Abba, please restore to me the joy of your salvation
and, with it, please restore my faith in people
and my ability to think and expect
the best of them,
in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Don't Know What to Pray For
Abba, my Abba, help.
I don't know what to pray for today.
There is so much I could praise and thank you for,
so much I could ask,
so much I could lament,
so very much I need.
More than anything, I need you.
Come, in Jesus' name, amen.
I don't know what to pray for today.
There is so much I could praise and thank you for,
so much I could ask,
so much I could lament,
so very much I need.
More than anything, I need you.
Come, in Jesus' name, amen.
A Prayer for Our New Administration
(Based on an ancient prayer by St. Clement of Rome)
You, Master, have given our new president and this new administration power through your majestic and inexpressible might, so that we, acknowledging the glory and honor which you have given them, may be subject to them, resisting your will in nothing. Grant to them, Lord, health, peace, harmony, and stability, that they may blamelessly administer the government which you have given them.
For you, heavenly Master, King of the ages, give to the sons of men glory and honor and authority over those upon the earth. Lord, direct their plans according to what is good and pleasing in your sight, so that by devoutly administering in peace and gentleness the authority which you have given them they may experience your mercy. You, who alone are able to do these and even greater good things for us, we praise through the high priest and guardian of our souls, Jesus Christ, through whom be the glory and the majesty to you both now and for all generations and for ever and ever. Amen (1 Clement 61.1-3).
You, Master, have given our new president and this new administration power through your majestic and inexpressible might, so that we, acknowledging the glory and honor which you have given them, may be subject to them, resisting your will in nothing. Grant to them, Lord, health, peace, harmony, and stability, that they may blamelessly administer the government which you have given them.
For you, heavenly Master, King of the ages, give to the sons of men glory and honor and authority over those upon the earth. Lord, direct their plans according to what is good and pleasing in your sight, so that by devoutly administering in peace and gentleness the authority which you have given them they may experience your mercy. You, who alone are able to do these and even greater good things for us, we praise through the high priest and guardian of our souls, Jesus Christ, through whom be the glory and the majesty to you both now and for all generations and for ever and ever. Amen (1 Clement 61.1-3).
Enlarge
Abba, enlarge my heart.
Increase my faith.
Improve my leadership skills.
Expand my territory.
Magnify my vision.
Multiply my insight,
understanding,
discernment,
and wisdom,
in Jesus' name, amen.
Increase my faith.
Improve my leadership skills.
Expand my territory.
Magnify my vision.
Multiply my insight,
understanding,
discernment,
and wisdom,
in Jesus' name, amen.
Send the Fire!
O Christ of burning, cleansing flame,
Send the fire!
Your blood bought gift today I claim,
Send the fire!
Look down and see this waiting host,
Give us the promised Holy Ghost;
We need another Pentecost,
Send the fire!
God of Elijah, hear my cry:
Send the fire!
To make us fit to live or die,
Send the fire!
To burn up every trace of sin,
To bring the light and glory in,
The revolution now begin,
Send the fire!
To make our weak hearts strong and brave,
Send the fire!
To live a dying world to save,
Send the fire!
O let us on your altar lay
Our lives, our all, this very day;
And crowning all, Lord, let us pray:
Send the fire!
(Revised from a hymn by General William Booth)
Send the fire!
Your blood bought gift today I claim,
Send the fire!
Look down and see this waiting host,
Give us the promised Holy Ghost;
We need another Pentecost,
Send the fire!
God of Elijah, hear my cry:
Send the fire!
To make us fit to live or die,
Send the fire!
To burn up every trace of sin,
To bring the light and glory in,
The revolution now begin,
Send the fire!
To make our weak hearts strong and brave,
Send the fire!
To live a dying world to save,
Send the fire!
O let us on your altar lay
Our lives, our all, this very day;
And crowning all, Lord, let us pray:
Send the fire!
(Revised from a hymn by General William Booth)
Inadequate Praise
Abba, Father, I praise you for your patience and perseverance,
and thank you for not giving up on me!
I praise you for your transcendence and ineffability,
and thank you that though you are so far beyond me
and my little mind and heart,
you condescend to me --
not only in Christ, but daily, moment by moment.
I praise you for your grace and mercy,
and thank you that you looked beyond my faults -- and still do!
I praise you for your creativity and inventiveness,
and thank you that your inventions so enrich my life --
coffee, grass, clouds, rain, wind, sunrises, colors, textures, music, and more.
I praise you, Lord God, because you are worthy, completely worthy,
to receive my praise,
so much so that I could praise you all day and all week,
all month, doing nothing else but praise you,
and still not come close to exhausting your worthiness!
and thank you for not giving up on me!
I praise you for your transcendence and ineffability,
and thank you that though you are so far beyond me
and my little mind and heart,
you condescend to me --
not only in Christ, but daily, moment by moment.
I praise you for your grace and mercy,
and thank you that you looked beyond my faults -- and still do!
I praise you for your creativity and inventiveness,
and thank you that your inventions so enrich my life --
coffee, grass, clouds, rain, wind, sunrises, colors, textures, music, and more.
I praise you, Lord God, because you are worthy, completely worthy,
to receive my praise,
so much so that I could praise you all day and all week,
all month, doing nothing else but praise you,
and still not come close to exhausting your worthiness!
Six Degree Thanks
Abba, Father, thank you for furnaces
and fireplaces
and shelter from the cold. Amen.
and fireplaces
and shelter from the cold. Amen.
Psalm 108 Prayer
Oh, grant us help against the foe,
for vain is the salvation of man!
With you, Lord, we shall do valiantly;
it is you who will tread down our foes.
(Psalm 108:12-13)
for vain is the salvation of man!
With you, Lord, we shall do valiantly;
it is you who will tread down our foes.
(Psalm 108:12-13)
All in All
I've little strength to call my own,
And what I've done, before your throne,
I here confess, is small;
But on your strength, O God, I lean,
And through the Blood that keeps me clean,
You are my all in all.
(From a song by Herbert Booth, slightly revised)
And what I've done, before your throne,
I here confess, is small;
But on your strength, O God, I lean,
And through the Blood that keeps me clean,
You are my all in all.
(From a song by Herbert Booth, slightly revised)
Servant Prayer
Lord, I am selfishly born
and remain to this day, one loving to be served.
Change me, Lord.
Remake me from the inside out
into one who who serves with a loving heart.
(A prayer of Virelle Kidder, from her wonderful book, The Best Life Ain't Easy, But It's Worth It).
and remain to this day, one loving to be served.
Change me, Lord.
Remake me from the inside out
into one who who serves with a loving heart.
(A prayer of Virelle Kidder, from her wonderful book, The Best Life Ain't Easy, But It's Worth It).
My Psalm 79
O God, the world is too much with us.
The ways of the world defile your people,
and weaken your church.
We are prey
for our enemies,
and we cooperate in our own destruction!
We turn on each other
and devour each other with our words,
our attitudes,
our sin.
We make our Enemy’s job easy!
How long, O LORD? Will you let this continue?
How can you let your children, your chosen ones,
live so deceitfully, so unfruitfully?
It would be different if it came from people who do not acknowledge you or call on your name;
but it is your own who devour and destroy your house.
Deliver us from the sins of the fathers;
may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
for we are in desperate need.
Help us, O God our Savior,
for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
for your name's sake.
Save us from making a mockery of you,
of your Gospel,
of all you have taught us and commanded us and done for us.
May the groans of the wounded come before you;
by the strength of your arm
preserve those who have been hurt by friendly fire.
Throw our Enemy’s attacks into his teeth,
even seven times over.
Then we your people,
the sheep of your pasture,
will praise you forever;
from generation to generation
we will recount your praise.
The ways of the world defile your people,
and weaken your church.
We are prey
for our enemies,
and we cooperate in our own destruction!
We turn on each other
and devour each other with our words,
our attitudes,
our sin.
We make our Enemy’s job easy!
How long, O LORD? Will you let this continue?
How can you let your children, your chosen ones,
live so deceitfully, so unfruitfully?
It would be different if it came from people who do not acknowledge you or call on your name;
but it is your own who devour and destroy your house.
Deliver us from the sins of the fathers;
may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
for we are in desperate need.
Help us, O God our Savior,
for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
for your name's sake.
Save us from making a mockery of you,
of your Gospel,
of all you have taught us and commanded us and done for us.
May the groans of the wounded come before you;
by the strength of your arm
preserve those who have been hurt by friendly fire.
Throw our Enemy’s attacks into his teeth,
even seven times over.
Then we your people,
the sheep of your pasture,
will praise you forever;
from generation to generation
we will recount your praise.
Epiphany
Almighty and everlasting God, who has made known the incarnation of your Son by the bright shining of a star, which, when the wise men beheld, they presented costly gifts and adored your majesty; grant that the star of your righteousness may always shine into our hearts; and that, as our treasure, we may give ourselves and all we possess to your service, through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.
(from the Gelasian Sacramentary)
(from the Gelasian Sacramentary)
Clasp Your Hand
Lord, I would clasp your hand in mine,
And never murmur or repine,
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since it is your hand leading me.
(from the hymn, He Leadeth Me, by Joseph Henry Gilmore, slightly updated)
And never murmur or repine,
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since it is your hand leading me.
(from the hymn, He Leadeth Me, by Joseph Henry Gilmore, slightly updated)
Sunday Plea
Abba, send your blessing on your people today.
Please grant us to worship you
in spirit and in truth,
in Jesus' name, amen.
Please grant us to worship you
in spirit and in truth,
in Jesus' name, amen.
Workday Rest
Adonai, only you could do what I ask:
please help me rest today,
even though I work,
in Jesus' name, amen.
please help me rest today,
even though I work,
in Jesus' name, amen.
Mindful Prayer
Abba, Father, I thank you
that you have made me passably smart.
I ask also:
please make me miraculously wise,
in Jesus' name, amen.
that you have made me passably smart.
I ask also:
please make me miraculously wise,
in Jesus' name, amen.
A New Year Prayer
(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.
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.
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