A Variation on St. Teresa of Avila's Bookmark

Lord, with your help,
I will let nothing disturb me,
nothing frighten me.
I will remember that this too shall pass,
while you never change;
I will patiently endure,
waiting on your timing and your reward.
Because I have you,
I shall not want.
You alone are enough for me.
Amen.

(A variation on the words of St. Teresa of Avila:
Let nothing disturb thee,
Nothing affright thee
All things are passing;
God never changeth;
Patient endurance
Attaineth to all things;
Whom God possesseth
In nothing is wanting;
Alone God sufficeth).

Pass Me Not

Saturday Psalm #129

Lord, you know who is against me,
and who has mistreated me,
and I am content
to leave it all in your hands.
They will not gain the victory.

I don't need
anything you don't supply,
and I can withstand
anything you allow.

And you have been so righteous and faithful;
you have freed me from the cords of the wicked,
you have saved me from depression,
you have liberated me from the fear of other humans!

May all who hate and hurt your people
be turned back from further damage.
Show them their sin, and grant them repentance,
but if they refuse, let them be like new grass in a heat wave,
which withers before it can grow.

But may those who love your people
and defend them
be abundantly blessed,
in Jesus' name, amen.

(based on Psalm 129; photo illustration is by Starry-J via pixabay.com)

In the Faith

Gracious God, my Father, thank you that my grandchildren are being raised "in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 1:13).

Agenda

May
my
agenda
decrease
while
joy
for
your
agenda
matures
in
me.


(a prayer of G. K. Chesterton; photo via everystockphoto.com)

The Martha Malady

Father, thank you for revealing to me the danger of busyness in my life. I don’t want to be faithless, foolish, or feckless. Please show me the extent of my own tendencies to bow to the idol of busyness. Convince and convict me of all ungodliness. I repent; help me to bear fruit in keeping with repentance (Luke 3:8).

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)

Free Me From Self

My Lord and my God,
remove far from me
whatever keeps me
from You.

My Lord and my God,
confer upon me
whatever enables me
to reach You.

My Lord and my God,
free me from self
and make me
wholly Yours.

(a prayer of Nicholas of Flue)

Glory to You

Silently Now

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

(from a hymn by Clara H. Scott; photo illustration by benhoefer via pixabay.com)

Saturday Psalm #128

Lord, I am so blessed
because I revere you,
because I have (however falteringly) walked in your ways.

You have blessed my labors,
you have granted prosperity
by your kindness and grace.

You have blessed me with a wife
who is so lovely,
smart,
capable,
compassionate,
companionable,
and loving.

You have given me children
who are like olive shoots,
always producing good things,
and grandchildren who are unfailing joys to my heart.

Thus have I been blessed
by my relationship with you.

Keep it up, Lord.
Bless me with your holy presence
all the days of my life.

May I see the prosperity of Jerusalem,
signs of your favor on my nation, community, and church,
and may the lovely Robin and I live to see you pour out
still more blessing on us and ours.
Let your peace rest
on all your people,
amen.

(based on Psalm 128; photo via pixabay.com)

If Still the Holy Place

O God, if still the holy place
Is found of those in prayer,
By all the promises of grace
I claim an entrance there.

Give me a self-denying soul,
Enlarged and unconfined;
Abide within me, and control
The wanderings of the mind.

Give me the strength of faith that dares
To die to self each day,
That bravely takes the cross, nor cares
To find an easier way.

Help me to make more sacrifice,
To walk where Christ would lead,
That in my life He may arise
To hallow every deed.

Amen.

(a prayer of General Albert Orsborn; photo by pexels via pixabay.com)

Defender of My Heart

Headlong

(from the Message paraphrase; created on YouVersion app) 

Let My First

Eternal Father of my soul,
let my first thought today be of Thee,
let my first impulse be to worship Thee,
let my first speech be Thy name,
let my first action be to kneel before Thee
in prayer.

For Thy perfect wisdom
and perfect goodness:
For the love wherewith Thou lovest mankind:
For the love wherewith Thou lovest me:
For the great and mysterious opportunity
of my life:
For the indwelling of Thy Spirit in my heart:
For the sevenfold gifts of Thy Spirit:
I praise and worship Thee, O Lord.

Yet let me not, when this morning prayer is said, think my worship ended and spend the day in forgetfulness of Thee. Rather from these moments of quietness let light go forth, and joy, and power, that will remain with me through all the hours of the day;
Keeping me chaste in thought:
Keeping me temperate and truthful in speech:
Keeping me faithful and diligent in my work:
Keeping me humble in my estimation of myself:
Keeping me honourable and generous in my dealings with others:
Keeping me loyal to every hallowed memory of the past:
Keeping me mindful of my eternal destiny as a child of Thine.

O God, who hast been the Refuge of my fathers through many generations, be my Refuge to-day in every time and circumstance of need. Be my Guide through all that is dark and doubtful. Be my Guard against all that threatens my spirit's welfare. Be my Strength in time of testing. Gladden my heart with Thy peace; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

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

That We May Be Children of Light

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)

Speak, O Lord

Saturday Psalm #127

LORD, unless you build the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless you keep us safe,
locks and alarms are worthless.

It is useless to worry,
to stress
and obsess
for you grant sleep to those you love.

Thank you for the goodly and godly heritage
you have given me,
the son and daughter who make me so proud,
the daughter-in-law and son-in-law who bless me and mine,
and the grandchildren who bring me such joy.

They are like arrows
in the hands of a warrior,
they are a testimony to your kindness
and to the truth of your precepts and principles.

I am a blessed man,
blessed by home,
blessed in where I live,
blessed with a family to love
and be loved by.
I will not be put to shame,
no matter what my Enemy may say or do,
for you have been my teacher and guide,
my leader and defender.
Amen.

(based on Psalm 127; photo via pixabay.com)

Sparrow Prayer

Abba, you are watchful and mindful when a sparrow falls;
catch and cushion your children...
let your everlasting arms shield and strengthen and support us all,
in Jesus' name, amen.

(photo via pixabay.com)

Gears

Forgive me, Lord Jesus, for doing the things that make me feel uncomfortable and guilty when I pray.

I say that I believe in you, yet I doubt your promises.

I say that in God I trust, yet I worry and try to manage my own affairs.

I say that I love you, O Lord, and yet I do not obey you.

I say that you have the answers to all my problems, and yet I am slow to consult you.

Forgive me, Lord, for my lack of faith and the willful pride that ignores the way, the truth, and the life.

Please reach down and change the gears within me that I may go forward with you, amen.

(a prayer of Peter Marshall, slightly revised; photo via pixabay.com)

Only Wise God

I give praise to you, my Father, "the only wise God [my] Saviour" (Jude 1:25).

You are all wise,
only wise,
infinitely wise.

You are wise in creating,
wise in sustaining,
wise in inspiring,
wise in guiding,
wise in saving,
wise in correcting.

You are wise in all you think,
all you say,
and all you do.

You are wise,
only wise,
and all wise.

May all glory and majesty, dominion and power, be yours both now and ever, amen.

(photo via pixabay.com) 

Watercourse

Answered

New Hymn

(text by Reynolds Price, music by James Taylor)

Saturday Psalm #126

LORD, when you brought me out of captivity,
out of darkness,
out of discouragement and depression,
it seemed unreal at first.

But you have filled my mouth with laughter,
you have made me sing for joy!
Truly it can be said of me,
"The LORD has done great things for him."

You have, you have.
You have done great things for me,
and I am unspeakably grateful!

Continue, O LORD, to restore my joy and energy
like streams in the Negev.

The tears I sowed in prayer
will bring a harvest of joy.

Send the harvest, Lord,
send an abundant harvest to me and mine,
in Jesus' name, amen.

Eager for Your Love

O, Lord my God, teach my heart where and how to seek you, where and how to find you. Lord, if you are not here but absent, where shall I seek you? But you are everywhere, so you must be here, why then do I not seek you? Surely you dwell in light inaccessible – where is it? and how can I have access to light which is inaccessible? Who will lead me and take me into it so that I may see you there? . . . What shall your servant do, eager for your love, cast off far from your face? . . . You are my Lord and my God, and I have never seen you. You have created and re-created me, all the good I have comes from you, and still I do not know you, and I have not yet accomplished that for which I was made.

(a prayer of Anselm)

Higher

(from Psalm 61:2)

But Solomon in All His Glory

Lord,
my body creaks and my hair is awful gray,
but Solomon in all his glory
didn't have the health and comfort I enjoy.

And the one wife I have
(compared to his 700 wives)
is more than I can handle,
but Solomon in all his glory
didn't have the lovely Robin to call his own,
his one,
his only.

And these children and grandchildren of mine--
Solomon in all his glory
could not have been happier or prouder or fuller than me.

And this home is no palace, for sure,
but Solomon in all his glory
didn't have his needs met, his comfort regulated, like this.

And I don't have all the books I'd like to have,
nor the time I'd love to read them,
but Solomon in all his glory
didn't have access to the volumes of truth and beauty I have at my fingertips.

And, sure, I have to carefully watch what I eat for the sake of my health and my weight,
but Solomon in all his glory
didn't have coffee every morning, donuts every so often, and fruit year-round.

And most of all, of course, though I am a fitful follower and a poor servant,
yet Solomon in all his glory
didn't know what it is to be rescued from the domain of darkness,
transferred to the kingdom of God's beloved Son,
in whom I have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

So thank you, Lord,
thank you,
that Solomon in all his glory
was not blessed like this.

Shaper, Stirrer, Revealer

Lord God Almighty, I praise you because you are the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals your every thought. You turn the light of dawn into darkness and tread the mountains under your feet.

(based on Amos 4:13)

Epiphany Prayer

Father,
you revealed your Son to the nations
by the guidance of a star.
Lead us to your glory in heaven
by the light of faith.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Liturgy of the Hours)

I've Still Got You

Saturday Psalm #125

I trust in you, LORD;
make me like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken
and endures forever.

Like the mountains
around Jerusalem,
encircle me,
both now and forevermore.

Break the influence of the wicked
over me and mine, Lord,
over my life, my wife,
over my family, my community,
my nation and its leaders.

Do good to us, LORD,
to all who are upright in heart.

But those who thrive on gossip
and conflict
and hatred
and bitterness
and selfishness
and condemnation--
keep them far away from me!

Bless your people with peace.
Amen.

The Trees

Oh, Lord, how we are all for invention and

advancement!

But I think

it would do us good if we would think about

these brothers and sisters, quietly and deeply.

The trees, the trees, just holding on

to the old, holy ways.

(excerpted from Mary Oliver's poem, "The Trees," found in her book Evidence)

Sands

“Lord, let me find my life in You, and not in the shifting sands of this world's favor or gain.”

(a prayer by Charles Haddon Spurgeon)

I Launch My Bark on the Unknown Waters of This Year

O Lord,

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)

Last Day, Old Year

Good Lord,
it's the last day of 2019...

Only a few hours left in this old year
which seemed so new
oh, not-so-long ago...

Where has the old year gone, Lord?
And how did it go?

And how did I go with you,
make my way with you, Lord,
these past twelve months?

I remember the times
we walked and talked together,
side by side,
you and I...

And I remember the times
when I forgot, somehow,
that you were right there by my side,
and the times I tried to pretend
that you weren't there,
always within arm's reach...

I remember the times when you took delight
in my words and my work
and I remember the times I ignored and forgot you
- but still you loved me
and in your mercy, you forgave me...

Nothing I've done, Lord,
merits what you've given me:
all your love is grace,
an unearned gift
from your heart to mine...

In return I offer so little
and I have so little to offer...

But there comes now a new year, Lord,
and with it my prayer
to live a life more worthy
of all you so freely give me...

In this new year, Lord,
make strong my resolve to be faithful,
make deep my trust in your presence
and make sure my hope in your promise,
for without your help
I will fail...

Lord, you offer me only
what is true and pure,
good and just, strong and graced...

In this new year, help me recognize
what is false, cheap and sham...

Help me to settle for nothing less
than what comes from your heart and hand...

Nourish me, Lord:
give me a hunger for what is genuine,
a thirst for what is holy,
a wisdom for discerning your gifts...

It's the last day of the old year, Lord...

Shake from my heart what has no place there
and wake my heart
to the gift of your grace
and the dawn of a new beginning...

Amen.

(from my online friend Austin Fleming's A Concord Pastor Comments blog, and updated to 2019)

Approaching the Close of the Year

Our great and Gracious God,

As we come to the close of another year, we would indeed make it the prayer of our hearts that you would abide with us.

We thank you that you have been with us through the days of this past year.

Perhaps many a day we have not felt you near,
Perhaps at times we have even felt that you have
forsaken us and forgotten us but we thank you
that it has never been so.
We thank you that you are constantly with your people, and that you have enabled us to persevere in grace,

You have comforted our hearts,
You have heard our prayers,
You have come so often to our aid.
We pray that you will go with us into this new year.

There is none of us who knows what the new year will hold, but we thank you that every moment of that year is in your hands, and you will be with your people.
We thank you that with that promise girding us, we can go forward with confidence and in your peace. We pray that you will help us to walk with you in this new year better than we have ever done before. Forgive us, Lord, for our sins and our backslidings of this past year.

Grant to us, as the days of the new year unfold, an ever closer walk with you.
Help us to put sin to death,
Help us gladly yield our lives unreservedly to Jesus Christ, our Savior, and God that we may regard ourselves entirely at his disposal to be, to go, to do, as he would wish
We pray that it may be our privilege to serve him,
to bring glory to him, to help others to know him better, and to help some, indeed, to come to know him for the first time.
Have mercy, we pray, upon those connected with us who come to the end of this year and their hearts are still closed against you, still hardening their hearts against you.

Spare them, O God, we pray; spare them! Grant that this new year would mark the beginning of new life in Jesus Christ. We are so thankful for the almighty Holy Sprit, for his limitless power
to bring conviction of sin,
to give new birth,
and to draw those who are away from you
to faith and to repentance.
We pray, Lord, that you would do that in the hearts and lives of all who are upon our hearts.
For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

(from Heart Cries to Heaven by David Campbell)

In the Bleak Midwinter

Saturday Psalm #124

Oh, Lord God Adonai,
if you had not been on my side
when people attacked,
when anger flared,
I would certainly have been
swallowed alive;
depression would have won the day,
discouragement would have ruined me,
and the devil would have been victorious.

But praise be to God!
You did not abandon me.
You delivered me from the snare,
and the traps that were laid for me.

And you proved once more:
My help is in the name of the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
Amen.

Infinite Serenity

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

On This Feast of Stephen

Father, on this feast of Stephen,
the first martyr of your church,
I pray for all those
among my brothers and sisters
who today face persecution, even martyrdom.
Give them strength, Lord,
and stamina.
Lift their eyes to their Lord,
as you did for Stephen,
and give them love for their persecutors
and hope for themselves and their families,
in Jesus' name, amen.

(photo by Ichigo121212 via pixabay.com)

You Who Were Rich Beyond All Splendor

You who were rich beyond all splendor,
Who for love's sake became poor;
Your throne for a manger surrendered,
Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.
You who were rich beyond all splendor,
All for love's sake became poor.

You who are God beyond all praising,
Who for love's sake became man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising
Heavenwards by your eternal plan.
You who are God beyond all praising,
All for love's sake became man.

You who are love beyond all telling,
Savior and King, I worship you.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
Cause us to do what you would do.
You who are love beyond all telling,
Savior and King, I worship you.

(a hymn by Frank Houghton, updated; photo via pixabay.com)

Come, Jesus, I Await You

Night has fallen; the clear, bright stars are sparkling in the cold air; noisy, strident voices rise to my ear from the city, voices of the revelers of this world who celebrate with merrymaking the poverty of their Saviour. Around me in their rooms my companions are asleep, and I am still wakeful, thinking of the mystery of Bethlehem.

Come, come, Jesus, I await you. . . .

I am a poor shepherd; I have only a wretched stable, a small manger, some wisps of straw. I offer all these to you, be pleased to come into my poor hovel. I offer you my heart; my soul is poor and bare of virtues, the straws of so many imperfections will prick you and make you weep--but oh, my Lord, what can you expect? This little is all I have. . . . I have nothing better to offer you, Jesus, honour my soul with your presence, adorn it with your graces. Burn this straw and change it into a soft couch for your most holy body.

Jesus, I am here waiting for your coming. Wicked men have driven you out, and the wind is like ice. I am a poor man, but I will warm you as well as I can. At least be pleased that I wish to welcome you warmly, to love you and sacrifice myself for you.

Amen.

(This prayer, written by a young Italian seminarian named Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli in 1902 who would later become Pope John XXIII, has become a Christmas Eve tradition for me, and for this blog).

The O Antiphons: O Emmanuel

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Savior:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.
Amen.

The O Antiphons: O King of the Gentiles

O King of the Gentiles and their desired One,
the cornerstone that makes both one:
Come, and deliver man,
whom you formed out of the dust of the earth.

The O Antiphons: O Rising Sun

O Rising Sun,
splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death.
Amen.

The O Antiphons: O Key of David

O Key of David,
O royal power of Israel,
controlling at your will the gate of heaven:
come, break down the prison walls of death
for those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death;
and lead your captive people into freedom.
Amen.

The O Antiphons: O Root of Jesse

O Flower of Jesse’s stem,
you have been raised up
as a sign for all peoples;
kings stand silent in your presence;
the nations bow down in worship before you.
Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.
Amen.

The O Antiphons: O Adonai

O sacred Lord of ancient Israel,
who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush,
who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain:
come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free. Amen.

The O Antiphons: O Wisdom

O Wisdom,
coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other mightily,
and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.
Amen.

Shall I Silent Be?

The shepherds sing; and shall I silent be?
My God, no hymn for Thee?
My soul's a shepherd too; a flock it feeds
Of thoughts, and words, and deeds.
The pasture is Thy word: the streams, Thy grace
Enriching all the place.

(a prayer by Gerard Manley Hopkins)

O Come (from Awaited)

Saturday Psalm #123

I lift up my eyes to you, King of heaven.
As a slave looks to his master for cues,
as a maid looks to her mistress for clues,
to respond instantly
to the slightest opportunity for service,
so my eyes look to you, LORD God,
until you favor me with your smile.

Show me your favor, Lord,
for I've been kicked around,
talked about,
betrayed and abandoned
enough.
Amen.

(image via pixabay.com)

Coming

Come Lord Jesus

One Thing

(thanks to The Point Church, San Jose CA)

To Know Their Worth

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

Daystar

Christ, Whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true, the only Light,
Sun of Righteousness, arise,
Triumph o’er the shades of night;
Dayspring from on high be near;
Day-star, in my heart appear.

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.

(a prayer by Charles Wesley)

O Come

Saturday Psalm #122

Abba, what joy I feel
when it is time to worship in your house,
among your people!

What a blessing it is to stand in your presence,
where you love to bless sincere worshipers.

Build your church like a fortified city,
like Jerusalem:
closely compacted together,
comprised of all tribes and tongues,
always ascending into your presence
to praise your name.

I pray for the peace of your people everywhere:
May those who love them be secure.
May there be peace within their walls
and security within their homes and meeting places.
May peace and prosperity fall upon them and flow from them,
in Jesus' name, amen.

(based on Psalm 122; photo by couleur via pixabay.com)

From This Misty Lowland

O God, I have tasted Thy goodness and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune god, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.” Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

(a prayer of A. W. Tozer)

All

I love you, Lord, my Strength.
I love you to the height and length
and depth of all there is of me,
with all my aching, flawed emotion,
all the grateful, awed devotion
all the all-in-all could draw from me.

Integrity and Honesty

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

(Please feel free to share this prayer with others using the Twitter, Facebook, and other buttons below. You can also subscribe to this blog in your blog reader or enter your email address at top right to receive posts via email)

I Give You This Day

My God, I give you this day.

I offer You, now, all of the good
that I shall do, and I promise to accept,
for love of You,
all of the difficulty that I shall meet.

Help me to conduct myself during this day
in a manner pleasing to you.

Amen.

(a prayer of St. Francis de Sales)

Wit's End

Thank you

that you are never

at your wit's end.

(photo via pixabay.com)

On a Day When I Preach