copyright Bob Hostetler
Gracious Lord, thank you for the smell of wood smoke.
Thank you for the fragrance of a new book,
the cornucopiaroma of a Sunday dinner,
the scent of a rose,
the bouquet of a fresh Spring day,
for lilac and lily,
fresh-fallen snow and summer showers on city sidewalks,
new-cut grass and old-growth forests,
chocolate, bubble gum,
and fresh-bathed babies.
Thank you, in Jesus' name, amen.
For Things I Can Enjoy Without Owning Them
copyright Bob Hostetler
Thank you, Lord, for the things I can enjoy without owning them:
sunsets, sunrises,
scenery,
breezes,
library books,
streets and highways,
the laughter of children,
rainstorms and snowstorms,
wildflowers,
public statues,
striking architecture,
cool websites,
the sound of a distant train,
starlight and moonlight,
blue skies,
woodland paths,
friends,
the nods and smiles of strangers;
all these and more are mine without cost, without the need to possess or preserve. Make me appropriately grateful for these and all your blessings, in Jesus' name, amen.
Thank you, Lord, for the things I can enjoy without owning them:
sunsets, sunrises,
scenery,
breezes,
library books,
streets and highways,
the laughter of children,
rainstorms and snowstorms,
wildflowers,
public statues,
striking architecture,
cool websites,
the sound of a distant train,
starlight and moonlight,
blue skies,
woodland paths,
friends,
the nods and smiles of strangers;
all these and more are mine without cost, without the need to possess or preserve. Make me appropriately grateful for these and all your blessings, in Jesus' name, amen.
Shepherd's Prayer
copyright Bob Hostetler
Father, I'm overwhelmed with the weight of responsibility you've placed on me as a shepherd of God's flock. Help, Lord. Save your people...from me. Save me...from your people. Save us all from each other, in Jesus' name, amen.
Father, I'm overwhelmed with the weight of responsibility you've placed on me as a shepherd of God's flock. Help, Lord. Save your people...from me. Save me...from your people. Save us all from each other, in Jesus' name, amen.
Make Me Like You
copyright Bob Hostetler
Make me more and more like you, Lord. Make me a servant, like you. Make me a lover of souls, like you. Make me a shepherd, like you. Make me a rod in your hand, a cedar of Lebanon, a man of integrity. Make me a mighty man of valor. Make me a healer of hurts, a dispenser of grace, a fount of compassion, like you.
Make me more and more like you, Lord. Make me a servant, like you. Make me a lover of souls, like you. Make me a shepherd, like you. Make me a rod in your hand, a cedar of Lebanon, a man of integrity. Make me a mighty man of valor. Make me a healer of hurts, a dispenser of grace, a fount of compassion, like you.
A Prayer of Thomas Merton
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Copyright Abbey of Gethsemani.
Gracious God, I Exalt You
copyright Bob Hostetler
Gracious God, I exalt you. You are almighty; I am weak. You know all things; I am still an infant in understanding, a babe in wisdom. You created all things; I can only mimic your creativity. You are self-giving, self-sacrificing in your love; I am self-centered in my love. You are omnipresent; I am finite, and often unaware and oblivious. You are eternal; I am mortal. You are gracious and merciful; I am judgmental. You are holy; I am sinful, steeped in sin from my birth. You are my God, worthy of only praise, great in power and glory, and I praise you, in Jesus' name, amen.
Gracious God, I exalt you. You are almighty; I am weak. You know all things; I am still an infant in understanding, a babe in wisdom. You created all things; I can only mimic your creativity. You are self-giving, self-sacrificing in your love; I am self-centered in my love. You are omnipresent; I am finite, and often unaware and oblivious. You are eternal; I am mortal. You are gracious and merciful; I am judgmental. You are holy; I am sinful, steeped in sin from my birth. You are my God, worthy of only praise, great in power and glory, and I praise you, in Jesus' name, amen.
A Prayer Against One Embodiment of Evil
Bob Hostetler
Father, save me from the tyranny of the telephone. Deliver me from letting "others fill my day with imperious demands" (quote from Eugene Peterson, The Contemplative Pastor).
Father, save me from the tyranny of the telephone. Deliver me from letting "others fill my day with imperious demands" (quote from Eugene Peterson, The Contemplative Pastor).
Praising the God of the Bible (Pt. 2)
copyright Bob Hostetler
God of Matthew, you are my King;
God of Mark, you are the Supreme Servant, the example of true humility;
God of Luke, you are Lord of all;
God of John, you are the Living Word, the great I am;
God of the Acts, you are the author of the Church, the Pioneer of the faith;
God of Romans, you are the salvation-worker;
God of 1st and 2nd Corinthians, you are a God of order and righteousness, who established both in your church;
God of Galatians, you are the great Liberator, a God of freedom and grace;
God of Ephesians, you are a God of light and unity, and unfathomable riches;
God of Philippians, God of joy!
God of Colossians, you are pre-eminent, a God of glory;
God of 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, you are a God of hope;
God of Timothy, you are the great Shepherd;
God of Titus, you are always working, always doing good;
God of Philemon, you make brothers of all men;
God of Hebrews, you have made Jesus greater than all things, all priests, all covenants, all;
God of James, you are a practical God;
God of Peter and his letters, you are true, and victorious in all things;
God of John and his letters, you are love and truth;
God of Jude, you are able to keep me from falling;
God of the Revelation, you hold the future--and all my times--in your hand!
I praise you, God of the Bible, God of all, for all you are: unsearchable, inexhaustible, Amen.
God of Matthew, you are my King;
God of Mark, you are the Supreme Servant, the example of true humility;
God of Luke, you are Lord of all;
God of John, you are the Living Word, the great I am;
God of the Acts, you are the author of the Church, the Pioneer of the faith;
God of Romans, you are the salvation-worker;
God of 1st and 2nd Corinthians, you are a God of order and righteousness, who established both in your church;
God of Galatians, you are the great Liberator, a God of freedom and grace;
God of Ephesians, you are a God of light and unity, and unfathomable riches;
God of Philippians, God of joy!
God of Colossians, you are pre-eminent, a God of glory;
God of 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, you are a God of hope;
God of Timothy, you are the great Shepherd;
God of Titus, you are always working, always doing good;
God of Philemon, you make brothers of all men;
God of Hebrews, you have made Jesus greater than all things, all priests, all covenants, all;
God of James, you are a practical God;
God of Peter and his letters, you are true, and victorious in all things;
God of John and his letters, you are love and truth;
God of Jude, you are able to keep me from falling;
God of the Revelation, you hold the future--and all my times--in your hand!
I praise you, God of the Bible, God of all, for all you are: unsearchable, inexhaustible, Amen.
Praising the God of the Bible (Pt. 1)
copyright Bob Hostetler
God of Genesis, you created the world, and made it teem with life;
God of Exodus, you led your people out of bondage and made them a nation;
God of Leviticus, you established your worship in Israel and now throughout the whole earth;
God of Numbers, you are Lord of all, of the many and of the few (and of the alone);
God of Deuteronomy, you are the great Lawgiver;
God of Joshua, you lead your people to victory;
God of Judges, you always return your people’s heart to you;
God of Ruth, you care for all, and establish your work through widows, the poor, and foreigners;
God of Samuel, you raise up priests and prophets to do your bidding;
God of Kings, you establish and depose the rulers of men;
God of the Chronicles, you do not leave yourself without a testimony of your mighty works;
God of Ezra, you always show up when your Word is exalted;
God of Nehemiah, you rebuild and restore your people time and time again;
God of Esther, all nations, peoples, and times are in your hands;
God of Job, you are sovereign over all and no one can accuse you of wrong;
God of the Psalms, you fill my heart with song, my mouth with praises, and my feet with dancing;
God of Proverbs, you are God only wise, and in your hand is all knowledge;
God of Ecclesiastes, you bring all our vanity to the dust;
God of Solomon’s Song, you are my beloved, and I am yours;
God of Isaiah, you are exalted, a God who fulfills his promises;
God of Jeremiah, you are a God of great and mysterious ways;
God of Lamentations, you are a God who weeps for his people;
God of Ezekiel, you are a God of signs and wonders;
God of Daniel, you are a God who honors faithfulness and brings low the proud;
God of Hosea, you are faithful, even when I am faithless;
God of Joel, you restore all that your righteous wrath destroys;
God of Amos, you warn your people again and again of the dangers and deceits of sin;
God of Obadiah, you will establish your kingdom, God of all nations;
God of Jonah, you show mercy to all who repent;
God of Micah, you repeatedly show compassion to your wayward children;
God of Nahum, you judge the nations in righteousness;
God of Habakkuk, you alone are the Strength of your people;
God of Zephaniah, you turn back our enemies and make us glad;
God of Haggai, you are worthy to be honored among men, among all nations;
God of Zechariah, God of visions, you show yourself, you are a God of revelation;
God of Malachi, you are constant and pure, desiring a religion of the heart and not an outward show, and I praise you, Lord, with my whole heart.
God of Genesis, you created the world, and made it teem with life;
God of Exodus, you led your people out of bondage and made them a nation;
God of Leviticus, you established your worship in Israel and now throughout the whole earth;
God of Numbers, you are Lord of all, of the many and of the few (and of the alone);
God of Deuteronomy, you are the great Lawgiver;
God of Joshua, you lead your people to victory;
God of Judges, you always return your people’s heart to you;
God of Ruth, you care for all, and establish your work through widows, the poor, and foreigners;
God of Samuel, you raise up priests and prophets to do your bidding;
God of Kings, you establish and depose the rulers of men;
God of the Chronicles, you do not leave yourself without a testimony of your mighty works;
God of Ezra, you always show up when your Word is exalted;
God of Nehemiah, you rebuild and restore your people time and time again;
God of Esther, all nations, peoples, and times are in your hands;
God of Job, you are sovereign over all and no one can accuse you of wrong;
God of the Psalms, you fill my heart with song, my mouth with praises, and my feet with dancing;
God of Proverbs, you are God only wise, and in your hand is all knowledge;
God of Ecclesiastes, you bring all our vanity to the dust;
God of Solomon’s Song, you are my beloved, and I am yours;
God of Isaiah, you are exalted, a God who fulfills his promises;
God of Jeremiah, you are a God of great and mysterious ways;
God of Lamentations, you are a God who weeps for his people;
God of Ezekiel, you are a God of signs and wonders;
God of Daniel, you are a God who honors faithfulness and brings low the proud;
God of Hosea, you are faithful, even when I am faithless;
God of Joel, you restore all that your righteous wrath destroys;
God of Amos, you warn your people again and again of the dangers and deceits of sin;
God of Obadiah, you will establish your kingdom, God of all nations;
God of Jonah, you show mercy to all who repent;
God of Micah, you repeatedly show compassion to your wayward children;
God of Nahum, you judge the nations in righteousness;
God of Habakkuk, you alone are the Strength of your people;
God of Zephaniah, you turn back our enemies and make us glad;
God of Haggai, you are worthy to be honored among men, among all nations;
God of Zechariah, God of visions, you show yourself, you are a God of revelation;
God of Malachi, you are constant and pure, desiring a religion of the heart and not an outward show, and I praise you, Lord, with my whole heart.
Helpless Without You
copyright Bob Hostetler
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 do all things through Christ, who is my strength. Amen.
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 do all things through Christ, who is my strength. Amen.
Creator Praise
Bob Hostetler
Praise to you, Most Holy, Most High; praise and glory to your name.
I praise you for bestowing life on your Creation; for granting reason to humankind, for making us a little lower than you, higher than the animals, for bestowing on us your likeness.
Thank you and praise to you for creating us as volitional creatures, though by that volition we fell.
Thank you for creating us as sensate beings, though in our sinfulness we serve our senses and sensation more than you.
I praise you for making us rational creatures, though our thoughts and imaginings are clouded by sin.
I praise you that you made us feeling, emotional beings, though we do not love you as we ought.
In all your works you are good and great, most excellent and most worthy of praise, which I offer you imperfectly, incompletely, but sincerely, in Jesus' name, amen.
Praise to you, Most Holy, Most High; praise and glory to your name.
I praise you for bestowing life on your Creation; for granting reason to humankind, for making us a little lower than you, higher than the animals, for bestowing on us your likeness.
Thank you and praise to you for creating us as volitional creatures, though by that volition we fell.
Thank you for creating us as sensate beings, though in our sinfulness we serve our senses and sensation more than you.
I praise you for making us rational creatures, though our thoughts and imaginings are clouded by sin.
I praise you that you made us feeling, emotional beings, though we do not love you as we ought.
In all your works you are good and great, most excellent and most worthy of praise, which I offer you imperfectly, incompletely, but sincerely, in Jesus' name, amen.
Thanks for Prevenient Grace
Bob Hostetler
Thank you, Lord, for your prevenient grace. You are always previous, always before, always ahead. "Christ is risen, and he has gone before" me. Thank you for drawing me, not once, but ever. Thank you for suffering me again to come to you. Thank you for the grace to thank you, in Jesus' name, amen.
Thank you, Lord, for your prevenient grace. You are always previous, always before, always ahead. "Christ is risen, and he has gone before" me. Thank you for drawing me, not once, but ever. Thank you for suffering me again to come to you. Thank you for the grace to thank you, in Jesus' name, amen.
St. Patrick's Breastplate for My Children
Bob Hostetler
I bind to my children today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
Invoking the same
The Three in One and One in Three.
I plead for my children forever
The power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in Jordan river,
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spiced tomb,
His riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom
I plead all for them today.
I invoke for my children the power
Of the great love of cherubim;
The sweet ‘Well done’ in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word,
The Patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord
And purity of virgin souls.
I ask for them today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun’s lifegiving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.
I beseech for them today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to their need.
The wisdom of their God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The word of God to give them speech,
His heavenly host to be their guard.
Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar their course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility
I ask, in Jesus’ name, these powers.
Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart’s idolatry,
Against the wizard’s evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
Protect them, Christ, till your returning.
Christ be with them, Christ within them,
Christ behind them, Christ before them,
Christ beside them, Christ to win them,
Christ to comfort and restore them.
Christ beneath them, Christ above them,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love them,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I ask all this in the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord. Amen.
I bind to my children today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
Invoking the same
The Three in One and One in Three.
I plead for my children forever
The power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in Jordan river,
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spiced tomb,
His riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom
I plead all for them today.
I invoke for my children the power
Of the great love of cherubim;
The sweet ‘Well done’ in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word,
The Patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord
And purity of virgin souls.
I ask for them today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun’s lifegiving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.
I beseech for them today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to their need.
The wisdom of their God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The word of God to give them speech,
His heavenly host to be their guard.
Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar their course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility
I ask, in Jesus’ name, these powers.
Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart’s idolatry,
Against the wizard’s evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
Protect them, Christ, till your returning.
Christ be with them, Christ within them,
Christ behind them, Christ before them,
Christ beside them, Christ to win them,
Christ to comfort and restore them.
Christ beneath them, Christ above them,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love them,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I ask all this in the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord. Amen.
Resigned, Annihilated, and Detached
Bob Hostetler
St. John of the Cross said, "Who shall prevent God from doing that which he wills in the soul that is resigned, annihilated, and detached?" Make that true of me, Lord. Remove all impediments to your will in my heart, mind, and soul...though it slay me. Amen.
St. John of the Cross said, "Who shall prevent God from doing that which he wills in the soul that is resigned, annihilated, and detached?" Make that true of me, Lord. Remove all impediments to your will in my heart, mind, and soul...though it slay me. Amen.
A Prayer of Thomas Aquinas for My Children
Bob Hostetler
Grant to my children your grace, most merciful Jesus, that it may be with them and in them now and to the end of their lives. Grant that they may always desire and will those things that are most acceptable and most dear to you. Let your will be theirs, and let their will ever follow yours and agree perfectly with it. Let their willing and not-willing be in complete unison with your will, and let them not be able to will anything but what you will, nor will not what you will not, in Jesus’ name, amen.
(Based on a prayer by Thomas Aquinas)
Grant to my children your grace, most merciful Jesus, that it may be with them and in them now and to the end of their lives. Grant that they may always desire and will those things that are most acceptable and most dear to you. Let your will be theirs, and let their will ever follow yours and agree perfectly with it. Let their willing and not-willing be in complete unison with your will, and let them not be able to will anything but what you will, nor will not what you will not, in Jesus’ name, amen.
(Based on a prayer by Thomas Aquinas)
My Psalm 1
Bob Hostetler
Oh, Lord God, grant me the joys of those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with scoffers.
Let me delight in doing everything you want;
help me think about your law day and night.
Help me become like a tree planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season without fail.
Let my leaf—my spiritual vitality—never wither,
and in all I do, let me know the prosperity that comes from you.
Deliver me, Lord, from the fate of the wicked.
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.
For I know that you, O LORD, watch over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.
Let me walk the path of the godly, Lord. Amen.
Oh, Lord God, grant me the joys of those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with scoffers.
Let me delight in doing everything you want;
help me think about your law day and night.
Help me become like a tree planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season without fail.
Let my leaf—my spiritual vitality—never wither,
and in all I do, let me know the prosperity that comes from you.
Deliver me, Lord, from the fate of the wicked.
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.
For I know that you, O LORD, watch over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.
Let me walk the path of the godly, Lord. Amen.
A Prayer for Sunday
Bob Hostetler
Lord, let your people worship you truly today.
Quicken our conscience with your holiness.
Purge our imaginations with your beauty.
Open our hearts to your love.
And help us fully devote our wills to your purpose, in Jesus' name, amen.
(Based on a stanza by Dr. William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury).
Lord, let your people worship you truly today.
Quicken our conscience with your holiness.
Purge our imaginations with your beauty.
Open our hearts to your love.
And help us fully devote our wills to your purpose, in Jesus' name, amen.
(Based on a stanza by Dr. William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury).
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