A Psalm On Viewing the River

Lord
if anything happens
if you come for me
keep them from interfering
desperately trying
to tug me
from your grasp.
If I'm far
across the river
where you own shore
and all beyond
don't let them
bring me back
prolonging death
not life
delaying life
that never crosses
unreturning river
again.

(a prayer of Joseph Bayly, from Psalms of My Life)

Revive and Restore

Lord Jesus,
you who are worthy to receive power and wealth
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise,
revive and restore me
through the worship I offer.
Let my worship bring joy to you.
Let it bring heaven to me.
Amen.

(excerpted from the upcoming book, How to Survive the End of the World)

God of Joyful Shouting

Lord, I praise you because you are
a God of joyful shouting,
a God of celebration,
a God who leaps and dances,
a God who sings,
a God who is (in Tozer's words)
"having a good time!"

God, help me to know your joy, your zeal, your zestful nature. Put me in touch with your singing, dancing, shouting heart. Let me laugh with you today and enjoy what you enjoy. Restore to me the joy of your salvation...of your very nature, in Jesus' name, amen.

Help Me to Stick to My Task

Almighty God, judge of all the earth,
keep me from ever supposing that I am the judge of others,
deciding their worth or conniving in vengeance.
My job is to sing your praises and love my neighbor.
Help me to stick to my task, for Jesus' sake, amen.

(a prayer of Eugene Peterson, from Praying With the Psalms,
reading for January 8).

Make Me For Thyself Complete

Blessed Saviour, now behold me
Waiting at thy bleeding feet;
In thy mercy breathe upon me,
Make me for thyself complete.

Breathe upon me, even me,
Make me what I ought to be;
In thy mercy breathe upon me,
Make me for thyself complete.

Take my undivided being.
Thou hast bought me with thy blood;
All my sins thou hast forgiven;
Let my future be for God.

Should my days be few or many,
Should my strength be great or small,
Be my talents two or fifty,
Jesus, thou shalt have them all.

While I live be thou my leader,
When I die be thou my share;
In thy strength I'm bound to conquer
While for thee my cross I bear.

(a prayer by William Baugh)

U'Netaneh Tokef (A Prayer of Yom Kippur)

So now, the Kedushah prayer shall ascend to You, for You, our God, are King.

Let us now relate the power of this day's holiness, for it is awesome and frightening. On it Your Kingship will be exalted; Your throne will be firmed with kindness and You will sit upon it in truth. It is true that You alone are the One Who judges, proves, knows, and bears witness; Who writes and seats, (counts and calculates); Who remembers all that was forgotten. You will open the Book of Chronicles - it will read itself, and everyone's signature is in it. The great shofar will be sounded and a still, thin sound will be heard. Angels will hasten, a trembling and terror will seize them - and they will say, 'Behold, it is the Day of Judgment, to muster the heavenly host for judgment!'- for they cannot be vindicated in Your eyes in judgment.

All mankind will pass before You like members of the flock. Like a shepherd pasturing his flock, making sheep pass under his staff, so shall You cause to pass, count, calculate, and consider the soul of all the living; and You shall apportion the fixed needs of all Your creatures and inscribe their verdict.

On Rosh Hashanah will be inscribed and on Yom Kippur will be sealed how many will pass from the earth and how many will be created; who will live and who will die; who will die at his predestined time and who before his time; who by water and who by fire, who by sword, who by beast, who by famine, who by thirst, who by storm, who by plague, who by strangulation, and who by stoning. Who will rest and who will wander, who will live in harmony and who will be harried, who will enjoy tranquillity and who will suffer, who will be impoverished and who will be enriched, who will be degraded and who will be exalted.

But REPENTANCE, PRAYER and CHARITY

Remove the Evil of the Decree!

For Your Name signifies Your praise: hard to anger and easy to appease, for You do not wish the death of one deserving death, but that he repent from his way and live. Until the day of his death You await him; if he repents You will accept him immediately.

It is true that You are their Creator and You know their inclination, for they are flesh and blood. A man's origin is from dust and his destiny is back to dust, at risk of his life he earns his bread; he is likened to a broken shard, withering grass, a fading flower, a passing shade, a dissipating cloud, a blowing wind, flying dust, and a fleeting dream.

But You are the King, the Living and Enduring G-d.

There is no set span to Your years and there is no end to the length of Your days. It is impossible to estimate the angelic chariots of Your glory and to elucidate Your Name's inscrutability. Your Name is worthy of You and You are worthy of Your Name, and You have included Your Name in our name.

Change of Season

Father, thank you for the change of season from summer to autumn. Thank you for the beauty of the leaves as they change color, for the smells of wood fires, for the tastes of the different foods, and for the coolness of the days. As life comes out of the decay and death we see in nature, we rejoice in knowing that you bring life and restoration to us.  Amen.

(from the Daily Prayer blog)

Past, Present, Future Prayer

(from the September 21 reading of E. Stanley Jones's The Way)

Spirit Fall Down

A Prayer for the First Day of Fall

When I must go, dear God, please let it be
A golden autumn day; when red leaves fall,
When purple grapes in shining clusters hang
And bittersweet glows bright against the wall,

When o'er the barren fields and russet meads
Their last farewells the crickets cry.
Let me make my silent journey
When the homing birds fly south across the sky.

When I must go, dear God, please let me go
As silently as autumn rain,
As still as lacy shadows 'neath the willow trees,
As calm as is the moon above the hill.

So let me go--and may there be no grief
When life is done and I must say goodbye.
I'll take my leave with flowers and falling leaf
And lie in peaceful sleep beneath the sky.

(unattributed)

A Prayer for the Last Day of Summer

As Summer into Autumn slips,
O give me grace today
To rise and turn as Summer's leaves
Draw life and strength from heavenly rays.

(first line from Emily Dickinson)

In Your Time

Heavenly Father, 
you make everything beautiful in your time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

I submit to your timing. 
I await your timing. 
I desire what you will, 
as you will, 
when you will. 

That goes for my writing, too.

I long to touch lives with my words...in your time.
I want to write passionately, effectively, impactfully...in your time.
I yearn to think and communicate clearly and sharply...in your time.
I pray to craft artful, beautiful words, sentences, and passages...in your time.
I ask for publication, for contracts, for endorsements, for readers, and for life-changing influence...in your time,

In Jesus' name, amen.

You Are All Abundance

O eternal light, eternal salvation, eternal love, eternal sweetness, let me see you, let me feel you, let me taste you.

O eternal delight, eternal consolation, eternal happiness, let me dwell in you; everything I lack in my misery I find in you.

You are all abundance, and apart from you is nothing but poverty, woe, and misery. Life without you is bitter death. Your kindness is better than life itself. Amen.

(from the book Amish Prayers, compiled by Beverly Lewis)

Ecclesiastes 3:11 Prayer

Great God,
you make all things beautiful in your time.
You make all things right in your time.
You make all things whole in your time.
You make all things clear in your time.
You make all things worthwhile in your time.
You make all things sweet in your time.
You make all things complete in your time.
For this I praise you.
For this I thank you.
Amen.

Hallow All My Circumstances

Purify my soul,
make my eyes keen and watchful,
in order that I may discern your purpose
at every turning of the way.
Help me to hallow all my circumstances
whether they appear friendly or adverse,
and may I subdue them all to my King's will.
Amen.

(from J. H. Jowett, The Whole Armour of God, p. 152; slightly revised).

Keep Me Abiding

Prayer for a Strong Economy

Lord, Your Word says that You are the one "who gives power to get wealth" (Deuteronomy 8:18). And when you give wealth, You don't bring sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22). And You say that being greedy for gain takes away from our lives (Proverbs 1:19). Help us to find that balance where we are not greedy for gain, but as we do our work enable us to receive financial rewards and blessings from it.

In that same way I pray for our nation's economy. Make it strong and stable. Keep it from getting out of control so that people's lives are not destroyed. Especially protect people living in poverty, or on the edge of it, who would be most painfully affected by a slipping economy. I pray that You would put godly and brilliant men in the positions of making decisions about our nation's economy. Give them vision to foresee the future and wisdom to make the right choices concerning it. Show them what the consequences will be for their actions.

I pray that we will not follow the gods of money and materialism. Let us not be a people who "trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches" (Psalm 49:6). I pray instead that we will be a people who look to You for our blessings. Establish us as a holy people to Yourself, as You have promised to do if we keep Your commandments and walk in Your ways. May we be people who lend and do not borrow, who give as You direct us. Bless Your people with the riches You want us to have, so that we in turn will be able to bless others.

In Jesus' name I pray.

(from Powerful Prayers for Troubled Times, by Stormie Omartian)

Brief But Heartfelt

My Psalm 5 Prayer On September 13

Lord, listen to my words.
I am sad, grief-stricken, and outraged.
I cry for help, my King and my God,
I pray to you.
Lord, every morning you hear my voice.
Every morning, I call out to you,
and I await your answer.

I know you are not pleased with the wicked;
you abhor those who riot
and hate.
Those who torch embassies
and brutally kill Americans
because they are Americans
do not know you.
You abhor all who do evil.
You oppose those who hate and kill and destroy
and who teach others to do the same.

Because of your great love,
I bow in your presence
and beg your comfort and strength for the families
of Ambassador Stevens
and the others who were so wantonly murdered yesterday.

Lord, save such hatred and violence
from engendering either cruelty or coddling in me,
and in the American people.
Please make our leaders wise
and show them clearly how you want them to respond.

Close the mouths of those who tell lies;
stay the hands of those who want to destroy others.
Let the guilty fall into their own traps.
Banish those whose wickedness is so great,
banish them from the airwaves,
from newsprint,
from the streets
and from the world's governments.

Let everyone who trusts you be blessed;
let them learn and teach songs of joy.
Protect those who love you
and who are happy because of you.

Bless those who do right;
protect them like a shield.

Amen.

Crooked Lines

O God,
I surrender to You
the crooked lines of my life.
They don't make sense.
But I know You can write straight
even on a crooked line.
So they are at Your disposal.
Amen.

(from the September 1 reading of E. Stanley Jones's The Way)

A Prayer on 9/11

We remember the first time we heard the news.
We recall the first time we saw those images.
We remember the way our thoughts and prayers were with those families who lost loved ones.
Our thoughts and prayers are with them again today.

O God of comfort - eleven years have passed.

Yesterday, today and forever;
let your love and peace endure.


We remember those who survived.
We recall their heart-breaking stories.
We remember that their lives are forever scarred by those moments.
Our thoughts and prayers are with them again today.

O God of healing - eleven years have passed.

Yesterday, today and forever;
let your love and peace endure.


We remember the pain we felt.
We recall the bereavement and bitterness of the aftermath.
We remember that you are a God of redemption and restoration.
Help us forgive those who caused so much trauma, and that we may find release in that forgiveness.

O God of forgiveness - eleven years have passed.

Yesterday, today and forever;
let your love and peace endure.


We remember that you love the world.
We recall you sent your Son to bring reconciliation and salvation.
We remember your Spirit inhabits your Church.
Help us bring your comfort and peace to all.

O God of hope - eleven years have passed.

Yesterday, today and forever;
let your love and peace endure.


© Jimmy Orr/engageworship.org

To Redeem Us

Almighty Father in your eternal kingdom, we give you praise and thanks for your unspeakably great grace and mercy, and for eternal salvation through your beloved Son, our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. O Lord Christ, you suffered and endured bitter agony and death, the shedding of your innocent blood, to redeem us from eternal humiliation and pain. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, may you above all things be highly praised, honored, and blessed from now until eternity. Amen.

(from the book Amish Prayers, compiled by Beverly Lewis)

A Choral Psalm 67

Breath

My Prayer, My Aim

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.

I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

Amen.

(from a hymn by Johnson Oatman)

A Prayer of Gertrude the Great

Deliver me from timidity of spirit and from storminess...
from all heedlessness in my behavior, deliver me, Oh Lord.

Save Me From Excuse-Making

Lord God,
I remember that Samuel Logan Brengle wrote in a sick bed,
and Ken Taylor wrote on a train;
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in prison,
the Apostle Paul while chained to a guard.
Let the same Spirit who inspired those men
save me from excuse-making,
and energize my writing,
wherever I am,
in whatever circumstance,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Vine Prayer

Lord Jesus, you are the vine; I am the branch.

Help me to constantly abide in you, that I may bear much fruit;
for apart from you I can do nothing.

Let your words remain in me,
that I may ask whatever I wish, and it will be done for me, to the glory of the Father.

Also help me to glorify the Father by bearing much fruit, showing myself to be your disciple.

Amen.

(based on John 15:5-8)

For Mercy Project

Lord God, I pray for your abundant blessing on the work of Mercy Project in Ghana, Africa. Through them, Lord, please have mercy on the estimated seven thousand children who are slaves, working 14-hour days, 7 days a week, in Ghana's fishing industry.

Oh, Lord God, bless Mercy Project's efforts to break the cycles of trafficking around Lake Volta in Ghana by providing alternate, more efficient, sustainable, fishing methods for villagers, ultimately eliminating the need for child slaves. Bring to pass that hoped-for first group of children who will be freed this month from Lake Volta. Let them find new hope and new life, in Jesus' name.

Please bless Mercy Project's vision. Bless them financially. Make straight paths for their feet. Give them favor in the eyes of influential people. And enlarge their capacity until every last child is freed and no more are enslaved, in Jesus' name, amen.

Create in Me

Gift Upon Gift

Thou that hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, a grateful heart.
See how thy beggar works on thee
By art.

He makes thy gifts occasion more,
And says, If he in this be crossed,
All thou hast given him heretofore
Is lost.

But thou didst reckon, when at first
Thy word our hearts and hands did crave,
What it would come to at the worst
To save.

Perpetual knockings at thy door,
Tears sullying thy transparent rooms,
Gift upon gift, much would have more,
And comes.

This not withstanding, thou wenst on,
And didst allow us all our noise:
Nay thou hast made a sigh and groan
Thy joys.

Not that thou hast not still above
Much better tunes, than groans can make;
But that these country-airs thy love
Did take.

Wherefore I cry, and cry again;
And in no quiet canst thou be,
Till I a thankful heart obtain
Of thee:

Not thankful, when it pleaseth me;
As if thy blessings had spare days:
But such a heart, whose pulse may be
Thy praise.

(a prayer by George Herbert)

Show Thy Goodness in Me

O God, who madest me for Thyself,
to show forth thy goodness in me,
manifest, I humbly beseech Thee,
the life-giving power of Thy holy nature within me;
help me to such a true and living faith in Thee,
such strength of hunger and thirst
after the birth, life, and spirit
of thy Holy Jesus in my soul,
that all that is within me
may be turned from every inward thought,
or outward work, that is not Thee,
thy holy Jesus, and heavenly working in my soul. Amen.

(a prayer of William Law)

Prayer for My Next Book

Abba, Father, Author of all good things,
my next book will be coming out soon.
But then, you already knew that.
In fact, you already know who will see it,
who will buy it,
who will read it,
who will recommend it to others.
Multiply that company, Lord.
Prepare each of those souls for the entrance of your Word.
Oversee the timing of the book's release and promotion with them in mind.

Inspire me with new and value-added ways to announce and promote the book.
Bless the efforts of influencers and early readers to spread the word.
Grant that reader enthusiasm and word-of-mouth may dwarf all other promotional efforts.
Create a groundswell of excitement.
Place it prominently on blogs and social media and best seller lists.
Make it an immediate and enduring blessing to tens--even hundreds--of thousands of souls.
Use its success to support my coming writing and ministry efforts, and to make possible greater and bolder efforts for its publisher in the future.

Let the words of my mind and the publication of my thoughts
be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
Amen.

Hope

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

In Your Classroom

Rabbi, Teacher, Lord, thank you for all you are teaching me these days.

Through scarcity and need you are teaching me to recognize you as the source of my daily bread, and rely on you for the supply of all my needs.

Through delay and waiting you are teaching me patience and trust, reminding me that "in quietness and confidence" is my strength (Isaiah 30:15).

Through changing circumstances you are are teaching me (again) to pray, and to remember from whence my help--and help for my children and grandchildren--comes.

Also through scarcity, you are teaching me to plan carefully and choose wisely. Through grief and the slow process of healing, you are teaching me to persevere and deny myself. Through disappointment and obscurity, you are teaching me humility and contentment.

Through it all, Lord, I can see your hand, and your wisdom. Through it all, teach me some of that wisdom, the kind that comes only from you. Help me to learn such lessons well so as to learn the next one--and the ones after that--quicker and better, in Jesus' name, amen.

Bit O' Prayer

Give us, Lord, a bit o' sun,
A bit o' work and a bit o' fun.
Give us all in th' struggle and splutter
Our daily bread and a bit o' butter.
Give us health, our keep to make,
An' a bit to spare for poor folks' sake.
Give us sense, for we are some of us duffers,
An' a heart to feel for all that suffers.

(from The Complete Book of Christian Prayer, p. 177)

Available for Your Word

You we name as Lord, Sovereign, King.
You we confess governor over nations, empires, and kingdoms.
You in your holiness remain hidden,
evoking our extravagant doxologies.

Your rule draws close and visible
among us
when we see new possibilities break out,
or watch the rise and fall
beyond explanation.

Your rule draws close when you
dispatch prophets, messengers, and angels,
who dare say,
"Thus saith the Lord."

You dispatch your sovereign word through
human utterers. . .
preachers, poets, artists,
various freakish dissenters
and dreamers.

We thank you for your word of governance;
we do not want to be addressed
by dreams, breaks, or possibilities.
We most certainly do not want to be
bearers of such
dreams, breaks, or possibilities,
because we are mostly agents of
steady equilibrium.

Nonetheless, we dare yearn for your
word and occasionally utter it.
We thank you that we do not live
in a world unaddressed.
We thank you that you are not a God unuttered.

So we pledge, as we are able,
to listen and to speak,
being available for your word
that is full of grace and truth.

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

From the Liturgy of St. Mark

We give Thee thanks, we give Thee exceeding thanks, O Lord our God, Father of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, for all things, and through all things, and in all things: for that Thou hast sheltered, assisted, defended, and brought us through the past time of our life, and hast guided us to this hour, vouchsafing again to stand before Thee in Thy holy place, us who ask pardon of our sins, and propitiation for all Thy people. And we pray and beseech Thee, O Lover of mankind, grant us to pass this holy day and all the time of our life without sin, with all joy, health, safety, and with all sanctification and Thy fear. But all envy, all terror, all temptation, every working of Satan, every plot of wicked men, drive far from us, O God, and from Thy Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. That which is good and profitable, do Thou supply to us; if we have sinned against Thee in word or deed, or by thought, do Thou, as good and Lover of mankind, vouchsafe to overlook it, and forsake us not, O God, who put our trust in Thee; nor lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one and from his works. [Through the grace and compassion and love for mankind of Thine only-begotten Son, through Whom and with Whom be to Thee the glory and majesty, with Thy most holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.]

(from the Liturgy of St. Mark, 2nd century)

Prayer for the Unemployed

Lord Christ, you said to your disciples, "My Father has worked till now, and I work": we pray for those who through no fault of their own have been deprived of the work that leads towards the fulfillment of their lives.

Inspire and guide those who bear the responsibility of finding the answer to our industrial problems.

Open their minds to the truth, that they may discern in the events of our time the direction of your will; and give them the courage to declare what they believe to be right, and the power to carry it through.

(a prayer by Basil Naylor, from The Complete Book of Christian Prayer, p. 142)

He Starts Kindergarten Today

He starts kindergarten today, Lord. Please keep him in your care (and, while you're at it, keep his parents in your care, too). Keep him safe on the bus to and from school, and while he is at school. Let his first days be good ones, and then follow those with more good ones. Temper his shyness. Help him to make friends quickly and well. Help him to listen to his teachers and to grow in knowledge, skill, and wisdom. Help him to be kind, and to experience kindness from others. Bless his teachers and all who are responsible for him during school hours. Grant him your constant presence and protection. Keep him as the apple of your eye, and hide him in the shadow of your wing, in Jesus' name, amen.

Glutton's Prayer

Lord God, I confess that I seek
comfort,
assurance,
pleasure,
and satisfaction
in food, rather than in you;
please forgive me.

Help me to turn to you instead of food,
to fill my spirit instead of my belly,
to find my heart's desire in you
instead of what I eat.

Fill me.
Feed me.
Insatiate me
with so much of your sufficiency
that I may see clearly the inadequacy
and foolishness
of gluttony,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Nothing But Thy Favor

Let me love Thee, Savior,
Take my heart forever;
Nothing but Thy favor
My soul can satisfy.

(from a hymn by Herbert Booth)

A Prayer of E. Stanley Jones

Lord, I Run to You

Deus a Quo

God from whom holy desires, rightful counsel, and just deeds proceed,
grant to your servant peace
that the world may know you,
that our hearts may be kept in your love,
and that the dread of our enemies
may be taken from us,
so that our times are blessed by your protection.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in all the world,
amen.

Unhurry Me

O Christ,
I notice that you
were never in a hurry,
never ran,
but always had time
for the pressing necessities
of the day.
Give me that
disciplined, poised life,
so that I have time always
for the things that matter.
Amen.

(from the August 16 reading
of E. Stanley Jones's
The Way)

A Short Psalm

I choose to be Your failure
before anyone else's success.
Keep me from reneging
on my choice.

Amen.

(excerpted from "A Psalm Requesting Faith," in Psalms of My Life by Joseph Bayly)

A Prayer from Adoniram Judson

Thanks be to God! Grant that I may kneel down before you and with the last leaf in my hand, imploring your forgiveness for all the sins which have polluted my labors and your aid in future efforts to remove the errors and imperfections which necessarily cleave to my work, commend my work to your mercy and grace. I have dedicated it all to your glory. May you transform my faulty words into your own inspired words, and make them a grand instrument for the blessing of others and the means of filling the whole world with songs of praise to you. Amen.

(based on words ascribed to Adoniram Judson, from the book, Splendor of God, by Honore Willsie Morrow (New York: A. L. Burt & Company, 1929), p. 370)

Finish What Love Has Begun

My Spouse, in whose presence I live,
Sole object of all my desires,
Who know'st what a flame I conceive,
And canst easily double its fires!
How pleasant is all that I meet!
From fear of adversity free,
I find even sorrow made sweet;
Because 'tis assigned me by thee.

Transported I see thee display
Thy riches and glory divine;
I have only my life to repay,
Take what I would gladly resign.
Thy will is the treasure I seek,
For thou art as faithful as strong;
There let me, obedient and meek,
Repose myself all the day long.

My spirit and faculties fail;
Oh, finish what love has begun!
Destroy what is sinful and frail,
And dwell in the soul thou hast won!
Dear theme of my wonder and praise,
I cry, who is worthy as thou?
I can only be silent and gaze!
'Tis all that is left to me now.

Oh, glory in which I am lost,
Too deep for the plummet of thought;
On an ocean of Deity tossed,
I am swallowed, I sink into nought.
Yet, lost and absorbed as I seem,
I chant to the praise of my King;
And, though overwhelmed by the theme,
Am happy whenever I sing.

(a prayer of Madame Guyon, translated by William Cowper)

One Thing That I Desire

Prone to Thorns and Brambles

Lord Jesus, I confess that,
like Thomas Merton,
I am a sheep prone
to thorns and brambles.

Please don't tire of looking for me
and lifting me out of the messes
I get myself into, in Jesus' name, amen.

Emerge in Splendor

When you, O God, emerge in splendor from your ivory palace, your garments are noble myrrh, aloe, and cassia.

You are the King of Glory, strong and powerful, mighty in battle.

Fling wide the door and unbar the gate so that the King of Glory may enter!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the Lord God who enlightens us. O Lord, aid us so that we will succeed! You have removed sin, curses, and death, and you have blessed us eternally in heavenly places. Give your people power, strength, and victory over all spiritual and physical enemies. Amen.

(from the book Amish Prayers, compiled by Beverly Lewis)

Whom Shall I Fear?

Lord, you are my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
What can this world and those who live in it possibly do to me?
They cannot take away my life, for my life is hid in Christ with God,
and to be absent from the body is to be present with you.
They cannot steal my joy, for in your presence is fulness of joy,
and you will never leave me or forsake me.
They cannot threaten my security, for my trust is in you;
all other hope is sinking sand.
They cannot thwart my purpose, for to live is Christ, to die is gain.
They cannot assault my dignity, for I am a child of the King, the living God.
They cannot make me homeless, for I have a building from God,
a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
They cannot take what is most precious to me on earth,
for they are also hid with Christ in God,
and though we may be separated, we will be together in eternity.
Lord, you are my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?

Loosely

Immaculate Mirror of All Virtues

O gracious, kind, loving Lord Jesus Christ!
Gentle, humble, patient Lord!
You left us a beautiful, virtuous example of a holy life
so that we might follow in your footsteps.

You are an immaculate mirror of all virtues,
a perfect example of holiness,
an irreproachable measure of piety,
and a sure standard of righteousness.
How different my sinful life is compared to your just life!
Amen.

(from the book Amish Prayers, compiled by Beverly Lewis)

Empty Me

Empty me, Lord.

Teach me not to have to be seen,
not to need to be right,
not to seek to be acknowledged,
not to want to be valued.

Help me to say--
and to mean it when I do--
"I am an unworthy servant;
I have only done my duty," (Luke 17:10),
and I have already received
far, far better than I have deserved,
in Jesus' name, amen.

You Are Joy

Nothing's Missing

Life. Check.
Breath. Check.
Awareness. Check.
Strength. Check.
Memory. Check.
Energy. Check.
Painless joints. Check.
Eyes to see. Check.
Ears to hear. Check.
Lips to kiss with. Check.
Tongue to taste with. Check.
Large motor skills. Check.
Fine motor skills. Check.
Amazing wife. Check.
Pride 'n' joy kids. Check.
Delightful grandkids. Check.
Friends. Check.
Roof over my head. Check.
A comfortable bed. Check.
Food in my belly. Check.
Food in the pantry. Check.
Health in my bones. Check.
A safe neighborhood. Check.
A car that runs. Check.
A toilet that flushes. Check.
Air-conditioning that works. Check.
Books to read. Check.
Clothes to wear. Check.
A God who loves me. Check.

Nothing's missing.

(Based on John Mayer's song, "Something's Missing")

The Gentle Intrusion of Grace

O Christ,
I open my heart,
my inmost heart,
to the gentle intrusion of grace.
It has sought me,
bought me,
taught me,
and caught me.
I breathe deeply of your grace,
and I am healed and released.
I am so grateful.
Amen.

(from the July 14 reading of E. Stanley Jones's The Way)

A Writer's Dream

Lord, you showed Jacob a stairway to heaven,
and spoke to Solomon in his dreams.
You gave to Joseph and Daniel
insight into the meaning of dreams,
and gave your servant Peter a transforming vision.

God of dreams and visions,
please condescend to me in my sleep,
and inspire my writing even as I sleep.
Speak to me in the night watches,
whisper in my ear,
and make me a better writer
while I rest in your arms,
in Jesus' name, amen.

The Beauty of Your Peace

Drop your still dews of quietness
Till all my strivings cease;
Take from my soul the strain and stress,
And let my ordered life confess
The beauty of your peace.

(a verse by John Greenleaf Whittier, slightly updated)

Fashioned for Joy

As the hand is made for holding and the eye for seeing, you have fashioned me, O Lord, for joy.

Share with me the vision to find that joy everywhere:
in the wild violet's beauty,
in the lark's melody,
in the face of a steadfast man,
in a child's smile,
in a mother's love, in the purity of Jesus.

Amen.

(a Scots Celtic prayer)