential,
I trust in you first and foremost
for his healing.

Please heal every muscle
and nerve and function
in his eyes,
and make surgery
unnecessary.

In Jesus' healing hame I pray,
amen.

Thanks for Small People

Lord God Adonai, I thank you for small people,
with small minds and small hearts,
if only because their small behavior
is overshadowed by those who
shine like stars in the sky,
blameless and pure,
children of God without fault
in a warped and crooked generation.
Amen.

Drown Me In You

Oh, Lord, by your gracious and blessed salvation,
let me enter fully into you and into your presence,
your fellowship,
your infinite sufficiency.

I take you, Lord, as my all.
I take you as my ENOUGH.
I take you as my sufficiency.

Please rid me of all but you.
Cleanse me of all that is not of you.
Give me you.
Fill me with you.
Drown me in you.
Amen.

Lift My Vision of You

Lord God,
you are high and lifted up,
the lofty One who inhabits eternity
and yet is not contained by it.

Lift my vision of you, Lord.
Let me always see you,
grasp you,
attain you as a fact,
not merely as a concept,
an idea,
or an ideal.

Fine-tune my heart and mind
to truly sing your praises aright,
in Jesus' name, amen.

A Prayer Before Preaching

God, save me
from the sin of paring down the gospel
to suit the pride of men.

God grant
that I may deliver your message
straight and full and plain,
that, whatever else I may sacrifice,
I will have one thing—
the favor of my Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.

(Based on the words of J. Gresham Machen, “Prophets False and True,” in God Transcendent (Edinburgh, 1982), page 125).

A Prayer by Phil Wickham

Bursting Limit

This cardboard box
Lord
see it says
Bursting limit
100 lbs. per square inch.
The box maker knew
how much strain
the box would take
what weight
would crush it.
You are wiser
than the box maker
maker of my spirit
my mind
my body.
Does the box know
when pressure increases close to
the limit?
No
It knows nothing.
But I know
when my breaking point
Is near.
And so I pray
Maker of my soul
Determiner of the pressure
within
upon
me
Stop it
lest I be broken
Or else
change the pressure rating
of this fragile container
of your grace
so that I may bear more.

(A prayer of Joseph Bayly from Psalms of My LIfe)

As a Little Child

Lord, help me to receive your kingdom--daily--as a little child.
Amen.

Save Me From Self

Lord save me
from myself
my settled self
unsettle me
bring to end of rope
but only
if you
are at the end.
My procrastinating self
that can so easy find
side roads
that are more interesting
even ones where
errands can be run.
Send me back to
my comfort loving self
uncomfort me
pull the covers from me
on cold night
that I may wake. Starve my body
that my soul may feast.
My proud self.
Give me grace to bend myself
And keep me bent
lest you should one day
bend me to the breaking point.
My righteous self
show me sin
that lurks beneath
my conscious thought
motivating
that pushes me
to settling
comfort pride
and self
rationalizing self
that finds excuse
for what I do
and don't.
Save me from myself
Save me so that
self may die
and save me
from pride
that self is dead.

(A Prayer of Joseph Bayly, from Psalms of My Life)

A Prayer Before Writing

Lord God Adonai,
I am about to write.
I have nothing to say,
nothing to offer.
I am a poor writer,
and an even poorer Christian.
And yet I must try
to find words
that will bring into being
something that has never been before.
Help me, Lord.
Inspire me.
Empower me.
Flow through me.
Grant that I may write
better than I can write,
and thus know that
all the honor and glory and thanks
belong to you,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Prayer Suggested by Psalms 63 and 141

God, you are my God,
and I seek you this morning;
let my prayers rise before you
like the morning sacrifice.

Please grant that I may seek you wholeheartedly,
which I confess I do not now.

Grant that I may seek you only,
which I do not now.

Grant that I may seek you moment-by-moment,
consistently, and constantly,
which I do not now,
for I need you
constantly and completely and only, amen.

The Valley of Vision

Lord, High and Holy,
meek and lowly,
Thou hast brought me
to the valley of vision,
Where I live in the depths
but see Thee in the heights;
Hemmed in by mountains of sin,
I behold Thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox:
-that the way down is the way up
-that to be low is to be high
-that the broken heart is the healed heart
-that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit
-that the repenting soul is the victorious soul
-that to have nothing is to possess all
-that to bear the cross is to wear the crown
-that to give is to receive
-that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the night time stars can be seen from the deepest wells,
And the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine;

Let me find Thy light in my darkness,
-Thy life in my death
-Thy joy in my sorrow
-Thy grace in my sin
-Thy riches in my poverty
-Thy glory in my valley.

(from The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers, edited by Arthur Bennett)

Fill

Fill my cup, Lord;
I lift it up, Lord.
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup,
fill it up and make me whole.

Quick Prayer

Jacob's Prayer, Slightly Revised

I will not let you go, so you might as well bless me.

Prayer Prompted by Reading

Thank you, Father,
that I have never been
a hostage,
a prisoner,
or castaway.
Amen.

Zarephath Prayer

Lord God Adonai, let it be to me as it was to the widow of Zarephath.

Let the jar of flour not be used up
and the jug of oil not run dry
until the day you send
showers of blessing on me,
on my home,
on my land,
on my life.

In Jesus' name, amen.

(Based on 1 Kings 17:14)

Evening Prayer on a Snowy Day

Good evening, good Lord!

So busy are we
about so many trivial things...

Perhaps that's why
you spent this day
blanketing us with snow,
slowing our steps,
hitting our pause button
and grinding the traffic of our business
to a halt...

* * *

I needed that, Lord.
I needed to be inconvenienced,
interrupted, slowed down
- stopped -
by the pure, soft beauty
of your presence,
settling gently, flake by flake;
dressing me and my world
in a garment of pure grace...

Let the snow fall on my upturned face,
let me catch its sweetness on my tongue
and taste your presence...

Am I too old, Lord,
for making angels in the snow?
Then send a snowy angel
to make of me
what you would have me be...

Even as the snow chills my limbs
let your touch melt my heart
and draw me inside
to where the fire of your love
burns for me always,
crackling, bright and warm...

Remind me, Lord,
of those who are burdened by this weather
and empty my pockets
to shelter and serve them...

Later, Lord, in the quiet of night
the snow will slow and stop
and by morning our pace will quicken again...

Keep us mindful then of these moments
when the blanket of your presence
stills and warms our hearts
close to you...

Amen.

(From A Concord Pastor Comments blog)

Light These Idle Sticks of My Life

God, I pray Thee,
light these idle sticks of my life
and may I burn for Thee.

Consume my life, my God,
for it is Thine.

I seek not a long life,
but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus.

(A prayer by Jim Elliot, martyred missionary to the indigenous people of Ecuador)

A Prayer for Sudan

Abba, Father,
I cry out to you today
on behalf of the people of Sudan.

I ask you to give them
energy to work for justice,
genius to solve stubborn problems,
compassion for others,
and resources to work with.

Give them leaders with integrity and wisdom.
Raise up leaders in the churches.
Provide training for their leaders
and patience,
understanding,
and cooperation for all.

Let the results of the referendum be pleasing to you,
and let the problems that stand in the way
of peace and progress--
usage rights for the Nile,
border disputes,
a plan for sharing oil revenues,
and more--
be resolved peacefully and fairly.

Bring an end to war
and persecution for all peoples,
and especially for the Christians of southern Sudan,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Prayer for Job Seekers

Gracious and loving God,
you know our need
for meaningful work.
Send your Holy Spirit
to guide those
who are searching for employment.
Help them to recognize
the gifts and talents
you have given them.
Deepen their desire to follow your will.
Inspire them
as they contact potential employers.
Give them patience
as they wait for responses.

Shelter them from feelings of rejection.
Protect them from discouragement.
Give them courage to overcome fear.

Shower on them the graces they need to persevere.
Let this time of searching become an opportunity to grow in faith,
to cultivate the virtue of hope, and to experience your healing love.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

Amen.

(From the Daily Prayer blog)

Hope

Task

Thank you, Lord,
that the task ahead of me
is never as great
as the power behind me.
Amen.

Colossians 1 Prayer

God, please fill me
with the knowledge of your will
through all the wisdom and understanding
that the Spirit gives,
that I may live a life worthy of my Lord
and please him in every way:
bearing fruit in every good work,
growing in the knowledge of God,
being strengthened with all power
according to your glorious might
so that I may have great endurance and patience,
and give joyful thanks to you, Father,
who has qualified me to share
in the inheritance of your holy people
in the kingdom of light.

(Based on Colossians 1:9-12)

A Fourth Century Prayer

’Glory be to God in the highest, and upon earth peace, good-will among men.’ We praise You, we sing hymns to You, we bless You, we glorify You, we worship You by Your great High Priest; You who are the true God, who are the Unbegotten One, the only inaccessible Being. For Your great glory, O Lord and heavenly King, O God the Father Almighty, O Lord God, the Father of Christ the immaculate Lamb, who takes away the sin of the world, receive our prayer, You Who sit upon the cherubim. For You alone are holy, You alone are the Lord Jesus, the Christ of the God of all created nature, and our King, by whom glory, honor, and worship be to You. Amen.

(a fourth-century morning prayer from the Apostolic constitutions, a collection of documents meant to give direction to Christian leaders on discipline, worship and doctrine, by way of Alan Fadling's blog)

A Confession

Compassionate and gracious God, You are slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. You have not dealt with me according to my sins, nor rewarded me according to my iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is Your love toward those who fear You.

Most Gracious God, I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, by what I have done and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbor as myself. I have been proud, and selfish. I have been lazy. I have shunned your ways and failed to heed your Spirit's voice. I have hurt others, and in so doing have hurt you. I am a glutton. A liar. Lustful. Greedy. Wasteful. I have been quick to speak, and slow to listen. I have been quick to complain, and slow to give thanks. I have been quick to judge, and slow to forgive.

I am truly sorry and I humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me; that I may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Son Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray. Amen.

A Writer's Prayer

Oh Lord, let me not be one of those who writes too much;
who spreads himself too thinly with his words,
diluting all the things he has to say,
like butter spread too thinly over toast,
or watered milk in some worn-out hotel;
but let me write the things I have to say,
and then be silent, ’til I need to speak.

Oh Lord, let me not be one of those who writes too little;
a decade-man between each tale, or more,
where every word accrues significance
and dread replaces joy upon the page.
Perfectionists like chasing the horizon;
You kept perfection, gave the rest to us,
so let me earn the wisdom to move on.

But over and above those two mad spectres of parsimony and profligacy,
Lord, let me be brave, and let me, while I craft my tales, be wise:
let me say true things in a voice that is true,
and, with the truth in mind, let me write lies.

(a prayer by Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award-winning author Neil Gaiman)

A Prayer of Alfred the Great

Lord God Almighty, shaper and ruler of all creatures, we pray for Your great mercy, that You guide us better than we have done, toward You, and guide us to Your will, to the need of our soul, better than we can ourselves. And steady our mind towards Your will and to our soul’s need. And strengthen us against the temptations of the devil, and put far from us all lust, and every unrighteousness, and shield us against our foes, seen and unseen. And teach us to do Your will, that we may inwardly love You before all things, with a pure mind. For You are our maker and our redeemer, our help, our comfort, our trust, our hope; praise and glory be to You now, ever and ever, world without end. Amen.

I Need Thee

Alpha and Omega

Alpha and Omega, First and Last, I pray:
be my first thought every morning,
and my last thought every night.

Claim my first allegiance,
my last full measure of devotion.

Take first place in my heart,
and rule over every last affection.

Make me first to serve,
last to seek credit.

Let me please you first,
and all others last, amen.

A New Year's Prayer

O Lord,

Length of days does not profit me except the days are passed in thy presence, in thy service, to thy glory.

Give me a grace that precedes, follows, guides, sustains, sanctifies, aids every hour,
that I may not be one moment apart from thee,
but may rely on thy Spirit,
to supply every thought,
speak in every word,
direct every step,
prosper every work,
build up every mote of faith,
and give me a desire
to show forth thy praise,
testify thy love,
advance thy kingdom.

I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year,
with thee, O Father, as my harbour,
thee, O Son, at my helm,
thee O Holy Spirit, filling my sails.

Guide me to heaven with my loins girt,
my lamp burning,
my ear open to thy calls,
my heart full of love,
my soul free.

Give me grace to sanctify me,
thy comforts to cheer,
thy wisdom to watch,
thy right hand to guide,
thy counsel to instruct,
thy law to judge,
thy presence to stabilize.

May thy fear be my awe,
thy triumphs my joy.

(from The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers, edited by Arthur Bennett)

End-of-the-Year Prayer

O Love Beyond Compare,
you are good when you give,
when you take away,
when the sun shines,
when night gathers over me.

You have loved me before the foundation of the world,
and in love redeemed my soul;
you love me still,
in spite of my hard heart, ingratitude, and distrust.

Your goodness has been with me another year,
leading me through a twisting wilderness,
in retreat helping me to advance,
when beaten back making sure headway.

Your goodness will be with me in the year ahead,
as I hoist sail and draw up anchor,
as the shape of my ministry changes,
and I become again a writer who preaches,
and no longer a pastor who (infrequently) writes.

I bless you that you have veiled my eyes to the waters ahead.
If you have appointed storms of tribulation,
you will be with me in them;
If I have to pass through tempests of persecution and temptation,
I shall not drown;
If I am to die,
I shall see your face the sooner;
If a painful end is to be my lot,
grant me grace that my faith fail not;
If I am to be cast aside from the service I love,
I can make no stipulation;
Only glorify yourself in me whether in comfort or trial,
as a chosen vessel meet always for your use.

I thank you for the blessing of this year now past,
and bless you for the promise of this year to come,
in Jesus' name,
amen.

(Based on a prayer from The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers, edited by Arthur Bennett)

Technology

Abba, my Father,
thank you for technology.
Thank you for the inventions
and discoveries
that enrich my life
though they also complicate it at times.

Thank you for cell phones,
and computers,
television
and radio,
for the internet,
for remote controls,
eBooks,
iPads,
and applications,
word processing,
email,
scanning,
digital photography,
pdfs,
Skype
Facebook
Twitter
and blogs.

Thank you for text messaging
and iTunes
and syncing calendars
and address books
and alarms and notifications
and financial software
and presentation software
and desktop publishing software
and so much more.

Thank you, Lord,
for the ability to download an eBook in seconds,
to send a message around the world in a moment,
to pay a bill,
answer a question,
save a coupon,
make a reservation,
and listen to music
in ways that were impossible just a short time ago.

Thank you for technology,
for the helpful purposes it serves,
even as I pray for you to frustrate
the evil ways it can also be used,
in Jesus' name, amen.

You Won't Relent

You won't relent until You have it all;
My heart is Yours....

I'll set You as a seal upon my heart,
As a seal upon my arm,
For there is love that is as strong as death,
Jealousy, demanding as the grave;
Many waters cannot quench this love!

You won't relent until You have it all;
My heart is Yours....

Come be the fire inside of me,
Come be the flame upon my heart,
Come be the fire inside of me,
Until You and I are one.

(a prayer by Misty Edwards)

Post-Vandalism Prayer

Lord, you know my car was broken into today, a window shattered, the stereo stolen, and my Bible-on-CDs stolen as well.

Yet I have much to be thankful for. Thank you that no one was hurt. Thank you that my iPad and wallet, which were in the car, were not stolen! Thank you that insurance will cover the stereo and the CDs. Thank you that only possessions were harmed, not people. Thank you that it was such a minor disruption in my life.

Thank you, too, that I am so rich as to possess something worth stealing (though the worth of the stereo is debatable!). Thank you that the loss is insufficient to ruin me financially, or even set me back much at all. Thank you that I was still able to deliver the large-print Bible I had purchased (!) to my dad, and return home safely.

In your wise and loving sovereignty, Lord, let the person or persons who vandalized my car actually USE the Bible CDs. Let them hear your word, dramatized even!, and be drawn closer to you by it. Don't let my former property be used to cause harm, to buy drugs, or bring misery. Instead, let this theft be a means of salvation, even. Let your ways become known, your saving power, even through an event such as this, in Jesus' name, amen.

Teach Me to Hate the Things You Hate

Lord God, please teach me
to hate the things you hate--
bitterness and quarreling,
anger and strife,
injustice, cruelty, and abuse,
immorality and idolatry,
ambition and jealousy,
selfishness and greed,
jealousy and envy,
dishonesty,
unforgiveness,
ungrace,
and hatred itself,
especially (but not exclusively)
when they show up in me,
in Jesus' name, amen.

An After-Christmas Prayer

Lord, if we were to sum it all up, we are filled with so many good things but today it's enough to appreciate the gift of life itself! And the gift of a morning so clean and crisp and beautiful that we can see blue sky everywhere! We offer our worship, our gifts, ourselves. You alone are God, you alone are the Lord. You alone are holy.

Forgive us for the words spoken in anger, for our actions that have hurt or harmed another. And we pray for those who hurt us, in the name of the one who said from the cross, "Forgive them- they don't know what they're doing." Free us, we pray, to make it easier for others to believe in you because they have known us. Help us to lighten the load that others are carrying, to cut some slack for others, knowing how we appreciate it when someone is patient and understanding with us.

We praise and glory and delight in your loving presence. The glow of that Holy Night still lingers...the simplicity and surrender of people giving themselves to each other and ultimately to you... Mary, Joseph, shepherds, wise men, all making their unplanned journeys. So teach us to walk with you in the happenstance. That if you are anywhere, you are where we are afraid and uncertain. Teach us anew that courage is not the absence of fear, but the presence of love- your love and grace. Teach us what it means to be loved unconditionally, and to trust in you even though we don't know what tomorrow will bring.

Help us to hear in Jesus our invitation to live and to be fully alive! That surrendering to you is an invitation to know joy and peace and gentleness deep within and where we live. It's our gain and we're so grateful. Renew and restrain us and our world in your love. Renew our hope and adventure and willingness to risk and serve. Deliver those who are in pain or who suffer from the violence of others. Heal us and hold us all, Lord. And equip us not only to know what our ministry is, but to do it! In the name of the One who saves us and loves, Jesus. Amen.

(A prayer by Scott Endress at clergyspirit.org)

A Prayer for the First Sunday After Christmas

Almighty God,
you have poured upon us
the new light
of your incarnate Word:
Grant that this light,
enkindled in our hearts,
may shine forth in our lives;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God,
now and for ever.
Amen.

A Christmas Prayer by Peter Marshall

We yearn, our Father, for the simple beauty of Christmas -- for all the old famliar melodies and words that remind us of that great miracle when He who had made all things was one night to come as a babe, to lie in the crook of a woman's arm.

Before such mystery we kneel, as we follow the shepherds and Wise Men to bring Thee the gift of our love -- a love we confess has not always been as warm or sincere or real as it should have been. But now, on this Christmas Day, that love would find its Beloved, and from Thee receive the grace to make it pure again, warm and real.

We bring Thee our gratitude for every token of Thy love, for all the ways Thou hast heaped blessings upon us during the years that have gone.

And we do pray, Lord Jesus, that as we celebrate Thy birthday, we may do it in a manner well pleasing to Thee. May all we do and say, every tribute of our hearts, bring honor to Thy name, that we, Thy people, may remember Thy birth and feel Thy presence among us even yet.

May the loving kindness of Christmas not only creep into our hearts, but there abide, so that not even the return to earthly cares and responsibilities, not all the festivities of our own devising may cause it to creep away weeping. May the joy and spirit of Christmas stay with us now and forever.

In the name of Jesus, who came to save His people from their sins, even in that lovely name we pray. 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 Emmanuel

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Savior:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.
Amen.

O Rex Gentium

O Rising Sun,
splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death.
Amen.

O Oriens

O Rising Sun,
splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death.
Amen.

O Clavis David

O Key of David,
O royal power of Israel,
controlling at your will the gate of heaven:
come, break down the prison walls of death
for those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death;
and lead your captive people into freedom.
Amen.

O Radix Jesse

O Flower of Jesse’s stem,
you have been raised up
as a sign for all peoples;
kings stand silent in your presence;
the nations bow down in worship before you.
Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.
Amen.

If I Die Tonight

Lord, if I die tonight,
or am diagnosed with a terminal
or debilitating disease tomorrow,
give me grace to thank you
and praise you nonetheless,
for 52+ years of life,
for longlonglong periods of health and well-being,
for giving me the love of my life
and my best friend in the lovely Robin,
for such pride-inspiring children,
such wonderful daughter- and son-in-law,
and my grandchildren, oh my my my my.

Give me grace to thank you
and praise you for 30+ years of ministry,
for the honor of writing and publishing,
for the enjoyment I've known in preaching,
for a myriad of friends,
for the nation I live in,
the home I grew up in,
the heritage I've been given.

Thank you for the years of work,
and income.
Thank you that I've never been in prison,
and stayed only twice in a hospital.
Thank you for a faith intact,
a heart that is full,
a mind that still works.

No matter what tonight may bring,
no matter what tomorrow holds,
how can I but praise you
for all you've done for me,
and in me,
and--against all contra-indications--through me?

Save me from second-guessing your wisdom
and timing
and grace
should the road ahead be hard,
in Jesus' name, amen.

O Adonai

O sacred Lord of ancient Israel,
who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush,
who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain:
come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free. Amen.

(HT: The Anchoress)

O Sapentia

O Wisdom,
coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other mightily,
and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.
Amen.

Lifesong Prayer, Pt. 2

I want to sign your name
to the end of this day,
Knowing that my heart was true.
Let my lifesong sing to You.

(from Lifesong, by Casting Crowns)

Lifesong Prayer, Pt. 1

Lord, I give my life,
A living sacrifice,
To reach a world in need,
To be your hands and feet,

So may the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing,
Bring a smile to You.

A Prayer of Thomas à Kempis

Grant me, O Lord,
to know what I ought to know,
To love what I ought to love,
To praise what delights thee most,
To value what is precious in thy sight,
To hate what is offensive to thee.

Do not suffer me to judge
according to the sight of my eyes,
Nor to pass sentence according to the hearing of the ears of ignorant men;
But to discern with a true judgment between things visible and spiritual,
And above all, always to inquire what is the good pleasure of thy will. Amen.

(A prayer by Thomas à Kempis)

A Prayer by Philip Bliss, slightly revised

More holiness give me, more strivings within.
More patience in suffering, more sorrow for sin.
More faith in you, Jesus, more sense of your care.
More joy in your service, more purpose in prayer.

More gratitude give me, more trust in you, Lord.
More zeal for your glory, more hope in your Word.
More tears for your sorrows, more pain at your grief.
More meekness in trial, more praise for relief.

More purity give me, more strength to o’ercome,
More freedom from earth-stains, more longings for home.
More fit for the kingdom, more faithful and true,
More blessèd and holy, more, Savior, like you.

A Prayer by Twila Paris

Praise to the Trinity

O God the Father, of heaven,
who hast marvellously created
the world out of nothing,
who dost govern and uphold heaven
and earth with Thy power,
who didst deliver Thy Only-begotten
for us unto death:

O God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
who didst will to be incarnate of a virgin,
who hast washed us from our sins
by Thy precious blood,
who rising from the dead didst ascend
victorious to heaven:

O God the Holy Ghost, the Comforter,
who didst descend upon Jesus in
the form of a dove,
who coming upon the apostles didst
appear in fiery tongues,
who dost visit and confirm with
Thy grace the hearts of the saints:

O sacred, highest, eternal, blissful,
blessed Trinity,
always to be praised, yet always
unspeakable:
O Father good -
O Son loving -
O Spirit kind -
whose majesty is unspeakable,
whose power is incomparable,
whose goodness is inestimable:
whose work is life,
whose love is grace,
whose contemplation is glory:

Deity, Divinity, Unity, Trinity:
Thee I worship, Thee I call upon,
with the whole affection of my heart
I bless now and forever:
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.

(A prayer of Lancelot Andrewes)

Ingenuity

God, I thank you and praise you for your ingenuity....
to have thought of the Sabbath...
to have created two sexes....
to have created growth itself,
and sleep,
and so many other wonderful things
that we take for granted as though they have always existed...
but once they were not,
and then they were formed in your mind,
and now they are.
How wonderful you are.
Amen.

A Prayer of Thomas Merton

(A prayer of Thomas Merton, who died on December 10, 1968...forty-two years ago today...read by Father Matt Kelty, a monk at the Abbey of Gethsemani, where Merton lived)

Prayer from This Misty Lowland

O God, I have tasted Thy goodness and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune god, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.” Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

(A prayer of A. W. Tozer)

Almost Nightly Prayer

Thank you, Lord,
for this bed,
this pillow,
these clean sheets,
and covers;
for this mattress,
and box springs,
and headboard;
for this quiet room,
for the dark,
for the safety,
for the sleep.
Amen.

Thanks for Unpleasant People

Lord, I thank you
for those who have slighted or rejected me,
for they underscore to me
the beauty of your acceptance.

Thank you
for friends who have betrayed me,
for they make me appreciate
faithful friends all the more.

Thank you for ungracious people,
for they show me how blessed I am
to have so many gracious people in my life.

Thank you for those who have unrealistic expectations of me,
for they make me more deeply appreciate
people who accept me and love me
without expectations.

Thank you for people who judge me unfairly,
for they remind me to look only to you, my righteous Judge,
for vindication.

Thank you for the cantankerous,
the unpleasant,
the impatient,
for they provide ample opportunities
to become more like my longsuffering Lord,
in whose name I pray, amen.

Give Me the Name Naphtali

Sovereign Commander of the Universe,
I am sadly harassed by doubts, fears, unbelief,
in a felt spiritual darkness.
My heart is full of evil surmisings and disquietude,
and I cannot act faith at all.
My heavenly Pilot has disappeard,
and I have lost my hold on the Rock of Ages;
I sink in deep mire beneath storms and waves,
in horror and distress unutterable.

Help me, O Lord,
to throw myself absolutely and wholly on thee,
for better, for worse, without comfort,
and all but hopeless.
Give me peace of soul, confidence, enlargement of mind,
morning joy that comes after night heaviness;
Water my soul with divine blessings;
Grant that I may welcome that humbling in private
so that I might enjoy thee in public;
Give me a mountain top as high as the valley is low.
Thy grace can melt the worst sinner, and I am as vile as he;
Yet thou hast made me a monument of mercy,
a trophy of redeeming power;
In my distress let me not forget this.

All-wise God,
Thy never-failing providence orders every event,
sweetens every fear,
reveals evil’s presence lurking in seeming good,
brings real good out of seeming evil,
makes unsatisfactory what I set my heart upon,
to show me what a short-sighted creature I am,
and to teach me to live by faith upon
thy blessed self.

Out of sorrow and night
give me the name Naphtali -
‘satisfied with favour’ -
help me to love thee as thy child,
and to walk worthy of my heavenly pedigree.


(from The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers, edited by Arthur Bennett)