A Prayer to My Daily Bread
(a prayer from The Bible 30-Day Experience Guidebook by Bob Hostetler)
Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess
Release me from the idea that I must straighten out other peoples' affairs. With my immense treasure of experience and wisdom, it seems a pity not to let everybody partake of it. But thou knowest, Lord, that in the end I will need a few friends.
Keep me from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point.
Grant me the patience to listen to the complaints of others; help me to endure them with charity. But seal my lips on my own aches and pains -- they increase with the increasing years and my inclination to recount them is also increasing.
I will not ask thee for improved memory, only for a little more humility and less self-assurance when my own memory doesn't agree with that of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be wrong.
Keep me reasonably gentle. I do not have the ambition to become a saint -- it is so hard to live with some of them -- but a harsh old person is one of the devil's masterpieces.
Make me sympathetic without being sentimental, helpful but not bossy. Let me discover merits where I had not expected them, and talents in people whom I had not thought to possess any. And, Lord, give me the grace to tell them so.
Amen.
A Prayer of One Set Free
(a prayer from The Bible 30-Day Experience Guidebook by Bob Hostetler)
Helpless Without You
Lord, I am helpless without you. I am powerless without you.
I am wholly, thoroughly inadequate without you.
I am empty, weak, ineffectual without you.
But in you, abiding in you,
I am more than a conqueror.
In you, I can move mountains.
In you, I can scale a wall,
overthrow kingdoms,
shut the mouths of lions,
rout armies...
in you, abiding in you and walking in your Spirit,
I can face all things through Christ, who is my strength. Amen.
No Earthly Thing Can Satisfy Me
(a prayer of John Baillie in A Diary of Private Prayer, by way of the Daily Prayer blog)
For My Daughter on Her Birthday
you have made her a flourishing hidden tree ,
and granted her beauty and courtesy,
and kindness and charm and wisdom.
I give you praise and thanks
for my only daughter,
my firstborn, my Blossom;
for the child you gave me,
for the woman she grew into,
for the love we share,
for the pride and joy I feel in her,
for the blessings you've given her,
and the blessings you've given me
through her.
Please bless her today
and in the days to come, Lord.
Keep her safe and well.
Keep her marriage strong and beautiful.
Prosper her and her husband,
answer their prayers,
supply their needs.
Let their children's healing appear,
and reward their love and faithfulness
with beauty and grace,
prosperity and plenty.
Show her every kindness,
grant her your favor,
in Jesus' name, amen.
For My Life
from the evil of the unexamined life...
the unworshipful life...
the self-centered life...
the self-absorbed life...
the self-satisfied life...
the frantic life...
the marginal life...
the care-filled life...
the accidental life...
the self-reliant life...
the arrogant life...
the inconsequential life...
the shallow life...
the appetite-driven life...
the reactive life...
the fruitless life...
the material life...
the thoughtless life...
the prayerless life...
the small life...
in Jesus' name, amen.
For That Which I Do Not But Would
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.
Immensity
Lord,your immensity
reminds me
that your resources
are not vast...
they are limitless,
because
you are limitless.
You may callon any number--
an infinite number--
of resources
to accomplish your will,
because
you lack nothing,
and all you possess
you possess
in infinite number!
So,are you telling me about something you want to accomplish in me?
Through me?
I know that nothing is too hard for you.
I open my heart and will....
pour into them whatever you choose, in Jesus' name, amen.
A Prayer For Those Who Are Sorting Things Out
Lord, when I look at the pictures of Jesus in Scripture, I don’t see Him confused or upset. I don’t see Him wondering what to do or how to do it. When He faced big decisions and life-changing moments, He always drew apart and spent time with You.
Lord, when I’m tempted to worry, please pull me into prayer. When my thoughts swirl about me, remind me that I have Your mind. Help me acknowledge You in every way as I trust You to make my paths straight.
Savior, I want to say along with you, “Lord, not my will but Yours be done.” Grant my desire to seek You first. Give me grace to seek You always. And help me as I sort things out according to Your Word, your will, and your way. In the holy name of Jesus I pray—AMEN.
(from Marti Pieper's blog, http://martipieper.com)
Bedew My Whole Nature
Come, O Lord my God; my soul invites you earnestly,
and waits for you eagerly.
Come to me, O Jesus, my well beloved,
and plant fresh flowers in my garden,
such as I see blooming
in such perfection
in your matchless character!
Come, O my Father,
who is the Husbandman,
and deal with me in your tenderness and prudence!
Come, O Holy Spirit,
and bedew my whole nature,
as the herbs are now moistened with the evening dews.
Oh, that you would speak to me!
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.
Oh, that you would walk with me;
I am ready to give up my whole heart and mind to you.
I am only asking what you delight to give.
(a prayer of Charles H. Spurgeon, slightly revised)
Wild flowers
Blessed Jesus, thou dost receive with favor the smallest sincere token of affection! Thou dost receive our poor forget-me-nots and lovetokens, as though they were intrinsically precious, though indeed they are but as the bunch of wild flowers which the child brings to its mother.We will give thee the first fruits of our increase, and pay thee tithes of all, and then we will confess "of thine own have we given thee" (Charles H. Spurgeon).
Traveling Prayer
Lord Jesus,
be our vanguard,
our rear guard,
and our constant companion
as we travel.
Amen.
be our vanguard,
our rear guard,
and our constant companion
as we travel.
Amen.
Status
I'm safe.
I'm sheltered.
I'm warm.
I'm fed.
I'm hydrated.
I'm clean.
I'm clothed.
I'm comfortable.
I'm healthy.
I'm free.
I'm able.
I'm ambulatory.
I'm conscious.
I'm aware.
I'm lucid.
I'm loved.
I'm dry.
I'm home.
I'm relaxed.
I'm happy.
I'm hopeful.
I'm blessed.
I'm grateful.
Amen.
Let My Bones Be Soaked With Your Love
O my God,
let me, with thanksgiving,
remember, and confess unto you
your mercies on me.
Let my bones be soaked with your love,
and let them say unto you,
Who is like you, O Lord?
You have broken my chains in pieces.
I will offer unto you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
And how you have broken them, I will declare;
and all who worship you, when they hear this, will say:
Blessed is the Lord in heaven and in earth!
Great and wonderful is his name!
(A prayer of St. Augustine)
let me, with thanksgiving,
remember, and confess unto you
your mercies on me.
Let my bones be soaked with your love,
and let them say unto you,
Who is like you, O Lord?
You have broken my chains in pieces.
I will offer unto you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
And how you have broken them, I will declare;
and all who worship you, when they hear this, will say:
Blessed is the Lord in heaven and in earth!
Great and wonderful is his name!
(A prayer of St. Augustine)
October Prayer
Into a tree in autumn
And let my dying
Be a blaze of glory!
Drape me in a
Crimson, leafy gown,
And deck my soul
In dancing flakes of gold!
And then when Death
Comes by, and with his hands
Strips off my rustling garment
Let me stand
Before him, proud and naked,
Unashamed, uncaring,
All the strength in me revealed
Against the sky!
Oh, God
Make me an autumn tree
If I must die!
(a prayer of Esther Pope, 1896-1958)
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