The Spring of All My Blessings

My Maker and my King, 
To Thee my all I owe; 
Thy constant goodness is the spring 
Whence all my blessings flow. 

The creature of Thy hand, 
On Thee alone I live; 
Thy countless benefits demand 
More praise than I can give. 

O let Thy grace inspire 
My soul with strength divine! 
Let all my powers to Thee aspire, 
And all my days be Thine.

(a hymn by Anne Steele)

Perfect

 

I Dedicate Myself to Thee

The Joy of the Lord

Get Up Son

Lord I want to die 
in my sleep 
I want to go to bed 
and be awakened 
by you 
saying 
Get up son 
it's the first day of school 
the beginning of your new job 
the dawn of eternity. 
Here are your clothes. 
Your older brother 
wore them first 
now they're yours 
forever 
white and fresh and clean 
smelling of heaven.

(from Joseph Bayly's Psalms of My Life; sponsored link)

Cast

   Lord, I cast all my cares upon you. 
   I lay all of my burdens down at your feet. 
   And even though I don't know what to do, 
   I just cast all my cares upon you.

All-in-All

Be thou my vision. 
Be thou my wisdom 
and my righteousness. 
Be thou my peace, my wholeness, my Shalom. 
Be thou my kindness and grace, 
my health and rest, 
my light and salvation. 
Be my joy, 
my everything, 
my all-in-all, 
in Jesus' name, amen.

Godspeed

Lord, I know there are millions of travelers on the roads and rails, on the seas and in the skies today, 

and you love and care for them all. 

But please keep a watchful eye on me, 

in Jesus' name, amen.

Friend of Sinners

Jesus, thank you that you are a friend of sinners, 

or else where would I be?

Remind Me

 

Eternity Within

I thank Thee, O Lord, that Thou hast so set eternity within my heart that no earthly thing can ever satisfy me wholly. I thank Thee that every present joy is so mixed with sadness and unrest as to lead my mind upwards to the contemplations of a more perfect blessedness. And above all I thank Thee for the sure hope and promise of an endless life which Thou hast given me in the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen. 

(a prayer of John Baillie in A Diary of Private Prayer; photo by EvgeniT via pixabay.com)

Possessions

Thank you, good God, 

for the things I don't possess: 

fancy cars, 

expensive clothes,

a boat, a plane, a jet ski,

a second mortgage,

a divorce settlement,

an alimony payment,

a bodyguard,

a fence around my property. 

Thank you also, Lord,

for the things that don't possess ME:

drugs or alcohol,

guilt or shame,

a need to maintain a certain lifestyle

or a desire to keep up appearances. 

Thank you that I am not afflicted with wealth, fame, or beauty, in Jesus' name, amen.

(photo by BarbaraBonanno via pixabay.com)

Generosity

My prayer today for my kids and my grandkids, from the "31 Ways to Pray for Your Kids" app for iPhone and iPad:

On My Favorite Daughter's Birthday

It's my favorite daughter's birthday, Lord. 

I still can't fathom, 

can't even process, 

that she is all she is. 

I'm still and always amazed 

at how kindly, fully, and generously 

you've answered my prayers 

and her mother's prayers 

for her. 

You have made her faithful like Ruth and regal like Esther, 

fierce like Deborah and brilliant like Abigail,

industrious like Lydia and a leader like Junia.

I give you so much praise and thanks

for my only daughter, 

my firstborn, my Blossom; 

for the child you gave me, 

the woman she is, 

the love we share, 

the pride and joy I feel in her, 

the blessings you've given her, 

and the blessings you've given me through her.

Please bless her abundantly today 

and in all the days to come. 

Keep her safe and well. 

Keep her marriage strong and beautiful. 

Prosper her and her husband, 

answer their prayers, 

supply their needs,

fulfill their dreams.

Let her children continue to grow in happiness, health, and holiness.

Reward Aubrey's love and faithfulness and diligence as a mom

with beauty and grace, 

charm and wisdom,

health and wholeness, 

integrity and strength in each of her children 

as you have done for me in mine.

Show her every kindness, 

grant her your favor, 

use her,

bless her,

hold her,

in Jesus' name, amen.

Simple Prayer

Let me live, love, and say it well in good sentences.

(a prayer by Sylvia Plath)

Perfect Faithfulness

 

Piano Praise

 

Working in Me?

Dear Lord, in the midst of much inner turmoil and restlessness, there is a consoling thought: maybe you are working in me in a way I cannot yet feel, experience, or understand. My mind is not able to concentrate on you, my heart is not able to remain centered, and it seems as if you are absent and have left me alone. But in faith I cling to you. I believe that your Spirit reaches deeper and further than my mind or heart, and that profound movements are not the first to be noticed. 

 Therefore, Lord, I promise I will not run away, not give up, not stop praying, even when it all seems useless, pointless, and a waste of time and effort. I want to let you know that I love you even though I do not feel loved by you, and that I hope in you even though I often experience despair. Let this be a little dying I can do with you and for you as a way of experiencing some solidarity with the millions in this world who suffer far more than I do. Amen. 

 (a prayer by Henri Nouwen, from A Cry for Mercy; photo by Talie79 via pixabay.com)

Of Shock, of Life, of Release

 

For Thy Royal Bounty

O my God, 
Thou fairest, greatest, 
first of all objects, 
my heart admires, 
adores, 
loves thee, 
for my little vessel 
is as full as it can be, 
and I would pour out 
all that fullness before thee 
in ceaseless flow. 

When I think upon and converse with thee 
ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up, 
ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed, 
ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart, 
crowding into every moment of happiness.

I bless thee for the soul thou hast created, 
for adorning it, for sanctifying it, 
though it is fixed in barren soil; 
for the body thou hast given me, 
for preserving its strength and vigour, 
for providing senses to enjoy delights, 
for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;
for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,
for a full table and overflowing cup,
for appetite, taste, sweetness,
for social joys of relatives and friends,
for ability to serve others,
for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.
I love thee above the powers of language to express, 
for what thou art to thy creatures.

Increase my love, O my God, 
through time and eternity. 

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