People
O God,
Lead us today to live in light of the truth that people are not
categories,
stereotypes,
nationalities,
ethnicities,
religions,
socio-economic classes, or
political affiliations
but that people are
human beings,
individuals,
family members,
dreamers,
hopers,
lovers,
your creation;
that they are, in fact,
people.
Amen.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
A Prayer for Thursday, August 30, 2012
Stars
Our minds can barely comprehend the number of stars that are estimated to be in our home galaxy—somewhere between 200 and 400 billion—much less the number of stars that exist in our universe.
And here we sit on one planet orbiting one star in one solar system in one galaxy.
What are we, indeed, that you care for us, O God? What are we that you give us any thought at all?
But you do think of us, you do care for us, and you do love us.
We are amazed at the wonder of your universe but we are even more amazed at the wonder of your love.
It is cause for great and continuous celebration…
Amen.
Our minds can barely comprehend the number of stars that are estimated to be in our home galaxy—somewhere between 200 and 400 billion—much less the number of stars that exist in our universe.
And here we sit on one planet orbiting one star in one solar system in one galaxy.
What are we, indeed, that you care for us, O God? What are we that you give us any thought at all?
But you do think of us, you do care for us, and you do love us.
We are amazed at the wonder of your universe but we are even more amazed at the wonder of your love.
It is cause for great and continuous celebration…
Amen.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
A Prayer for Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Lazarus
O God,
Help us today to see Lazarus; help us to see the hurting and suffering person that will be right in front of us and, having seen him/her, enable and empower us to help him/her.
Help us today to be Lazarus; help us to realize and to acknowledge our own need and, having acknowledged it, enable and empower us to receive help that is offered, to persevere when help is not forthcoming, and to know that ultimately, our help comes from you.
Amen.
(Luke 16:19-31)
O God,
Help us today to see Lazarus; help us to see the hurting and suffering person that will be right in front of us and, having seen him/her, enable and empower us to help him/her.
Help us today to be Lazarus; help us to realize and to acknowledge our own need and, having acknowledged it, enable and empower us to receive help that is offered, to persevere when help is not forthcoming, and to know that ultimately, our help comes from you.
Amen.
(Luke 16:19-31)
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
A Prayer for Tuesday, August 28, 2012
I, Me, Mine
O God,
Help me today to begin less of my thoughts with “I” and more of them with “You”; to have as the object of my actions less “me” and more “you,” and to be less concerned with what is “mine” and more with what is “yours.”
And help me to remember to pray this prayer whether those second person pronouns refer to you, O God, or to another person or to other people.
Help me to direct my thoughts, actions, and concerns more toward all of y’all than toward me.
Amen.
O God,
Help me today to begin less of my thoughts with “I” and more of them with “You”; to have as the object of my actions less “me” and more “you,” and to be less concerned with what is “mine” and more with what is “yours.”
And help me to remember to pray this prayer whether those second person pronouns refer to you, O God, or to another person or to other people.
Help me to direct my thoughts, actions, and concerns more toward all of y’all than toward me.
Amen.
Monday, August 27, 2012
A Prayer for Monday, August 27, 2012
Friday
It’s Monday and many of us are already craving Friday.
That is on the one hand understandable; the week can be hard and we sometimes need something to which to look forward to help us make it through.
But Lord, don’t let us look forward to the end of the week so much that we fail to see the wonder of this day and to take full advantage of this moment. Use Friday to give us hope that rest is coming but let that promised rest somehow permeate our living in all days; help us to rest in you even in the most challenging times.
It’s Monday but Friday’s coming; that is good.
But remind us that it’s also good that it’s Monday.
Amen.
It’s Monday and many of us are already craving Friday.
That is on the one hand understandable; the week can be hard and we sometimes need something to which to look forward to help us make it through.
But Lord, don’t let us look forward to the end of the week so much that we fail to see the wonder of this day and to take full advantage of this moment. Use Friday to give us hope that rest is coming but let that promised rest somehow permeate our living in all days; help us to rest in you even in the most challenging times.
It’s Monday but Friday’s coming; that is good.
But remind us that it’s also good that it’s Monday.
Amen.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
A Prayer for Sunday, August 26, 2012
The Lord’s Day
May we today worship you in spirit and in truth, O God.
May our worship come from the depths of who we really are and be directed to you as you have revealed yourself to be, a revelation that we see most clearly in your Son Jesus Christ.
May our worship come from the truth of how we really are and be directed toward you as you have revealed yourself in your actions, especially in your great gracious action through your Son Jesus Christ.
Thank you that your Spirit will be with us as we worship, communing with us in spirit and in truth; thank you that your Spirit will be with us as we worship, communicating with us in spirit and in truth. Enable us to participate actively in that communion and communication.
Amen.
May we today worship you in spirit and in truth, O God.
May our worship come from the depths of who we really are and be directed to you as you have revealed yourself to be, a revelation that we see most clearly in your Son Jesus Christ.
May our worship come from the truth of how we really are and be directed toward you as you have revealed yourself in your actions, especially in your great gracious action through your Son Jesus Christ.
Thank you that your Spirit will be with us as we worship, communing with us in spirit and in truth; thank you that your Spirit will be with us as we worship, communicating with us in spirit and in truth. Enable us to participate actively in that communion and communication.
Amen.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
A Prayer for Saturday, August 25, 2012
Still
When we woke up this morning, the universe was still around, the sun was still shining, and the breathing air was still available.
When we woke up this morning, our hearts were still beating, our lungs were still breathing, and our blood was still flowing.
When we woke up this morning, our spirits were still communing, our minds were still thinking, and our hearts were still loving.
These are not things that should be taken for granted.
So let’s give thanks to God…still...
Amen.
When we woke up this morning, the universe was still around, the sun was still shining, and the breathing air was still available.
When we woke up this morning, our hearts were still beating, our lungs were still breathing, and our blood was still flowing.
When we woke up this morning, our spirits were still communing, our minds were still thinking, and our hearts were still loving.
These are not things that should be taken for granted.
So let’s give thanks to God…still...
Amen.
Friday, August 24, 2012
A Prayer for Friday, August 24, 2012
Heart
What happens in our hearts, O God, can be awe-inspiring or terrifying.
Sometimes, when we attend to your Spirit and to your grace, when we manage to keep our hearts open to the world and to you, we find our hearts growing in awareness, in compassion, in love, and in peace—and that is awe-inspiring.
Other times, though, when we fail to work at paying attention and at being vulnerable, we find our hearts becoming fearful, angry, judgmental, and callous—and that is terrifying.
Cause us to work at keeping ourselves in a position where you can work in our hearts in ways that will fill us with awe and will drive away the terror.
Amen.
What happens in our hearts, O God, can be awe-inspiring or terrifying.
Sometimes, when we attend to your Spirit and to your grace, when we manage to keep our hearts open to the world and to you, we find our hearts growing in awareness, in compassion, in love, and in peace—and that is awe-inspiring.
Other times, though, when we fail to work at paying attention and at being vulnerable, we find our hearts becoming fearful, angry, judgmental, and callous—and that is terrifying.
Cause us to work at keeping ourselves in a position where you can work in our hearts in ways that will fill us with awe and will drive away the terror.
Amen.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
A Prayer for Thursday, August 23, 2012
Knowledge
Thank you, O God, for all the means you provide for the increasing of knowledge and for the decreasing of ignorance.
Help us to embrace knowledge in all of its manifestations.
Help us to reject ignorance in all of its manifestations.
Help us to know you as you really are, to know ourselves as we really are, and to know the world as it really is.
Then help us to use that knowledge to live as fully as we can and to work toward a world in which all people can live as fully as they can.
Amen.
Thank you, O God, for all the means you provide for the increasing of knowledge and for the decreasing of ignorance.
Help us to embrace knowledge in all of its manifestations.
Help us to reject ignorance in all of its manifestations.
Help us to know you as you really are, to know ourselves as we really are, and to know the world as it really is.
Then help us to use that knowledge to live as fully as we can and to work toward a world in which all people can live as fully as they can.
Amen.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
A Prayer for Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Right
O God,
Unless today is different than every other day I have ever lived, I will be right at least once and probably will be right several if not many times.
When I am right, help me…
…to be grateful for the grace of insight and discernment,
…to be gracious in the way that I wear my rightness,
…to be humble in the knowledge that even when I am right I am not completely right, and
even to look for the right in the position of my opponent, if I have one.
Amen.
O God,
Unless today is different than every other day I have ever lived, I will be right at least once and probably will be right several if not many times.
When I am right, help me…
…to be grateful for the grace of insight and discernment,
…to be gracious in the way that I wear my rightness,
…to be humble in the knowledge that even when I am right I am not completely right, and
even to look for the right in the position of my opponent, if I have one.
Amen.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
A Prayer for Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Wrong
Lord God,
Unless today is different than every other day I have ever lived, I will be wrong at least once and probably will be wrong several if not many times.
When I am wrong, help me…
…to realize it,
…to admit it,
…to learn from it,
…to grow from it and
even to celebrate it, because I could not live with the responsibility and burden of being right all the time.
Amen.
Lord God,
Unless today is different than every other day I have ever lived, I will be wrong at least once and probably will be wrong several if not many times.
When I am wrong, help me…
…to realize it,
…to admit it,
…to learn from it,
…to grow from it and
even to celebrate it, because I could not live with the responsibility and burden of being right all the time.
Amen.
Monday, August 20, 2012
A Prayer for Monday, August 20, 2012
Schedule
O God,
We may already have much of the schedule for our week mapped out; we may already know a lot of what we want to accomplish.
On the one hand, such planning and scheduling indicate that we believe we have a future which indicates that we have hope; we are grateful to find that we possess such hope.
On the other hand, such planning and scheduling can indicate that we think we have greater control over events than we actually do.
Help us this week to find the balance between planning and openness; help us to stick to our schedules as much as possible so that we can make the most effective use of our time but help us also to be open to interruptions and changes so that we don’t miss the new and unexpected opportunities that you place before us.
Amen.
O God,
We may already have much of the schedule for our week mapped out; we may already know a lot of what we want to accomplish.
On the one hand, such planning and scheduling indicate that we believe we have a future which indicates that we have hope; we are grateful to find that we possess such hope.
On the other hand, such planning and scheduling can indicate that we think we have greater control over events than we actually do.
Help us this week to find the balance between planning and openness; help us to stick to our schedules as much as possible so that we can make the most effective use of our time but help us also to be open to interruptions and changes so that we don’t miss the new and unexpected opportunities that you place before us.
Amen.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
A Prayer for Sunday, August 19, 2012
The Lord’s Day
O God,
As we gather today to worship our crucified and resurrected Savior, give us insight into what it means to be a crucified and resurrected Church.
Help us to know what it means that we have been buried with Jesus Christ and that we have been raised to new life in him.
Then help us to live in the light of that knowledge.
Amen.
O God,
As we gather today to worship our crucified and resurrected Savior, give us insight into what it means to be a crucified and resurrected Church.
Help us to know what it means that we have been buried with Jesus Christ and that we have been raised to new life in him.
Then help us to live in the light of that knowledge.
Amen.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
A Prayer for Saturday, August 18, 2012
Default
O God, restore us to our default settings; restore us to the ways that you mean for us to be so that we can actively participate in what you are doing to make your creation what you mean for it to be.
Restore us to the setting of community, so that we will always see ourselves more as part of the whole rather than as an entity unto ourselves.
Restore us to the setting of humility, so that we will always see ourselves as a part of the universe rather than as the center of it.
Restore us to the setting of stewardship, so that we will always see ourselves as guardians and developers of your world rather than as owners and users of it.
Restore us to the setting of communication, so that we will always see ourselves as participators in a dialogue rather than as promoters of a position.
O God, restore us in Christ to our default settings; restore us to the ways that you mean for us to be so that we can actively participate in what you are doing to make your creation what you mean for it to be.
Amen.
O God, restore us to our default settings; restore us to the ways that you mean for us to be so that we can actively participate in what you are doing to make your creation what you mean for it to be.
Restore us to the setting of community, so that we will always see ourselves more as part of the whole rather than as an entity unto ourselves.
Restore us to the setting of humility, so that we will always see ourselves as a part of the universe rather than as the center of it.
Restore us to the setting of stewardship, so that we will always see ourselves as guardians and developers of your world rather than as owners and users of it.
Restore us to the setting of communication, so that we will always see ourselves as participators in a dialogue rather than as promoters of a position.
O God, restore us in Christ to our default settings; restore us to the ways that you mean for us to be so that we can actively participate in what you are doing to make your creation what you mean for it to be.
Amen.
Friday, August 17, 2012
A Prayer for Friday, August 17, 2012
Dependence
O God,
It takes a lot of people to make this world work; we depend on a lot of people to keep our lives functioning.
We want to thank you for the web of connectivity and dependence that exists in human society; cause us to stop and think about it from time to time so that we can express our gratitude both to you and to people.
Keep us mindful that some of the most necessary tasks are also some of the most thankless, some of the most laborious, some of the most tedious, and some of the least compensated.
Give us an attitude of gratefulness toward all of those on whom we depend.
Grant that we will appropriately treat our own role as important without over-valuing it when we compare it to the roles that others play.
Amen.
O God,
It takes a lot of people to make this world work; we depend on a lot of people to keep our lives functioning.
We want to thank you for the web of connectivity and dependence that exists in human society; cause us to stop and think about it from time to time so that we can express our gratitude both to you and to people.
Keep us mindful that some of the most necessary tasks are also some of the most thankless, some of the most laborious, some of the most tedious, and some of the least compensated.
Give us an attitude of gratefulness toward all of those on whom we depend.
Grant that we will appropriately treat our own role as important without over-valuing it when we compare it to the roles that others play.
Amen.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
A Prayer for Thursday, August 16, 2012
Vision
O God,
Give us healthy spiritual, moral, and ethical vision.
Deliver us from near-sightedness that would keep us from seeing the big picture.
Deliver us from far-sightedness that would keep us from seeing what is right in front of us.
Deliver us from tunnel vision that would keep us from seeing people on the margins.
Deliver us from blindness that would keep us from paying any attention at all.
Amen.
O God,
Give us healthy spiritual, moral, and ethical vision.
Deliver us from near-sightedness that would keep us from seeing the big picture.
Deliver us from far-sightedness that would keep us from seeing what is right in front of us.
Deliver us from tunnel vision that would keep us from seeing people on the margins.
Deliver us from blindness that would keep us from paying any attention at all.
Amen.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
A Prayer for Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Hurts
We all hurt, O God; we all have our pains, our sorrows, and our griefs.
We praise you that Jesus loved us and empathized with us so much that he took our hurts upon himself and carried them all the way to his cross.
Give us grace and strength, O God, so that we as followers of Jesus will love and empathize so much with others that we will be willing to take their hurts upon ourselves.
Help us, in other words, to take up our cross and follow Jesus.
Amen.
We all hurt, O God; we all have our pains, our sorrows, and our griefs.
We praise you that Jesus loved us and empathized with us so much that he took our hurts upon himself and carried them all the way to his cross.
Give us grace and strength, O God, so that we as followers of Jesus will love and empathize so much with others that we will be willing to take their hurts upon ourselves.
Help us, in other words, to take up our cross and follow Jesus.
Amen.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
A Prayer for Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Particulars
Help us to be faithful today, O God, in the particulars.
It is one thing, after all, to say that we are committed to our work; it is quite another to be faithful in this particular task.
It is one thing to say that we honor our family; it is quite another to respect our spouse or to nurture our child in this particular situation.
It is one thing to say that we serve you with our lives; it is quite another to give ourselves up in this particular crisis.
It is one thing to say that we love everybody; it is quite another to love the person standing in front of us in this particular moment.
Deliver us, O God, from an easy faithfulness in the generalities; help us to live out a difficult faithfulness in the particulars.
Amen.
Help us to be faithful today, O God, in the particulars.
It is one thing, after all, to say that we are committed to our work; it is quite another to be faithful in this particular task.
It is one thing to say that we honor our family; it is quite another to respect our spouse or to nurture our child in this particular situation.
It is one thing to say that we serve you with our lives; it is quite another to give ourselves up in this particular crisis.
It is one thing to say that we love everybody; it is quite another to love the person standing in front of us in this particular moment.
Deliver us, O God, from an easy faithfulness in the generalities; help us to live out a difficult faithfulness in the particulars.
Amen.
Monday, August 13, 2012
A Prayer for Monday, August 13, 2012
Curiosity
O God,
Cause us to want to know, not so much because knowledge increases our power but more because knowledge increases our ability to love and to help.
Cause us to want to know all that we can about the world in which we live so we can protect and develop it as good stewards.
Cause us to want to know all that we can about wisdom that has been accumulated so we can apply it in the development of our own wisdom.
Cause us to want to know all that we can about the people we encounter so that we can know and love them for who they really are.
In all cases, cause our curiosity to be motivated and to be acted upon in ways that are positive and not negative, creative and not destructive, helpful and not hurtful, and cooperative and not manipulative.
Amen.
O God,
Cause us to want to know, not so much because knowledge increases our power but more because knowledge increases our ability to love and to help.
Cause us to want to know all that we can about the world in which we live so we can protect and develop it as good stewards.
Cause us to want to know all that we can about wisdom that has been accumulated so we can apply it in the development of our own wisdom.
Cause us to want to know all that we can about the people we encounter so that we can know and love them for who they really are.
In all cases, cause our curiosity to be motivated and to be acted upon in ways that are positive and not negative, creative and not destructive, helpful and not hurtful, and cooperative and not manipulative.
Amen.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
A Prayer for Sunday, August 12, 2012
The Lord’s Day
There is a sense, O God, in which our setting aside of time every Sunday to come before you in worship is a reminder that we are always before you in worship.
As we offer ourselves to you today, help us to take the day’s reminder to heart in ways that will make us more aware of and more intentional about our offering of ourselves to you in all the other days of this week.
Amen.
There is a sense, O God, in which our setting aside of time every Sunday to come before you in worship is a reminder that we are always before you in worship.
As we offer ourselves to you today, help us to take the day’s reminder to heart in ways that will make us more aware of and more intentional about our offering of ourselves to you in all the other days of this week.
Amen.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
A Prayer for Saturday, August 11, 2012
Harmony
Harmony occurs when different voices coming from different people singing in different ways join together to make a pleasing sound.
We don’t ask, O Lord, for sameness in our families, in our churches, in our communities, in our nation, or in our world.
We do ask, though, that somehow by your grace and by your Spirit our different cultures, experiences, perspectives, and voices might join together to create not only a more pleasing sound but a more productive approach to the challenges we face.
Deliver us from an unrealistic desire for our common songs to be sung in monotone—how impoverished and boring such singing would be!
Inspire us rather with a realistic (if idealistic) desire for our common songs to be sung in harmony—how rich and exciting such singing would be!
Amen.
Harmony occurs when different voices coming from different people singing in different ways join together to make a pleasing sound.
We don’t ask, O Lord, for sameness in our families, in our churches, in our communities, in our nation, or in our world.
We do ask, though, that somehow by your grace and by your Spirit our different cultures, experiences, perspectives, and voices might join together to create not only a more pleasing sound but a more productive approach to the challenges we face.
Deliver us from an unrealistic desire for our common songs to be sung in monotone—how impoverished and boring such singing would be!
Inspire us rather with a realistic (if idealistic) desire for our common songs to be sung in harmony—how rich and exciting such singing would be!
Amen.
Friday, August 10, 2012
A Prayer for Friday, August 10, 2012
Melody
It is the melody that makes a song recognizable; it is the melody that makes a song singable.
Help us, O God, to hear the melody of your song; help us to hear the notes of grace and love that make it such a beautiful song, even when it is played in a minor key.
Help us, O God, to hear the melody of your song so that we can sing along, even if we more often than not can’t hit all the right notes.
Mainly, though, keep our ears open and our hearts attentive so that we can hear your melody all around us in everything and in everyone we encounter.
Amen.
It is the melody that makes a song recognizable; it is the melody that makes a song singable.
Help us, O God, to hear the melody of your song; help us to hear the notes of grace and love that make it such a beautiful song, even when it is played in a minor key.
Help us, O God, to hear the melody of your song so that we can sing along, even if we more often than not can’t hit all the right notes.
Mainly, though, keep our ears open and our hearts attentive so that we can hear your melody all around us in everything and in everyone we encounter.
Amen.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
A Prayer for Thursday, August 9, 2012
Rhythm
O God,
Increase our awareness of the rhythm that is present in this world that you made; help us to live in sync with it as much as we can.
Help us to appreciate but not to overvalue our own interpretation of that rhythm; help us to be true to ourselves while at the same time being open to the interpretations that others have discovered and by which they live.
Use those occasions when our rhythm is broken or interrupted to give us a different perspective or a new insight into the living of life in this your world.
Amen.
O God,
Increase our awareness of the rhythm that is present in this world that you made; help us to live in sync with it as much as we can.
Help us to appreciate but not to overvalue our own interpretation of that rhythm; help us to be true to ourselves while at the same time being open to the interpretations that others have discovered and by which they live.
Use those occasions when our rhythm is broken or interrupted to give us a different perspective or a new insight into the living of life in this your world.
Amen.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
A Prayer for Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Lust
O Lord,
Fill us with love for you, for other people, and for ourselves; fill us with gratitude for the blessings in our lives.
Fill us up with so much love and gratitude that we will have neither room for nor need of a craving for people or for things that are not ours to have.
Amen.
O Lord,
Fill us with love for you, for other people, and for ourselves; fill us with gratitude for the blessings in our lives.
Fill us up with so much love and gratitude that we will have neither room for nor need of a craving for people or for things that are not ours to have.
Amen.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
A Prayer for Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Least
O God,
Give us on the one hand discernment to recognize who among the people we encounter are “the least of these,” because not all who seem to be are and not all who seem not to be are not.
But give us on the other hand a spirit that is motivated by grace and love to give and to help rather than to judge and to avoid.
Cause us to recognize our own poverty so that we will recognize the poor as our sisters and brothers; cause us to acknowledge our own lack so that we will recognize those who do without as our kin.
Help us to remember that in loving and caring for “the least of these” we love and care for your Son.
Amen.
O God,
Give us on the one hand discernment to recognize who among the people we encounter are “the least of these,” because not all who seem to be are and not all who seem not to be are not.
But give us on the other hand a spirit that is motivated by grace and love to give and to help rather than to judge and to avoid.
Cause us to recognize our own poverty so that we will recognize the poor as our sisters and brothers; cause us to acknowledge our own lack so that we will recognize those who do without as our kin.
Help us to remember that in loving and caring for “the least of these” we love and care for your Son.
Amen.
Monday, August 6, 2012
A Prayer for Monday, August 6, 2012
Last
O God,
Help us to discern in today’s particular situations what it means for us to be last so that we can strive for that status rather than strive to be first.
We will need such discernment because while we know immediately and reflexively what it means to be first, we have little or no idea what it means to be last and we have little or no desire to find out.
Thank you for the spirit of Christ that shows us the way.
Help us, when we discern the way to be last, to have the faith and courage to live toward it and in it, because it is bound to be a costly and difficult way.
Thank you for the spirit of Christ that empowers us in the way.
Amen.
O God,
Help us to discern in today’s particular situations what it means for us to be last so that we can strive for that status rather than strive to be first.
We will need such discernment because while we know immediately and reflexively what it means to be first, we have little or no idea what it means to be last and we have little or no desire to find out.
Thank you for the spirit of Christ that shows us the way.
Help us, when we discern the way to be last, to have the faith and courage to live toward it and in it, because it is bound to be a costly and difficult way.
Thank you for the spirit of Christ that empowers us in the way.
Amen.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
A Prayer for Sunday, August 5, 2012
The Lord’s Day
Since we will come before you today in worship as your beloved children, O God, may we worship you with the kind of wide-eyed and open-hearted trust, awe, and wonder that characterizes children.
Amen.
Since we will come before you today in worship as your beloved children, O God, may we worship you with the kind of wide-eyed and open-hearted trust, awe, and wonder that characterizes children.
Amen.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
A Prayer for Saturday, August 4, 2012
Lost
Sometimes, O God, we feel like we’re lost; we feel like we have lost our direction and gotten off the path.
Help us to remember that when Adam and Eve were hiding in the trees of the Garden and God called out to Adam, “Where are you?” it wasn’t because God didn’t know where they were but rather because he wanted them to recognize and acknowledge where they were.
Thank you that you are always there, loving us enough to seek us out until we find ourselves.
Help us to remember that when the Prodigal Son came to himself, realized where he was, and went home, his father welcomed him with open arms.
Thank you that you are always there, loving us enough to embrace us when we come to ourselves and come home.
Amen.
Sometimes, O God, we feel like we’re lost; we feel like we have lost our direction and gotten off the path.
Help us to remember that when Adam and Eve were hiding in the trees of the Garden and God called out to Adam, “Where are you?” it wasn’t because God didn’t know where they were but rather because he wanted them to recognize and acknowledge where they were.
Thank you that you are always there, loving us enough to seek us out until we find ourselves.
Help us to remember that when the Prodigal Son came to himself, realized where he was, and went home, his father welcomed him with open arms.
Thank you that you are always there, loving us enough to embrace us when we come to ourselves and come home.
Amen.
Friday, August 3, 2012
A Prayer for Friday, August 3, 2012
List
To “list” can be to arrange things in a series, like when we make a guest list.
To “list” can also be to lean toward one side or the other, like when a ship lists.
O God, when we find ourselves thinking about who is on your guest list and who therefore should be on ours, help us to list toward grace, love, and inclusivity rather than toward judgmentalism, hate, and exclusivity.
Amen.
To “list” can be to arrange things in a series, like when we make a guest list.
To “list” can also be to lean toward one side or the other, like when a ship lists.
O God, when we find ourselves thinking about who is on your guest list and who therefore should be on ours, help us to list toward grace, love, and inclusivity rather than toward judgmentalism, hate, and exclusivity.
Amen.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
A Prayer for Thursday, August 2, 2012
Lest
O God,
Help us to rest in the reality that we are made by you, lest we overvalue what we make.
Help us to rest in the reality that we are formed by you, lest we overvalue what we do.
Help us to rest in the reality that we are accepted by you, lest we overvalue what we accomplish.
Help us to rest in the reality that we are saved by you, lest we overvalue how we behave.
Help us to rest in the reality that we are known by you, lest we overvalue what we believe.
Help us to rest in you, lest we overvalue ourselves.
Amen.
O God,
Help us to rest in the reality that we are made by you, lest we overvalue what we make.
Help us to rest in the reality that we are formed by you, lest we overvalue what we do.
Help us to rest in the reality that we are accepted by you, lest we overvalue what we accomplish.
Help us to rest in the reality that we are saved by you, lest we overvalue how we behave.
Help us to rest in the reality that we are known by you, lest we overvalue what we believe.
Help us to rest in you, lest we overvalue ourselves.
Amen.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
A Prayer for Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Hungry
Make us hungry, O Lord—
hungry for justice,
hungry for peace,
hungry for righteousness,
hungry for mercy,
hungry for grace,
hungry for love, and
hungry for you.
Bless the hungry, O Lord; bless those who are hungry for enough food to stay alive.
Cause our hunger to lead us to be aware of, to care for, and to help those who are hungry. Make us aware of how we can live differently and how we can give differently so that others can eat; then cause us to act on our awareness.
Amen.
Make us hungry, O Lord—
hungry for justice,
hungry for peace,
hungry for righteousness,
hungry for mercy,
hungry for grace,
hungry for love, and
hungry for you.
Bless the hungry, O Lord; bless those who are hungry for enough food to stay alive.
Cause our hunger to lead us to be aware of, to care for, and to help those who are hungry. Make us aware of how we can live differently and how we can give differently so that others can eat; then cause us to act on our awareness.
Amen.
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