Lift Up
(a prayer from The Imitation of Christ (Classic Devotions in Today's Language, by Thomas à Kempis, compiled and edited by James N. Watkins)
To the Holy Spirit
O Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me,
O Holy Spirit,
that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart,
O Holy Spirit,
that I love only what is holy.
Strengthen me,
O Holy Spirit,
to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then,
O Holy Spirit,
that I may always be holy.
Amen
(a prayer of Augustine of Hippo, H/T the Daily Prayer blog; photo via everystockphoto.com)
To Write Like Me
It's tempting, Lord, to ask for the grace
of being able to write
like Annie Dillard
or Frederick Buechner
or Eugene Peterson.
Or even,
throwing caution to the wind,
like Paul
or John
or Isaiah
or David.
But I will ask instead,
humbly but wholeheartedly:
Please let me write
like Me,
the best Me of all possible Mes,
in Jesus' name, amen.
I Speak Today
no preacher succeeds by the multitude of his gifts.
Relying on man's approval is a vain hope, a stupid goal;
despite all its allure it cannot save.
My hope is on your unfailing love, Lord;
I hope for your deliverance.
(based on Psalm 33:16-17)
For Servant Hearts
My prayer today for my kids and my grandkids, from the "31 Ways to Pray for Your Kids" app for iPhone and iPad:
My Psalm 140
Save me, LORD, from dark hearts,
protect me
from graceless men and women,
who devise evil plans in their hearts
and are utterly blind to the darkness of their own ways.
They speak out of both sides
of their mouths,
and spread poison
wherever they go.
Keep me, O LORD, out of the hands of the wicked;
protect me from people who find fault so freely with others
and have no insight into the deceit and hypocrisy of their own actions.
People are constantly trying to trap me,
criticizing every step I make
as though they always knew so much better...
though they said nothing,
and offer no wisdom when asked.
O LORD, I say to you, "You are my God."
Hear, O LORD, my cry for mercy.
O Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer,
who shields my head in the day of battle-
do not grant the wicked their desires, O LORD;
do not let their plans succeed,
for the sake of your people,
for the sake of your righteousness,
for the sake of your reputation.
Let the heads of those who convene to condemn me
and slander your servants
be slandered by their own hypocrisy.
Let them taste their own medicine;
let their own judgment be meted back to them.
Let slanderers not be established in the land;
may disaster hunt down men and women who wreak havoc.
I know that you secure justice for the poor
and uphold the cause of the needy;
do it now,
do it here,
do it, please,
that the righteous may praise your name
and the upright will live before you.
Against Contempt for Thy Love
Preserve me, Lord, from the sin which I fear so much: contempt for thy love. May I never sin against the Holy Spirit who is love and union, harmony and peace. May I never be separated from thy Spirit, from the unity of thy peace, by committing the sin which can never be forgiven, neither here nor in the world to come. Keep me, O Lord, among my brothers and kinsfolk that I may proclaim thy peace. Keep me among those who preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
(a twelfth-century prayer of Archbishop Baldwin)
(a twelfth-century prayer of Archbishop Baldwin)
Audience
thank you
that there are still
people who are
naive enough
or kind enough
to listen to me
speak.
Amen.
To Persevere
teach me please
to hang on
when things
heat up
when others
give in
when I alone
remain.
Amen.
Incline My Heart
Jesus Christ said, Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.
Jesus Christ said, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.
Jesus Christ said, Do good and lend, hoping for nothing again. O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.
Jesus Christ said, Love your enemies. O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.
Jesus Christ said, Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.
Jesus Christ said, Fear not, only believe. O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.
Jesus Christ said, Except ye turn again and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.
Jesus Christ said, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.
Amen.
(a prayer of John Baillie in A Diary of Private Prayer; photo via freeimages.com)
This Very Day
You are the peace of all things calm.You are the place to hide from harm.
You are the light that shines in dark.
You are the heart's eternal spark.
You are the door that's open wide.
You are the guest who waits inside.
You are the stranger at the door.
You are the calling of the poor.
You are my Lord and with me still.
You are my love, keep me from ill.
You are the light, the truth, the way.
You are my Savior this very day.
Lover of My Soul
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.
Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.
Wilt Thou not regard my call? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—Lo! on Thee I cast my care;
Reach me out Thy gracious hand! While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand, dying, and behold, I live.
Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.
(a prayer of Charles Wesley)
Multiple Blessings
Lord God, I don't deserve
this life you've given me,
much less the affluence
you allow me to enjoy.
I have multiples of things
many of your children
on this earth go without.
I have multiple children and grandchildren,
friends and loved ones.
I have multiple pairs of shoes.
Multiple shirts, pants,
and other clothes,
some of which I seldom wear;
multiple bank accounts,
multiple rooms in my home,
multiple cars,
computers,
Bibles,
books,
plates to eat from,
cups to drink from,
chairs to sit on,
televisions,
toothbrushes,
and inkpens.
I have multiple pleasures,
multiple luxuries,
multiple memories,
all, all, all from your hand,
for out of your store of infinite treasure,
you have given, and given, and given again.
Thank you, Lord,
my God and my King,
amen.
this life you've given me,
much less the affluence
you allow me to enjoy.
I have multiples of things
many of your children
on this earth go without.
I have multiple children and grandchildren,
friends and loved ones.
I have multiple pairs of shoes. Multiple shirts, pants,
and other clothes,
some of which I seldom wear;
multiple bank accounts,
multiple rooms in my home,
multiple cars,
computers,
Bibles,
books,
plates to eat from,
cups to drink from,
chairs to sit on,
televisions,
toothbrushes,
and inkpens.
I have multiple pleasures,
multiple luxuries,
multiple memories,
all, all, all from your hand,
for out of your store of infinite treasure,
you have given, and given, and given again.
Thank you, Lord,
my God and my King,
amen.
On Ash Wednesday
fast from discontent and feast on gratitude;
fast from anger and feast on patience;
fast from bitterness and feast on forgiveness;
fast from self-concern and feast on compassion;
fast from discouragement and feast on hope;
fast from laziness and feast on commitment;
fast from complaining and feast on acceptance;
fast from lust and feast on respect;
fast from prejudice and feast on understanding;
fast from resentment and feast on reconciliation;
fast from lies and feast on the truth;
fast from wasted time and feast on honest work;
fast from grimness and feast on joy;
fast from suspicion and feast on trust;
fast from idle talk and feast on prayer and silence;
fast from guilt and feast on the mercy of God.
(based on lines attributed to William Arthur Ward)
Prayer In An Election Year
we seek to better understand the issues and concerns that confront our city/state/country,
and how the Gospel compels us to respond as faithful citizens in our community.
We ask for eyes that are free from blindness
so that we might see each other as brothers and sisters,
one and equal in dignity,
especially those who are victims of abuse and violence, deceit and poverty.
We ask for ears that will hear the cries of children unborn and those abandoned,
Men and women oppressed because of race or creed, religion or gender.
We ask for minds and hearts that are open to hearing the voice of leaders who will bring us closer to your Kingdom.
We pray for discernment
so that we may choose leaders who hear your Word,
live your love,
and keep in the ways of your truth
as they follow in the steps of Jesus and his Apostles
and guide us to your Kingdom of justice and peace.
We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
(a prayer of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
For True Repentance
(a prayer from The Imitation of Christ (Classic Devotions in Today's Language, by Thomas à Kempis, compiled and edited by James N. Watkins)
Value
How I compare to others isn't important.
The only thing that matters--and the only way to avoid my insecurities--
is to find my value as a creation of almighty God.
When I reflect on how much you love me, I find the courage to be myself,
and I realize I might be more valuable than I give myself credit for.
(an excerpt from the book, 365 Pocket Prayers, by Ron Beers)
A Life of Love
From a Hill I Know
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.
(A hymn of General Albert Orsborn)
Glad to Belong to You
You speak words of promise,
and we answer.
A thousand times we answer,
in a thousand tongues--
we answer in hymns of praise,
we answer in songs of thanksgiving,
we answer in lyrics of gladness,
we answer in candor about hurt,
we answer in abrasive anger,
we answer in deep abandonment.
We answer and draw close to you.
And in answering we are changed:
given freedom,
come to truth,
bound in obedience.
We answer and are yours, all yours,
not our own,
yours, and
glad that we belong to
you our faithful savior.
(a prayer by Walter Brueggemann, from his book, Prayers for a Privileged People, p. 169)
The Martha Malady
Help me to truly and wholeheartedly believe in you, and not in myself, my abilities, or my activity. Help me to find significance in you and in my obedience to you, not in the false importance of busyness. Help me to overcome the laziness of letting other people set my schedule for me, and not lazily abdicate the essential work of deciding and directing, establishing values and setting goals.
Finally, Lord, teach me the bane of busyness in my life, and the hurt that hurry does to me, and reward my earliest efforts at overcoming this idol with early rewards, that I might sit at your feet and learn to enjoy the “better things” that come only—and generously—from you, in Jesus’ name, amen.
(the prayer that closes chapter fifteen, "The Martha Malady," in my book, American Idols)
Keeping Distance, Keeping Company
Let me keep my distance, always, from those who think they have the answers.
Let me keep company always with those who say
"Look!" and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.
(excerpted from Mary Oliver's poem, "Mysteries, Yes," found in her book Evidence)
A Heart Like Thine
Give me a heart like Thine;
By Thy wonderful power,
By Thy grace every hour,
Give me a heart like Thine.
By Thy wonderful power,
By Thy grace every hour,
Give me a heart like Thine.
For Great Strides
And though Calleigh and Ryder face the daily challenge presented by Cystic Fibrosis, I pray that it will not be a lifelong challenge, but that our efforts and the efforts of many others, including the CF Foundation, will result in eradication of this disease very soon.
To that end, Lord, I beg you for your help in my family's GREAT STRIDES efforts this year.
Please guide me in my efforts to get the word out. I pray for donations of $3,500 or more. I pray for you to move in the hearts of more than fifty people to bring that about. I pray also, please inspire more people to become "McCane's Miracles" team members to set their own goals and raise funds toward a cure. Please send matching gifts from generous, community-minded businesses and organizations. Please move area churches, clubs, and groups to help. Please send at least 150 people to walk the streets of Oxford in May to show their support. Please make this year's GREAT STRIDES efforts a success from YOUR perspective, and use our efforts--and every donation--to bring about a cure, in Jesus' name, amen.
(Visit my GREAT STRIDES homepage here to learn more)
I Must Have You With Me
I must have you, Savior, with me,For I dare not go alone;
I must feel your presence near me,
And your arm around me thrown.
Then my soul shall fear no ill,
Go on, lead me where you will,
I will go without a murmur,
And your footsteps follow still.
I must have you, Savior, with me,
For my faith, at best, is weak;
You can whisper words of comfort,
That no other voice can speak.
I must have you, Savior, with me,
In the onward march of life,
Thro’ the tempest and the sunshine,
Thro’ the battle and the strife.
I must have you, Savior, with me,
And your eye the way must guide,
Till I reach the vale of Jordan,
Till I cross the rolling tide.
(a prayer by Fanny Crosby, revised)
For Responsibility
My prayer today for my kids and my grandkids, from the "31 Ways to Pray for Your Kids" app for iPhone and iPad (available exclusively on iTunes):
Simplest Blessings
Lord, thank you that I can still turn over in bed.
Lord, thank you that I can still get out of bed.
Lord, thank you that I can walk to the bathroom.
Lord, thank you that I can still go to the bathroom by myself.
Lord, thank you that I can still brush my teeth.
Lord, thank you that I can still take a shower.
Lord, thank you that I can still use a towel to dry myself off.
Lord, thank you that I can still eat breakfast.
Lord, thank you that I can still dress myself.
Lord, thank you that I can still drive my car.
Lord, thank you that I can still walk.
Lord, thank you that I can still talk.
(a prayer of Ed Dobson, who described his life with ALS in the moving book, Seeing Through the Fog. Ed lived with ALS, or "Lou Gehrig's Disease," for fifteen years before dying on December 26, 2015)
From Not Remembering You
I forget your wisdom and so I worry.
I forget your grace and so I get complacent.
I forget your mercy and so I get resentful of others.
Help me remember who you are every moment of the day. Amen.
(a prayer of Timothy Keller in The Songs of Jesus; photo via everystockphoto.com)
A Prayer of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Our loving Father, from Thy hand have come all the days of the past. To Thee we look for whatever good the future holds. We are not satisfied with the world as we have found it. It is too little the kingdom of God as yet. Grant us the privilege of a part in its regeneration. We are looking for a new earth in which dwells righteousness. It is our prayer that we may be children of light, the kind of people whose coming and ministry the world is waiting. Amen. (from the Martin Luther King, Jr., Papers Project, "Prayers" section)
Gullywasher Prayer
Lord God,
let there be rivers of blessing,
gullywashers of holiness,
flash floods of your kindness and beauty
flowing through my life.
Let the wells spring up!
Wash me clean,
and free me from all unbelief,
from anything that would hinder you
from bringing your kingdom to my family,
my church,
my community.
Let the river flow,
in Jesus' name, amen.
Aflame
the light of the world,
with all who believe in Jesus
and follow him.
Set my head aflame, then,
and let me burn bright.
Blow on my tiny faith
and consume me,
Consuming Fire.
Amen.
For a Clean Heart
Jonah's Song
I cried out to you in my distress,
and you heard me, Lord;
feeling like I was in hell,
I called, and you answered.
You hurled me down,
into the very depths,
and the deep waters swallowed me,
the waves and currents dragged me under.
I felt abandoned,
far from your watchful eye.
But I turned to you nonetheless.
I was engulfed.
Surrounded.
Helpless to escape.
Entangled.
When I thought I was at the bottom,
I went deeper still.
Yet you found me there,
and began drawing me up.
When I stopped struggling
and trying to help myself,
I cast myself on you
and depended wholly on your strength,
and I felt your hand.
I don't know how the godless can manage
without the hope and help that is found in you.
I will sing a grateful song
and sacrifice to you.
Let my generosity express my praise,
for you alone are my salvation.
(based on Jonah 2:2-9; image from everystockphoto.com)
May I Keep Asking
Abba, may I never again do like Abrahampleading for Sodom,
who quit asking before you quit granting
what he asked!
Make me bolder,
more persevering,
in prayer,
in Jesus' name, amen.
Adoramus te Christe
Adoramus te, Christe,
et benedicimus tibi,
quia per sanctam crucem tuam
redemisti mundum.
Qui passus es pro nobis,
Domine, Domine, miserere nobis.
English translation:
We adore Thee, O Christ,
and we bless Thee,
who by Thy Holy Cross
hast redeemed the world.
He who suffered death for us,
O Lord, O Lord,
have mercy on us.
For Peace
who are called the Prince of Peace,
who are yourself our peace and reconciliation,
who so often said, "Peace to you,"
grant us peace.
Make all men and women witnesses of truth,
justice, and brotherly love.
Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace.
Enlighten our rulers that they may guarantee
and defend the great gift of peace.
May all peoples of the earth becomes as brothers and sisters.
May longed-for peace blossom forth
and reign always over us all.
(a prayer of Pope John XXIII; photo via everystockphoto.com)
All-in-All
Abba, I am nothing without you.I can do nothing without you.
I am lost and helpless without you.
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.
On This Epiphany
(from the Gelasian Sacramentary)
To Be Aware of You
Draw me aside to be aware of you.
Let the flame of your presence burn within my heart
And set me on fire with love for you,
On fire with love for your world,
On fire with love for all people.
May my life radiate the warmth of your love,
Lord God, Holy and Almighty One.
(a prayer of David Adam, from The Awesome Journey, found on Leonard Sweet's Facebook page).
On the Unknown Waters of This New Year
Length of days does not profit me except the days are passed in thy presence, in thy service, to thy glory.
Give me a grace that precedes, follows, guides, sustains, sanctifies, aids every hour,
that I may not be one moment apart from thee,
but may rely on thy Spirit,
to supply every thought,
speak in every word,
direct every step,
prosper every work,
build up every mote of faith,
and give me a desire
to show forth thy praise,
testify thy love,
advance thy kingdom.
I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year,
with thee, O Father, as my harbour,
thee, O Son, at my helm,
thee O Holy Spirit, filling my sails.
Guide me to heaven with my loins girt,
my lamp burning,
my ear open to thy calls,
my heart full of love,
my soul free.
Give me grace to sanctify me,
thy comforts to cheer,
thy wisdom to watch,
thy right hand to guide,
thy counsel to instruct,
thy law to judge,
thy presence to stabilize.
May thy fear be my awe,
thy triumphs my joy.
(from The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers, edited by Arthur Bennett)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)