A Prayer of Thomas a Kempis

O my God, when will silence,
retirement,
and prayer
become the occupations of my soul
as they are now frequently the objects of my desires?

How am I wearied with saying so much
and yet doing so little for you!
Come, Jesus, come,
You the only object of my love,
the center and supreme happiness of my soul!
Come, and impress my mind
with such a lively conviction of Thy presence
that all within me may yield to its influence.
Amen.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me.

I Could Run Away

I could run away...You would never leave
You will always stay...Right by my side
Right by my side...Right by my side
And I need you, oh I need you...Every step of the way.

(Few songs--if any--move me as much as these lyrics
by Don and Lori Chaffer
Copyright © 1999 Hey Ruth Music (BMI)).

My Psalm 70

O God, hasten to deliver me;
O LORD, race to my side.

Let those who seek my harm
be thwarted entirely.
Let every adversary of my soul
be utterly frustrated.
Let those who would gloat over my defeat
be defeated themselves.
But let all who seek you and long for you
and rejoice to see your will accomplished
dance and jump and sing for joy.
Let all who love your salvation
continually say, "Praise God!"

I am lowly in heart. I need you badly.
Run to my side, O God!
You are the help I need, the one who saves me;
O LORD, hurry please.

Be

Lord God, I sense that maybe I'm learning from you...
to "be" in you,
to "walk" in you,
to inhabit the present, inhabited by you,
without stretching and straining
to some nonexistent future
where all my work is done.
I hope so.
Amen.

Desire of My Heart

Lord, please transform the desires of my heart (Psalm 37:4).
I want to want what you want.
I desire to desire only what you desire.
Help me to desire you most of all;
help me to delight myself in you first and foremost
and always,
in Jesus' name, amen.

A Prayer of Martin Luther

Lord, the only wise God,
whose thoughts and ways are as high above ours
as the heavens are high above the earth,
hidden are your ways,
and your guidance often beyond our searching out.
Work in us such hearts that do not murmur against your judgments,
but are always ready to say;
you are the Lord, my God, and you do all things well.
Amen.

Ready

Abba, thank you for waking me healthy and rested this morning, and ready for this day, amen.

A Prayer of Elizabeth Rundle

Eternal God, the source of all life and love, we praise you for the gift of this day. We would just pause to confess our sin of pride. Forgive us for the things we don’t want to do and the things that we leave for other people to do. Thank you for those who serve without complaining. Help us to know that whatever we do is a way of serving Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

I Choose

Abba, I choose today
to have time for people,
to truly listen,
to speak words of blessing,
to speak truth in love,
to not fear what men think of me,
to trust in you,
in Jesus' name, amen.

A Prayer from 1 Timothy 1:12

With Paul the Apostle,
I thank Christ Jesus my Lord,
for giving me strength to do your work
and counting me trustworthy
and appointing me to serve you,
amen.

(Based on 1 Timothy 1:12)

I Choose Today

I choose today, Lord,
to believe in you
and in your good plans for me.
I choose to walk in faith,
not to hurry or panic,
not to fear, not to stress,
but to stand still and see the salvation
of the Lord.
Amen.

How Can You Be So Patient?

Abba, I don't know how you can be
so patient with me.
I know that my sin
saps my spiritual strength and vitality.
How much stronger will I be
when you have more of me?
Infinitely stronger,
because you are infinite,
even in possessing the finite.
Let it be so, in me, in Jesus' name, amen.

One Into a Thousand Rise

(A prayer of Charles Wesley, slightly updated)

Savior, I know you are
In every age the same;
Now, Lord, in mine exert
The virtue of your name,
And daily, through your Word, increase
Your blood-besprinkled witnesses.

Your people, saved below
From every sinful stain,
Let multiply and grow
If you, Lord, but ordain,
And one into a thousand rise
And spread your praise through earth and skies.

In every soul--and mine--
You have displayed your power;
Now to your people join
Ten thousand thousand more,
Saved from the guilt and strength of sin
In life and heart entirely clean.
Amen.

Thick Skin

Lord God, I pray for thick skin,
that I may serve you better...
and longer...
but mostly, I suppose,
that I might not get hurt so often.

Even so, Lord, hear my prayer,
in Jesus' name, amen.

For Servants

Thank you, Lord God Adonai,
for the willing
and dedicated
and faithful
and seemingly tireless
servants you have granted me
to work with me,
to serve your church,
to inspire and encourage me,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Have Mercy

Lord, sometimes all I can pray is
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy.

But I thank you that I can at least pray that.

My Psalm 69

Save me, O God,
from the rising floodwaters.

Save me from the mud beneath my feet.
I am in over my head,
and I know that only too well.

I will call out to you until I am worn out,
until my tongue cracks
and my throat parches.

i will keep looking to you
until my eyes fail.
What else can I do, Lord?
I have no other hope besides you.

My enemies are numerous;
their attacks seem incessant,
and you know how foolishly
I listen to them and give in to their deceits.

May those who hope in you
not be disgraced because of me,
O Lord, the LORD Almighty;
may those who seek you
not be ashamed because of me,
O God of Israel.

By your grace, I endure
what I endure
for your sake.
i put myself out there
where every man Jack can find fault
and second-guess me.
But I am zealous for your house, Lord,
I love your church
and I will spend myself for your flock,
because I love them, too...
and I love you.

I weep and fast,
I scratch and claw,
and make myself vulnerable.

That's okay. I pray to you, O LORD,
and count on your favor;
in your unceasing love, O God,
answer me with your mighty deliverance.

Save me from the mud,
do not let my feet slip,
and deliver me from every attack,
and every flash flood of oppression.

Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love;
in your great mercy turn to me.

Turn my face to you,
for you have never turned your face from me,
and I know that only too well.

Come! Rescue me!
Defend me from my foes.
Answer all the scorn, disgrace, and abuse
that may be aimed at me.
Heal every wound,
answer every accusation,
and reverse my discouragement
with your comfort.

Send my Enemy packing, Mighty God.
Tear down every stronghold,
in me and among your people.

Let your salvation, O God,
infuse me and protect me.

Let me praise your name in song
and glorify you with grateful living.
Let my living sacrifice please you.
Let the lot of others be improved
because of my offerings to you.

You, LORD, hear my needy cries
and never fail to come to my aid.

Let this whole wide world praise you,
let all Creation resound with your praise,
let my heart pulse with faith,
with the confidence that you save me,
that you will save your people
and establish a place for us,
where we will glorify you
where those who love your name will dwell.
Amen.

Sabbath Choices

Abba, I choose today to rest in you.
I choose to cease my striving.
I choose to let you handle the world instead of me.
I choose not to stress or worry.
I choose not to let others' stress or hurry
pressure me.
I choose to let you decide, act, control...
and pray you'll let me do more of that
the other six days of the week,
letting my Sabbath infect my week
instead of the other way around,
in Jesus' name, amen.

I Am Fasting

Lord, I am fasting
to focus my heart and mind on you,
to say to you that your blessing
and your help
is more important to me than food.
I am fasting to remind myself
that all things are worthless and tasteless
if you don't hear and answer my cries.
I am fasting to become a better coworker with you,
and let you know that nothing
matters more to me
than your favor
and your intervention
in the things I am asking of you right now,
in Jesus' name, amen.

A Prayer by John Wesley

I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will;
Put me to doing; put me to suffering;
Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you,
Exalted for you, or brought low for you;
Let me be full, let me be empty;
Let me have all things, let me have nothing;
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
You are mine and I am yours. So be it.
And the covenant made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.

For Answered Prayer

Thank you, God,
for the answered prayers
I see all around me.

Thank you, too,
for the answered prayers
I see in me.

Amen.

Prayer for Worship Leaders

Lord, I lift up our pastor of worship to you,
and her dynamic ministry.
I appeal to you for her team,
those ministers of the Gospel
who praise you with the modern equivalent
of harp and lyre.
Grant them the full splendor of Your holiness
and let them praise You out of that experience.
Help them lead us faithfully
in thanks for Your enduring love.
Use their praise to defeat the enemy.
May they be the true worshipers
You are looking for who worship in spirit and in truth,
and may their tribe increase among us.
Let them glory only in You, and put no confidence in their own flesh,
in Jesus' name, amen.

A Prayer for Spring

(A prayer by Ralph Waldo Emerson)

For flowers that bloom about our feet,
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet,
For song of bird, and hum of bee,
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!

For blue of stream and blue of sky,
For pleasant shade of branches high,
For fragrant air and cooling breeze,
For beauty of the blooming trees,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!

Bless My Family with Your Love

O Loving God,
bless my family with your love.
Guard us from all danger and harm;
deliver us from anger that leads to division;
empower us to forgive as we have been forgiven;
and send us into the world
to witness to your love and grace;
in the name of Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.

(a prayer by Vienna Cobb Anderson, adapted from "Prayers of Our Hearts" © 1991 Vienna Cobb Anderson)

Presence Prayer

Abba, I often come to you in prayer
to ask for favors.
Today I simply ask for your presence.
Let my heart respond to your love.
Amen.

My Psalm 68

Arise, God, and scatter your enemies!
Make all your foes run scared.
Blow them away,
like campfire smoke in a windstorm;
Disable them completely,
like wax on a hot stovetop.

But make the righteous glad,
and let them skip and dance and sing before you;
make them giddy with laughter.

I will sing to you, God,
I will sing praise to your name;
I will boast about you, Cloudrider,
and I will rejoice in your presence, Yahweh,
father to the fatherless,
defender of widows,
Holy One,
family-maker,
adopter of the lonely,
liberator of prisoners.
The rebellious reject you
to their own desiccation.

March out before your people, O God,
march us through this rough terrain,
as you did your people long ago,
when the earth shook,
and the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.

You sent refreshing showers, O God;
you renewed your weary ones.
Your people settled in the land,
and out of your generosity,
out of your plenty, O God,
you provided for the poor.

Do it again, Lord.
Do it for us, please.
Announce your word here in our time,
in our land,
and multiply the company of those who proclaim it.
Rout kings and armies flee;
dump the plunder of the wicked into our laps.
Show your power by prospering your people
even while we sleep!
Just as you scattered the kings of Canaan,
just as you made jealous the mountains of Bashan,
make the powers and institutions of this world
gaze in envy on your people, Cobblestone,
because you are pleased to reign among us,
and with your presence comes your power,
with your working comes mighty wonders,
and great joy,
and vibrancy.

Commission your chariots, God,
twice ten thousand,
even thousands of thousands,
and come to us,
abide with us,
fight for us.

When you ascended on high,
you led captives in your train;
you received gifts from men,
even from the rebellious—
O LORD God, do it again,
among us,
for us,
through us,
in Jesus’ name!

Bear our burdens.
Save!
Deliver from death.
Crush the heads of your enemies,
turn the heads of those who go on in their sins.

Make “The Loft” your parade ground, O God,
make it your gallery of fine art.
Lead us in triumphal procession
over these coming months,
day by day, week by week,
and make your praise glorious,
contagious, drawing hundreds into your church,
making paupers into princes,
cripples into athletes,
the dead into living,
the sick into the thriving,

Parade your power, O God,
and show the whole community around us
just how faithful and generous you can be.

I sing your praise.
I write your praise.
I speak your praise,
Sky-Rider,
Cloud-strider,
Lightning-scribe
and Thunder-composer.

I give you my praise,
my standing ovation,
for all you have done
and all you do.

Show us your beauty again,
your terrible beauty, O God,
your awesome splendor,
like that you wrote in the heavens,
like that you showed to Israel.

Show your power and might
to your people, Cobblestone,
such that we will never get over it.
Amen.

A Prayer of Reinhold Neibuhr

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

Open the Eyes of My Faith

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of my faith, that I may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, amen.

Let Me Be Known By the Marks of Thy Cross

(A hymn by General Albert Orsborn)

Where are the marks, the marks of Thy anointing?
Savior, reveal, how am I joined with Thee?
Have I embraced the cross of Thy appointing,
Thy cross constrained a true response in me?
Spare not the truth, I spurn all shallow seeming;
Where are the proofs of Thy dying in me?
As I am Thine by Thy pure love redeeming,
Let me be Thine by my pure love to Thee.
Henceforth, for Thee inured to gain or loss,
Let me be known by the marks of Thy cross.

Thy brow was torn, but mine has known no bleeding;
Thy hands were nailed, but mine are whole and free.
Thy cheek was burned beneath the traitor's greeting;
Have I endured the lonely way for Thee?
Thy tears fell down upon a world's transgression;
When have I wept for the souls that loved not Thee?
It was Thy heart that filled Thee with compassion;
Oh, may that heart renew Thy life in me!
Henceforth, for Thee inured to gain or loss,
Let me be known by the marks of Thy cross.

Amen.

Give Me Eyes To See What You Are Doing

"Jesus said to the people, 'In truth I tell you, by himself the Son can do nothing; he can only do what he sees the Father doing: and whatever the Father does the Son does too'" (John 5:19).

Abba,
give me eyes to see what you are doing,
where you are leading,
how you are working,
that I might follow Jesus
by doing what I see the Father doing.
Amen.

Give Us This Day

Give us this day our daily bread.
Give us this day our daily energy.
Give us this day our daily rest.
Give us this day our daily exercise.
Give us this day our daily work.
Give us this day our daily health.
Give us this day our daily oxygen.
Give us this day our daily creativity.
Give us this day our daily community.
Give us this day our daily encouragement.
Give us this day our daily fun.
Give us this day our daily memory.
Give us this day our daily sights,
and sounds,
and smells,
and tastes.
Give us this day our daily...you.
Amen.

I am Like James and John

(A prayer by poet Robert Raines, author of A Faithing Oak)

I am like James and John
Lord, I size up other people
in terms of what they can do for me;
how they can further my program,
feed my ego,
satisfy my needs,
give me strategic advantage.

I exploit people,
ostensibly for your sake,
but really for my own sake.

Lord, I turn to you
to get the inside track
and obtain special favors,
your direction for my schemes,
your power for my projects,
your sanction for my ambitions,
your blank checks for whatever I want.

I am like James and John.

My Psalm 67

God, be gracious to us and bless us
and make your face shine upon us;
let us be an example,
an advertisement
of your ways on earth,
your saving ways among all people.

I praise you, O God;
may all the people around me praise you.

May the nations be intoxicated
with the joy that follows
your just rule
and faithful shepherding.

I praise you, O God;
may all the people around me praise you.

Let our efforts
yield a bountiful crop,
a harvest of souls discovering.
loving
and praising you,
and enjoying your blessings.

Bless us God,
and let every corner of the earth
resonate with reverence and praise for you.
Amen.

Shelter

(A prayer by poet Robert Raines, author of A Faithing Oak)

water running down the airplane window
like tears
people walking with umbrellas
for shelter

shelter
I need
shelter
Lord

heal the wounds
of those I have wounded
and my wounds

lead me
walk beside me
follow me

let forgiveness
take my arms
and hope
invite my feet


shelter us all
toward a
time
of
safety
and
confidence

The Hardest Test

(A hymn by General Albert Orsborn)

When the angel gives the record
Of my inmost soul today,
I want my thoughts and actions
With unbroken voice to say:
"The love Thy servant bears Thee
Will endure the hardest test,
And only be happy
In giving the best."

Let it be so,
in Jesus' name, amen.

A Prayer of Joe Bayly

(from Psalms of My Life, by Joe Bayly)

Lord Christ
Your servant
Martin Luther
said he only had
two days
on his calendar
today
and that day
and that's
what I want too.
And I want
to live
today
for
that day.

My Psalm 66

I shout with joy to you God!
I sing the glory of your name;
I praise you, I give you glory.

I say to you, "How awesome are your deeds!
Your power is so complete
that your enemies cower in fear,
and all the earth bows down to you;
the darling buds of Spring give a wave offering,
and early robins and cardinals sing praise to your name.

You have done great things, Lord,
you have worked wonders on my behalf.

You made the churning waves solid beneath my feet.
You restored to me the joy of your salvation.

You rule in might,
and the more so when I am made aware of my weakness,
my utter inadequacy.
You show yourself sufficient over and over again.

I praise you, God,
My heart and my lips resound with praise for you;
you have preserved my life
and kept my feet from slipping.

You allowed this time of testing,
and your refining fire made me still stronger.

I am your love slave, your prisoner,
and yet I complained of the burdens I carry.
But no more.
You have lifted my head,
you have brought me through fire and water,
you have once more opened a verdant vista to my eyes.

I renew my covenant with you,
and fulfill my vows to you,
those vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke
when I was young and ignorant.

But now I am older and wiser,
and I still bring my offering to you,
my pittance,
but my best,
and my all.

I will stop my complaining, with your help,
and focus on telling others what you have done for me.
I will pour out my petitions
and my praise
in your presence.

Despite my sinful, selfish ways,
you have once more listened
and heard my voice in prayer.

Praise to you, God,
for not rejecting my prayer
or withholding your love from me!

God of All Power and Truth and Grace

(A hymn by Charles Wesley, slightly revised)

God of all power and truth and grace,
Which shall from age to age endure,
Whose word, when Heaven and earth shall pass,
Remains and stands forever sure,

That I your mercy may proclaim,
That all humanity truth may see,
Hallow your great and glorious name,
And perfect holiness in me.

Purge from me every sinful blot;
My idols all be cast aside;
Cleanse me from every sinful thought,
From all the filth of self and pride.

Give me a new, a perfect heart,
From doubt and fear and sorrow free;
The mind that is in Christ impart
And let my thoughts unblemished be.

O that I now, from sin released,
Your word may to the utmost prove,
Enter into your promised rest,
The Canaan of your perfect love. Amen.

May Your Blessing Rest on Your People

May your blessing rest on your people (Psalm 3:8, GW).
May your blessing comfort your people.
May your blessing stir up your people.
May your blessing gladden your people.
May your blessing convict your people.
May your blessing energize your people.
May your blessing revive your people.
May your blessing refine your people.
May your blessing excite your people.
May your blessing blow away your people.
Amen.

A Short Prayer, Borrowed from Jesus on the Cross

I thirst.

I Renew My Covenant

(A prayer by Salvationist hymnwriter Will Brand)

By the love that never ceased to hold me,
By the blood which Thou didst shed for me,
Whilst Thy presence and Thy power enfold me,
I renew my covenant with Thee.
Amen.

Praise Belongs to You

Praise belongs to you, Lord,
Mighty God,
Transcendent,
Righteous,
Merciful,
and Just.
I praise you for being a mighty fortress,
a kind, forgiving Father,
a gentle, nursing mother,
a friend,
a king,
a warrior,
a shepherd,
a rose of Sharon,
a morning star,
a sun, and shield, a shelter,
all that I need, and all I aspire to be.
Amen.

Such a Family

Abba, how I thank you
that you have given me
such a wife,
such a daughter,
such a son,
that they are the people--
of all the people in the world--
I most desperately and constantly
want to spend time with.

I Give Thee Thanks

(A prayer of John Baillie)

For the power Thou hast given me to lay hold of things unseen:
For the strong sense I have that this is not my home:
For my restless heart which nothing finite can satisfy:
I give Thee thanks, O God.

For the invasion of my soul by Thy Holy Spirit:
For all human love and goodness that speak to me of Thee:
For the fullness of Thy glory outpoured in Jesus Christ:
I give Thee thanks, O God.

Easter Prayer

Risen Christ,
raise me up
and renew my life.
Amen.

Holy Saturday Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for meeting me today,
where I needed you,
how I needed you,
as desperately as I needed you,
amen.

Good Friday Prayer

(attributed to Ber­nard of Clair­vaux)

O sacred Head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory,
what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call Thee mine.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!

My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.

My Psalm 65

Praise is waiting here for you, O God;
I will fulfill my vows to you, Most Worthy King,
hearer of my prayers,
drawer of all men.

When I was overwhelmed by sins,
you willingly and readily and completely
forgave all my transgressions.

How blessed you have made me,
to call me to your service
and allow me to live in your courts!
I am filled with the bounty of your house,
the beauty of your holy temple.

You answer my prayers with works of awe-inspiring righteousness,
O God mySavior,
the hope of all people
from all tribes and tongues and nations,
who formed the Himalayas by your power,
and display your strength
in the roar of the Atlantic,
the vastness of the Pacific,
and the icecaps of the Poles.

From east to west, north to south,
you are to be honored,
and your wonders praised;
from morning's dawns to evening's dusk
you deserve full-throated songs of worship.

You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly.
You cause snows to fall
and streams to fill;
you water the fields
and provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it.

You drench the furrows of the field
and level its ridges;
you soften it with showers
and remind us, whether we are farmers
or builders
or painters
or travelers
or pastors,
that you still call the shots...
we are always, constantly in need of your favor.

You bring forth a harvest every year,
and in your sovereign love and wisdom
you supply our needs
and drape our landscape
with an ever-changing garment of provision,
and cause the meadows and valleys
to shout for joy and sing. Amen.

Vindicate

Lord, vindicate those whose trust is in you,
who are relying on you,
who do not put their trust in their own cleverness
or strength
or effort,
but in you.

As you have done in the past,
as you have done recently,
vindicate those with childlike
risk-taking
utter
trust in you,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Smile on Me

(A very free paraphrase of Psalm 119:135)

Smile on me today, Lord,
and speak to me.
Amen.

St. Patrick's Breastplate

I arise today
Through a mighty strength,
the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through the strength
of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength
of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength
of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength
of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches
and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today
Against poison,
against burning,
Against drowning,
against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

Establish Our Place

(A prayer for Cobblestone Community Church, from a hymn by General Albert Orsborn, slightly revised)

Let not Thy people boast;
Empty are we,
Blessed and growing host
Though we may be.
Nought of our own we claim,
Forth from Thy heart we came;
Thou art our Altar-flame.
We live by Thee!

Where secret rivers rise,
Lead us to grace;
Even through clouded skies,
Show us Thy face!
Own us Thy people still,
Seal us within Thy will,
And in Thy holy hill
'Stablish our place.

Amen.

Tantrum

Abba, I'm so tired of being the grown-up.
I'm so tired of being the leader,
the person who has to rise to the challenge,
the person who has to humble himself,
look at himself,
apologize,
be an example,
figure things out,
look at the big picture,
come up with a solution,
make everybody happy,
blabla blabla bla.

Right now I want to be the one who gets to
throw the tantrum,
and generally act like a child.
I want to be the one who gets to
put all the burden on someone else, you know?
I want to be the one who gets to quit.

I know, I'm called to put away childish things.
I'm called to a holy standard.
I'm called to lead.
I just don't want to.
So I guess I'll pray, please supply the want-to,
because right now I'm running only on the have-to.

From a Hill I Know

(A hymn of General Albert Orsborn)

When shall I come unto the healing waters?
Lifting my heart, I cry to Thee my prayer.
Spirit of peace, my Comforter and Healer,
In whom my springs are found, let my soul meet Thee there.

From a hill I know,
Healing waters flow;
O rise, Emmanuel's tide,
And my soul overflow.

Wash from my hands the dust of earthly striving,
Take from my mind the stress of secret fear;
Cleanse Thou the wounds from all but Thee far hidden,
And when the waters flow let my healing appear.

Light, life and love are in that healing fountain;
All I require to cleanse me and restore;
FLOW THROUGH MY SOUL, REDEEM ITS DESERT PLACES,
AND MAKE A GARDEN THERE FOR THE LORD I ADORE.

Spirit of Prayer and of Grace

(The words of Martin Luther, slightly revised)

Our dear Lord,
who has given to us
and taught us to pray
the Psalter and the Lord's Prayer,
grant to us also the spirit of prayer
and of grace
so that we may pray with enthusiasm and earnest faith,
properly and without ceasing.
We need this,
and you have asked for it,
and therefore it is your will to have it from us. Amen.

For Cobblestone

Lord God, I pray for the finances of your church,
for the 2008 budget of Cobblestone,
for your provision throughout this year.

I ask your blessing on our upcoming prayer event.
I ask for good weather for the construction crew.
I pray for you to foster maximum participation in the Prayer Path
and good weather and joyous celebration for the Loft-site prayer event.

I pray your richest blessing and miraculous supply for our volunteers and attenders.
I pray that you will be pleased with our worship and answer our petitions.
In Jesus' name, amen.

My Psalm 64

Hear me, O God, as I pour out my lament;
protect me from the Enemy's attacks.
Shelter me from gossips
and negative people,
from anyone with sharp tongues
and deadly mouths.

Help me to walk with eyes wide open,
not fearing ambush,
but not ignorant of the snares in my path, either.

Save me from people's intrigues,
deliver me from unkind assumptions
and those who whisper in secret
instead of just approaching a man
and speaking with honesty and integrity.

Lord, pierce the unforgiveness that's out there,
and strike down the walls of bitterness
and separation
that I know grieve your heart more than mine.

Twist cunning tongues into knots;
ruin the plans of my Enemy.

Let everyone revere you, Lord God;
let everyone proclaim your works
and ponder what you have done.

Let me rejoice in you, LORD,
and take refuge in you;
let all the upright in heart praise you!

Amen.

Before the Ending of the Day

(A hymn of St. Ambrose)

Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
that with Thy wonted favor, Thou
would'st be our Guard and Keeper now.

From all ill dreams defend our eyes,
from nightly fears and fantasies;
tread under foot our ghostly foe,
that no pollution we may know.

O Father, that we ask be done,
through Jesus Christ, Thine only Son;
Who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee,
shall live and reign eternally.

Amen.

Grandfather Praise

Lord, as if you weren't good enough
in giving me children who bring joy to my heart,
who bless me
and impress me
(and in giving them loves that bless me, too),
you have given me SUCH a grandson!

Oh, God, what health,
what beauty,
what charm,
determination,
intelligence,
acuity,
personality,
strength,
and promise
you have brought into my life.
I give you all the praise
I can summon
from this grateful grandfather's heart.
Amen.

You Know

Lord,
you know what I need.
You know what your church needs.
You know what my family needs.
I trust you to supply those needs,
according to my riches,
our riches,
in Christ Jesus,
in whose name I pray,
amen.

One Blazing Fire

O make my life one blazing fire
Of pure and fervent heart desire
The lost to find, the low to raise,
And give them cause Thy name to praise.
Amen.

(from a hymn by T. C. Marshall)

Prayer for My Bride

Abba, please be with my bride today
and help her accomplish her objective.
Grant her calm,
confidence,
courage,
clarity,
and recall,
and give her success,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Furious Love

Lord God,
thank you for your furious love for me.
Amen.

Saved from Myself

Oh, to be saved from myself, dear Lord!
Oh, to be lost in Thee!
Oh, that it might be no more I, but
Christ that lives in me.

All The Things You Are

(based on lyrics by the great Jerome Kern)

Time and again I’ve longed for adventure,
Something to make my heart beat the faster.
What did I long for? I never really knew.
Finding you, Lord, I’ve found my adventure,
Walking with you, my heart beats the faster,
All that I want in all of this world is you.

You are the promised kiss of springtime
That makes the lonely winter seem long.
You are the breathless hush of evening
That trembles on the brink of a lovely song.
You are the fiery glow that lights a star,
The dearest things I know are what you are.
Some day my happy eyes will see you,
And some day I’ll know that moment divine,
When all the things you are, are mine!

I Will Be Faithful

Lord God, my Rock, my Helper,
by your grace I will be faithul,
regardless of my moods,
I will be faithful,
whatever others may do,
I will be faithful,
when friends forsake me,
I will be faithful,
if I must labor alone,
I will be faithful,
when I'm disappointed,
I will be faithful,
even when I feel disappointed in you,
I will be faithful,
when discouragement comes,
I will be faithful,
when weariness overtakes me,
I will be faithful,
when serving you feels rewarding and when it doesn't,
I will be faithful,
when I feel deserted,
I will be faithful,
when I am misunderstood,
I will be faithful,
when my efforts turn to dust in my hands,
I will be faithful,
when ministry and leadership feel like pushing a rock up a hill,
I will be faithful,
whatever the future holds,
I will be faithful,
not because I am righteous in any way,
but because:
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And I desire no one on earth besides you.
How can I do other than to serve you?
How can I stop doing what you've called me to do?
I don't know how.
So Lord God, my Rock, my Helper,
by your grace I will be faithul. Amen.

Bless

Lord, let your blessing rest on your people,
in Jesus' name, amen.

I Fly to You

Jesus, lover of my soul,
I fly to you,
I lay my head on your chest,
my Friend,
my Brother,
my Lord and my God,
my Savior,
my Stronghold.
Amen.

My Psalm 63

O God, you are my God,
I seek you hungrily;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body craves you,
in a dry and weary land
parched and cracked for lack of water.

I have beheld you in worship;
I have tasted your power and your glory.
I know how satisfying your love is--
better than life, in fact,
and for that I will speak up and praise you.

I will praise you for the rest of my life,
and I will worship you unreservedly.

You surfeit my soul;
how can I not praise you with the songs of my heart?
How can I not call out to you from my bed?
How can I not turn to you as I close my eyes in sleep?

You are my help,
therefore I sing like a baby bird
in the shadow of your wings.

My soul clings to you;
I feel your strong right hand holding onto me.

I know that those who seek to harm me will be frustrated;
they will fail utterly.
Destroy every evil effort against me.

By your grace, I will rejoice in you;
let all who follow you truly praise your great name,
and let the mouths of liars be silenced.
Amen.

A Prayer For Growing Old Gracefully

Lord, Thou knowest better than I myself
that I am growing older and will someday be old.
Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something
on every subject and on every occasion.

Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs.
Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy.
With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all;
but Thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.
Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details;
give me wings to get to the point.
Seal my lips on my aches and pains;
they are increasing,
and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.

I dare not ask for improved memory,
but for a growing humility and a lessening cock-sureness
when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others.
Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet,
for a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil.
Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places
and talents in unexpected people;
and give, O Lord, the grace to tell them so.

Amen.

Author Unknown

Holy Spirit, I am Fasting

Holy Spirit, I am fasting
to submit myself to you,
to invite your holy presence,
to infuse all I think and do.

Holy Spirit, I am fasting
to refresh my life with you,
to restore my inner passion,
and be once again renewed.

Holy Spirit, I am fasting
to be made completely Thine,
till there's no delay or distance
between your will and mine.

Holy Spirit, I am fasting
to prevail on you in prayer,
to wait until you answer
and your answer becomes clear,
Amen.

What a Difference a (Sabbath) Day Makes

What a difference a Sabbath day makes,
Twenty-four little hours.

Thank you, Lord, for your command
to keep the Sabbath day holy.
Forgive me the many times I have neglected it.
Remind me in the future that I neglect it to my loss,
and observe it to my gain,
in Jesus' name, amen.

A Prayer of Dionysius

O God the Father, Origin of divinity,
good beyond all that is good,
fair beyond all that is fair,
in whom is calmness, peace, and concord;
make up the dissensions
which divide us from each other,
and bring us back into a unity of love,
which may bear some likeness to your divine nature.

And as you are above all things,
make us one by the unanimity of a good mind,
that through the embrace of charity
and the bonds of affection,
we may be spiritually one,
as well in ourselves as in each other;
through that peace of yours
that makes all things peaceful,
and through the grace, mercy, and tenderness
of your Son, Jesus Christ, amen.

(A prayer of Dionysius the Great, A.D. 190-265)

God of Infinite Range

Almighty God, my Father,
I praise you for your infinite range:
snow-capped Rockies,
Chimney Rock,
winding Rio Grande,
steep canyon walls,
thundering waterfalls,
flowering cactus,
sandy beach,
verdant pasture,
foaming ocean,
drizzling rainstorm,
flakes of snow,
hot springs,
frozen lakes,
soaring raptor,
creeping insect,
slithering serpent,
and lumbering ox,
and so on
and so forth
and so on
and so forth
and on
and on
and on...
Almighty God, my Father,
I praise you for your infinite range.

A Prayer of Irenaeus

Give perfection to beginners, O Father;
give intelligence to the little ones;
give aid to those who are running their course.
Give sorrow to the negligent;
give fervor of spirit to the lukewarm.
Give to the perfect a good consummation;
for the sake of Christ Jesus our Lord."

(A prayer of Irenaeus, 2nd century)

God of Ice, God of Snow

God of ice, God of snow,
I view your wonders here below,
And marvel that my finite sight
That finds such beauty in a scene of white
Can merely taste what glories you
Will show to me when life is through--
What colors, shapes, dimensions then
Will you reveal by your right hand?

Not Just What

Not for some promised crown,
Nor for your kindness shown;
Not for the things you've done,
Nor even the victories won;
I love you, Lord,I just love you,
And not just what you do.

My Psalm 62

I'm hushed before you, waiting quietly, Lord,
for my salvation comes from you.
You alone are my bedrock,
my foundation,
the fortress where I can hide,
feeling safe.

I know enemies array against me,
countless.
They see the chinks in my armor,
the most vulnerable parts of my soul.
They're out to get me,
and I know it.

But I remain hushed before you,
placing my confidence in you.
You alone are my safe place,
my mountain retreat,
the palisade surrounding me.
My salvation, my honor come
from you alone.
You are my eyrie,
my crag of safety.

Increase my trust in you, Lord.
Turn my heart constantly to you,
my shelter, my refuge.

I am the lowest and smallest
of your servants,
unworthy of your notice,
yet you lift me up,
you place me in a privileged position,
and you prosper me like I've never dreamed.

As everyone should know,
power belongs to you, Lord,
and you are unfailingly loving.
You have been more than fair,
so much more than fair
to me
and to all you have made. Amen.

Answered Me

You answered me today, Lord;
thank you.
You empowered my speaking
and showed me your mercy and grace.
You are so good to me.
I hope you were pleased, too.

Hide

Abba, I hide my face
in the crook of your arm.

Airport Prayer

Father, what a world you have made!
What diversity,
what fecundity,
what comedy,
what activity.

Praise belongs to you, Lord,
even at DFW.

Let It Be

Lord, here's a prayer
I know you'll always answer:
Let it be to me
according to your will.

I pray it today,
amen.

Here at the Cross

(A prayer by Bramwell Coles)

Here at the cross in this sacred hour,
Here at the source of reviving power;
Helpless indeed, I come with my need,
Lord, for Thy service fit me, I plead.

Praise for Being Always What You Are

Lord, I praise you for your constancy,
for being the same yesterday, today, and forever.
I praise your immutability,
for being always what you are:
loving and compassionate toward all you have made,
merciful and good to all,
just and omnipotent and almight and lovely.
I praise you.

Move

Lord God, move the earth
and the city of Oxford
on behalf of your people Cobblestone.
Please grant us favor in the eyes of city officials,
grant them the will to keep their word,
and grant us the building permits for the Loft,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Against Infiltration and Influence

Lord God Most High,
I pray against the infiltration and influence
of any power except yours
into my life and ministry.
I pray against any "higher power" but yours
that may try to insinuate itself
into the midst of your people Cobblestone.
Break the teeth of such "powers," Lord,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Prayer for the Lord's Day

For the worship and service of this day, Lord,
I need you. Please come.
Please bless.
Please defend us and fight for us.
And may the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart be acceptable
in your sight,
O Lord,
my strength and my redeemer,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Praise Belongs to You

(A prayer by Fred Hammond)

You're worthy, so worthy,
You are Lord and Lord alone;
You're worthy, so worthy,
The Holy King upon the throne;
You're worthy, so worthy
To be praised forevermore
My, oh my, oh my.

Dominion and glory,
Lion and the Lamb, so Holy,
You are the all knowing;
All power belongs to You;
So worthy, You're so worthy,
My, oh my, oh my.
Praise belongs to You!

Lamentation

Lord, why does MY life have to be so hard?

When I Cannot See My Way

(A prayer by Thomas Kelly, slightly revised)

When I cannot see my way,
I will trust and still obey;
If you bid me forward go,
You will not fail the way to show.

Though the sea be deep and wide,
Though a passage seem denied,
I will still in faith proceed,
Wherever you, my Lord, may lead.

Amen.

A Prayer of John Baillie

Teach me, O God, to use all the circumstances of my life to-day
that they may bring forth in me
the fruits of holiness rather than the fruits of sin.
Let me use disappointment as material for patience:
Let me use success as material for thankfulness:
Let me use suspense as material for perseverance:
Let me use danger as material for courage:
Let me use reproach as material for long-suffering:
Let me use praise as material for humility:
Let me use pleasures as material for temperance:
Let me use pains as material for endurance.
Amen.

(a prayer of John Baillie in A Diary of Private Prayer

Perspective

Oh, Lord, I'm tired of working so hard to see things
from someone else's perspective.
Give me your perspective,
and let all others
take a flying leap.
Amen.

Gravity

I have not given thanks for gravity before,
the force that keeps my feet on the floor,
so thanks for the pull that pins me in place
and saves me from spinning out into space.
Amen.

Float

(A prayer of Thomas H. Green, SJ, from the last page of his book, When the Well Runs Dry)

My Lord, my Love,
You have called me
To float blind down the dark river
which leads to the kingdom of light.
May my journey be for the healing
Of those to whom you send me
Who walk in the shadow of death.
Amen.

Valley

Abba, Father, I thank you that I am unaccustomed to valleys this deep. Amen.

My Psalm 61

Hear my cry, O Lord my God;
listen to my prayer.
I call to you
from this dark little corner;
I call out from a weak and wounded heart:
lead me to the rock that is higher than I,
my towering rock of safety,
my sheltering overhang,
a commanding overlook,
a new and inspiring peak.

For you have always been my refuge,
my sanctuary from the storm
and shelter against the foe.
I want nothing more than to dwell in your tent forever
and nestle safely in the shadow of your wings.
For you have heard my vows, O God;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
Give me more days of life as long as I can serve you,
extend my years until my mission is accomplished.
Then take me.
Take me into your presence just as soon as you please
where your love and faithfulness will triumph,
where I will sing unfiltered ecstatic praise to your name
and find absolute fulfillment at last.

A Prayer of Watchman Nee

(from his book, Let Us Pray)

O God, Your Son was manifested
to destroy the works of the devil.
How we thank You,
for He has destroyed the devil's works
on the cross.
But the devil is now again working.
Please destroy his work in us,
destroy his manipulation over our work,
destroy his devices in our environment,
and destroy all his works.
Amen.

Send My Roots Rain

(A prayer and poem of Gerard Manley Hopkins)

Thou art indeed just, Lord, if I contend
With Thee; but, sir, so what I plead is just.
Why do sinners' ways prosper? and why must
Disappointment all I endeavor end?
Wert thou my enemy, O thou my friend,
How wouldst thou worse, I wonder, than thou dost
Defeat, thwart me? Oh, the sots and thralls of lust
Do in spare hours more thrive than I that spend,
Sir, life upon thy cause. See, banks and brakes
Now, leaved how thick! laced they are again
With fretty chervil, look, and fresh wind shakes
Them; birds bild--but not I build; no, but strain,
Time's eunuch, and not breed one work that wakes.
Mine, O thou lord of life, send my roots rain.

A Prayer for the New Year

(A prayer by Charles de Foucauld)

Father, I abandon myself into your hands.
Do with me whatever you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you.
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me,
and in all your creatures.

Into your hands I commend my spirit.
I offer it to you with all the love that is in my heart.
For I love you, Lord, and so want to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands,
without reserve and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father.
Amen.