Gracious, loving Father
who sees and hears in secret,
disclose to me the joys of the secret place.
Teach me to pray there,
and stay there,
and go again from there in confidence.
Grant me the rewards of the secret place,
first and foremost, the knowledge that I have been with you,
and you have met with me,
in Jesus’ name, amen.
(from The Red Letter Prayer Life, p. 32; photo by "tinyfroglet" via everystockphoto.com)
A daily prayer blog by Bob Hostetler, the author of The Red Letter Prayer Life and the 31 Ways to Pray for Your Kids iPhone and iPad app. Just one prayer each day. Seldom more. Seldom very long. Sometimes personal. Sometimes original. Always sincere.
When the Season of Change Comes
God, make me like a tree,
that one tree,
that changes early
and easily
and willingly
and beautifully
when the season of change
comes,
in Jesus' name, amen.
(photo via freefoto.com)
that one tree,
that changes early
and easily
and willingly
and beautifully
when the season of change
comes,
in Jesus' name, amen.
(photo via freefoto.com)
Labels:
Petition
Visit Now This Soul of Mine
Visit now this soul of mine,
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, Radiancy divine,
Scatter all my unbelief;
More and more Yourself display,
Shining to the perfect day.
(from a hymn by Charles Wesley; photo via everystockphoto.com)
Labels:
Songs and Hymns
Happy Life
Grant me a happy life
in all godliness and gravity,
in all purity and nobleness,
in cheerfulness, in health, in good report,
in contentment, in safety, in freedom, in tranquillity,
a happy death, a deathless happiness.
(a prayer of Lancelot Andrewes, from Lancelot Andrewes and His Private Devotions)
in all godliness and gravity,
in all purity and nobleness,
in cheerfulness, in health, in good report,
in contentment, in safety, in freedom, in tranquillity,
a happy death, a deathless happiness.
(a prayer of Lancelot Andrewes, from Lancelot Andrewes and His Private Devotions)
All in All
I've little strength to call my own,
And what I've done, before your throne,
I here confess, is small;
But on your strength, O God, I lean,
And through the Blood that keeps me clean,
You are my all in all.
(from a song by Herbert Booth, slightly revised; photo via everystockphoto.com)
And what I've done, before your throne,
I here confess, is small;
But on your strength, O God, I lean,
And through the Blood that keeps me clean,
You are my all in all.
(from a song by Herbert Booth, slightly revised; photo via everystockphoto.com)
Labels:
Songs and Hymns
The Secret of Being Content
Today's prayer from the "31 Ways to Pray for Your Kids" app for iPhone and iPad...and my prayer today for my kids and my grandkids.
Labels:
Bible Prayers
In the Marvelous Succession of Seasons
Good and generous Lord, You have once more brought the year full circle, through planting and growing and ripening to harvest time, and autumn.
We thank You for the sun and the wind, the rain and the dew, the minerals of the earth and all the plants that grow and all the beasts and birds of farm and field. We marvel at Your wonderful ways of bringing food from the earth for man’s good.
Dear God, help us to use Your rich gifts as You want us to. Teach us to share them with our neighbor when he is in need. Make us see, in the marvelous succession of seasons, and in the growth and ripening of our crops, the merciful, generous hand of Your divine providence.
Help us to realize, too, that if we keep Your commandments and live according to the inspirations of Your grace, we shall also reap a plentiful harvest in the autumn of our lifetime: a harvest that we will be able to enjoy for ever and ever, where no rust can destroy, nor blight spoil any least part of it. Amen.
(from the National Catholic Rural Life Conference; photo by jbom411 via pixabay.com)
Which Path
The way is dark, and I would fain discern
What steps to take, into which path to turn;
Oh! make it clear.
(anonymous, from the Sept. 19 reading in Mary Tileston's Daily Strength for Daily Needs; photo by Jake Hills via unsplash.com)
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.
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.
Hiding Place
I hide in you right now;
cover me with your hand.
Help me to hide in you throughout this day,
that even when I am out and about
among other people,
I remain hidden in you,
in Jesus' name, amen.
Labels:
Affirmation,
Presence
For Avery on Her Birthday
I know you know, Lord, but this girl--
this fierce, funny, friend-making, firecracker, force of nature--
turns nine today.
"Though she be but little, she is fierce."
"Though she be but little, she is fierce."
And though she be but nine, it feels like she has held my heart for much longer.
And though she be the youngest in the family, you have done great things in her, and I know you have great plans for her.
Oh, Lord, thank you for her health, vivacity, personality, perspicacity, and all the sugar and vinegar with which you've filled her. Please make this coming year the best yet for her. Give her a wonderful birthday, a blessed school year, and every joy in the days, weeks, months, and years to come, in Jesus' name, amen.
And though she be the youngest in the family, you have done great things in her, and I know you have great plans for her.
Oh, Lord, thank you for her health, vivacity, personality, perspicacity, and all the sugar and vinegar with which you've filled her. Please make this coming year the best yet for her. Give her a wonderful birthday, a blessed school year, and every joy in the days, weeks, months, and years to come, in Jesus' name, amen.
Labels:
Special Days
Give Us Work
O God, creator of the world,
of sun and moon and stars,
you chose to fashion us, your own,
your handiwork of love.
Indeed, we are your hands’ own work
and yet into our hands
you give the care
of every living thing.
In more ways than we can count
our work builds up
or tears apart what came
from your own hand.
Keep us faithful in preserving
all you’ve given
lest we harm the smallest part
of all you’ve made.
Give us good and honest work to do
and rest at each day’s end.
Give a fair and good day’s wage
for a good day’s work well done.
Give us work that nurtures and sustains
the ones who serve and those they serve.
Let those who labor work in peace,
in freedom without fear.
Give those in need a job to do
and to the tired well earned rest.
Let all our work and toil, Lord,
give glory to your name.
Amen.
(From A Concord Pastor Comments blog; photo by skeeze via pixabay.com)
of sun and moon and stars,
you chose to fashion us, your own,
your handiwork of love.
Indeed, we are your hands’ own work
and yet into our hands
you give the care
of every living thing.
In more ways than we can count
our work builds up
or tears apart what came
from your own hand.
Keep us faithful in preserving
all you’ve given
lest we harm the smallest part
of all you’ve made.
Give us good and honest work to do
and rest at each day’s end.
Give a fair and good day’s wage
for a good day’s work well done.
Give us work that nurtures and sustains
the ones who serve and those they serve.
Let those who labor work in peace,
in freedom without fear.
Give those in need a job to do
and to the tired well earned rest.
Let all our work and toil, Lord,
give glory to your name.
Amen.
(From A Concord Pastor Comments blog; photo by skeeze via pixabay.com)
Labels:
Special Days
Take Me Back
Take me back, take me back, dear Lord,
To the place where I first received you.
Take me back, take me back, dear Lord, where I
First believed.
(a prayer of Andraé Crouch)
Labels:
Songs and Hymns
Blessed
Lord, if I never enjoy another blessing in this life, I've been blessed enough to praise and thank you all my days.
(photo by Alex Shute via Unsplash.com)
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