One Prayer a Day

The Hearts of the Saints

Father, All-Powerful and ever-living God,
you have knit together your elect
in one communion and fellowship
in the mystical body
of Your Son, Christ our Lord,
and kindled the flame of your love
in the hearts of the saints.
I praise you for the holy men and women
you have raised up
in every time and place.
Give me grace so to follow their example
in devotion and godliness
that I may come
to those ineffable joys
that you have prepared for those
who unfeignedly love you,
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,
who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns,
one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

(updated and modernized from the Catholic Liturgy of the Hours, the Gothic Missal, and The Book of Common Prayer, 1979)

From Ghoulies and Ghosties

From ghoulies and ghosties
And long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!

(traditional Scottish prayer;
photo via publicdomainpictures.net)

Joy in Your Presence

For a Day of Obedience

Lord, You Are My Shepherd

Lord, you are my shepherd; I lack nothing that I really need. You care for me and lead me. You restore and revive me. Even in the darkest times, I don’t have to be afraid, for I know you are there with me, protecting me and comforting me. You provide my needs, you pour out on me one blessing after another. Your goodness and love—and constant presence—are all I need, now and forever. Amen.

(a prayer based on Psalm 23, from The Bible 30-Day Experience Guidebook by Bob Hostetler)

Two Things

With Your Right Hand

Christ Our Lord,

You suffered and were tempted.

You are powerful to come to the aid

of those who are assailed by the devil,

for you are the support of Christian people.

O Lord, protect with your right hand

those who trust in your Name.

Deliver them from the Evil One,

and grant them everlasting joy. Amen.

(a prayer of St. Gregory of Khandzta; photo by joojoo41 via pixabay.com)

At My Right Hand

Reckless Love

Savior, If My Feet Have Faltered

Savior, if my feet have faltered

on the pathway of the cross,

if my purposes have altered,

or my gold be mixed with dross.

O forbid me not your service,

keep my yet in your employ.

Pass me through a sterner cleansing,

if I may but bring you joy.

All my work is for you, Master,

you are all my heart's desire.

O, that you will count me faithful

in the day that tries by fire.

Have I worked for hireling wages?

Or as one with vows to keep,

with a heart whose love engages

life or death to save the sheep?

All is known to you, my Master,

all is known, and that is why

I can work and wait the verdict

of your kind but searching eye.

Let me love you, let love rule me,

springing up and flowing forth

from a childlike heart within me

or my work is nothing worth--

Love with passion, love with patience,

love with principle and fire,

Love with heart and mind and utterance

serving you my one desire.

In Jesus' name, amen.

(a hymn of Albert Orsborn, slightly revised; public domain image from pixabay.com)

For a Faith Like Abraham's

Lord, I know what your word says:

"Abraham believed God."

Not, "Abraham believed the text."

Not, "Abraham believed a set of precepts."

Not, "Abraham believed a list of propositions."

But "Abraham believed God."

I tend to be dangerously "nominal" in my faith, as A. W. Tozer puts it. But I want a faith like Abraham's, your friend, whose faith rested on your presence, personality, and character. And I sense you drawing me into the reality of your presence.

Help me to be your man, and not my own;

to trust you, and not myself or my own strength;

to think your thoughts after you, not my own;

to accomplish your will, not my own.

Not my own--let that phrase characterize me and my all, in Jesus' name, amen.

(illustration by Gustav Doré, Abraham Journeying into the Land of Canaan)

For Holding Me

Thank you, Lord, for loving me and keeping me and holding me together--even in those times (especially in those times) when I don't feel held together.

Lord, I trust your sovereign wisdom and love. I know that you alone are God, and there is none like you. There is none who holds me as you hold me.

Hold me now, Lord, in these changeful days. Keep me together, Lord, in your hand, and in your will, in Jesus' name, amen.

(detail from photo by qazyamyam0 via pixabay.com)

Prevail

Best Day Ever

Lord, thank you for "the best day ever," according to Calleigh.

Thank you for all the joys of time spent with grandkids,

in Jesus' name, amen.

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; photo by shilmar via pixabay.com)

Heighten

On Aubrey's Birthday

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

And not just any birthday, but a big one,

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.

The Nearness of You

It's not the music that excites me,

Nor the sermon that delights me--

Oh, no; it's just the nearness of you.

It isn't stained glass or a big screen,

Or drum roll or fog machine--

Oh, no; it's just the nearness of you.

When you stir my heart and draw me so close to you,

You make all of my dreams come true.

I need no candles to enchant me

If you would only grant me the grace

To gaze in awe on your face,

And to feel just a trace

Of the nearness of you.

(a churchgoer's riff on Hoagy Carmichael's "The Nearness of You"; photo by jaefrench via pixabay.com)