Turn Outward (Fourteenth Day of Lent)
O God,
As we turn inward and become more aware of both our strengths and our weaknesses,
as we turn downward and become more aware of our mortality and our frailty, and
as we turn upward and become more aware of your love for us and of our dependence on you…
…turn us more and more outward so that we will become more aware of the people around us that we might see them through your eyes, love them with your love, and reach out to them with your compassion.
Amen.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
A Prayer for Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Turn Upward (Thirteenth Day of Lent)
If we just turn inward, as important as that is, we might be overwhelmed by guilt and fear or we might be tempted by pride and arrogance; cause our turning inward to lead us to turn upward towards you, O God.
If we just turn downward, as important as that is, we might be overcome by our mortality or we might become obsessed with our physicality; cause our turning downward to lead us to turn upward towards you, O God.
May all our turnings lead us to turn to you, O God, that we might always be aware of who you are and so we might understand who we are in light of who you are; may our turning toward you keep us in awe of your majesty and also of your grace and love.
Amen.
If we just turn inward, as important as that is, we might be overwhelmed by guilt and fear or we might be tempted by pride and arrogance; cause our turning inward to lead us to turn upward towards you, O God.
If we just turn downward, as important as that is, we might be overcome by our mortality or we might become obsessed with our physicality; cause our turning downward to lead us to turn upward towards you, O God.
May all our turnings lead us to turn to you, O God, that we might always be aware of who you are and so we might understand who we are in light of who you are; may our turning toward you keep us in awe of your majesty and also of your grace and love.
Amen.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
A Prayer for Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Turn Downward (Twelfth Day of Lent)
O God,
During this Lenten time of reflection and repentance, turn us downward; turn us toward the ground from which we came and to which we will return.
Remind us of our earthiness; make us conscious of our physicality; make us aware of our frailty; remind us of our connection with all the beings and things of the earth.
Since our word “humble” is derived from the word “humus” (“earth”), help us to live in light of the fact that we are of the earth. Keep us grounded.
Amen.
O God,
During this Lenten time of reflection and repentance, turn us downward; turn us toward the ground from which we came and to which we will return.
Remind us of our earthiness; make us conscious of our physicality; make us aware of our frailty; remind us of our connection with all the beings and things of the earth.
Since our word “humble” is derived from the word “humus” (“earth”), help us to live in light of the fact that we are of the earth. Keep us grounded.
Amen.
Monday, February 25, 2013
A Prayer for Monday, February 25, 2013
Turn Inward (Eleventh Day of Lent)
O God,
During Lent we spend time turning inward; we look deep into our lives to ascertain what is there and then to deal with it.
When we turn inward we will find ways in which we are not who we should be and ways in which we are less than we could be. Give us courage to face up to those ways and give us faith to give in to the ways that your grace and Spirit will work to change us.
When we turn inward we will also find ways in which we are growing toward being our authentic selves and in which we are genuinely progressing toward being who you have made us to be. Thank you for the grace humbly to acknowledge those ways and for the wisdom to build on them.
Amen.
O God,
During Lent we spend time turning inward; we look deep into our lives to ascertain what is there and then to deal with it.
When we turn inward we will find ways in which we are not who we should be and ways in which we are less than we could be. Give us courage to face up to those ways and give us faith to give in to the ways that your grace and Spirit will work to change us.
When we turn inward we will also find ways in which we are growing toward being our authentic selves and in which we are genuinely progressing toward being who you have made us to be. Thank you for the grace humbly to acknowledge those ways and for the wisdom to build on them.
Amen.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
A Prayer for Sunday, February 24, 2013
Second Sunday in Lent
O God,
When my life becomes
so sad that it feels like there is nothing but my sadness and me,
so fearful that it feels like there is nothing but my fear and me,
so lonely that it feels like there is nothing but my loneliness and me,
so guilty that it feels like there is nothing but my guilt and me,
so anxious that it feels like there is nothing but my anxiety and me,
so prideful that it feels like there is nothing but my pride and me,
so selfish that it feels like there is nothing but my selfishness and me,
or
so self-centered that it feels like there is nothing but me,
remind me that you are there to be with me with your comfort, your care, and your challenge—with your love.
Amen.
O God,
When my life becomes
so sad that it feels like there is nothing but my sadness and me,
so fearful that it feels like there is nothing but my fear and me,
so lonely that it feels like there is nothing but my loneliness and me,
so guilty that it feels like there is nothing but my guilt and me,
so anxious that it feels like there is nothing but my anxiety and me,
so prideful that it feels like there is nothing but my pride and me,
so selfish that it feels like there is nothing but my selfishness and me,
or
so self-centered that it feels like there is nothing but me,
remind me that you are there to be with me with your comfort, your care, and your challenge—with your love.
Amen.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
A Prayer for Saturday, February 23, 2013
Turn (Tenth Day of Lent)
O God,
As we examine ourselves we may find ways in which we need to make a 180° turn; show us those ways and help us boldly to confront them.
But protect us from arrogant over-reaching that could cause us not to know where to stop, resulting in our making a 360° turn and thus ending up right where we started.
Encourage us by helping us to make small turns; growing and changing so that we turn 1° or 2° or 5° or 10° at a time may be the healthiest approach. Cause us to welcome small victories.
In all of our turning, help us to turn more toward you …
Amen.
O God,
As we examine ourselves we may find ways in which we need to make a 180° turn; show us those ways and help us boldly to confront them.
But protect us from arrogant over-reaching that could cause us not to know where to stop, resulting in our making a 360° turn and thus ending up right where we started.
Encourage us by helping us to make small turns; growing and changing so that we turn 1° or 2° or 5° or 10° at a time may be the healthiest approach. Cause us to welcome small victories.
In all of our turning, help us to turn more toward you …
Amen.
Friday, February 22, 2013
A Prayer for Friday, February 22, 2013
Unaware (Ninth Day of Lent)
When it comes to other people, there is so much of which we are unaware; we do not and cannot know all of what is going on in their lives and we do not and cannot know all of what is going on in their hearts and minds.
Keep us mindful, O God, of such unawareness so as to deliver us from judgmentalism.
When it comes to other people, there is so much of which we need to be more unaware, such as the ways in which they are different from us and, especially, the ways in which we assume them to be inferior to us.
Keep us mindful, O God, that while differences are to be noted—we are who we are, after all—“different than” is not to be equated with “less than.”
Amen.
When it comes to other people, there is so much of which we are unaware; we do not and cannot know all of what is going on in their lives and we do not and cannot know all of what is going on in their hearts and minds.
Keep us mindful, O God, of such unawareness so as to deliver us from judgmentalism.
When it comes to other people, there is so much of which we need to be more unaware, such as the ways in which they are different from us and, especially, the ways in which we assume them to be inferior to us.
Keep us mindful, O God, that while differences are to be noted—we are who we are, after all—“different than” is not to be equated with “less than.”
Amen.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
A Prayer for Thursday, February 21, 2013
Aware (Eighth Day of Lent)
O God,
During this season of reflection, give us insight to become more aware of who we are, not just in the shallow places of our being but in the depths.
During this season of reflection, give us faith to become more aware of who you are and of how your great grace loves and accepts us in all of our complexity.
During this season of reflection, give us courage to live out of an increasing awareness of who we truly are in you and not to settle for being less than you intend for us to be.
Amen.
O God,
During this season of reflection, give us insight to become more aware of who we are, not just in the shallow places of our being but in the depths.
During this season of reflection, give us faith to become more aware of who you are and of how your great grace loves and accepts us in all of our complexity.
During this season of reflection, give us courage to live out of an increasing awareness of who we truly are in you and not to settle for being less than you intend for us to be.
Amen.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
A Prayer for Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Give To (Seventh Day of Lent)
We praise you, O God, for all that you have given to us: life, to begin with, access to your life in Christ the Lord, and others with whom we can share life.
We thank you, O God, for all that we can give to others: love, forgiveness, mercy, acceptance, time, attention, and, when the situation calls for it, material resources.
Inspire us, O God, to practice the discipline of sharing ourselves with others in ways that come from the very heart of who we are by your grace becoming.
Amen.
We praise you, O God, for all that you have given to us: life, to begin with, access to your life in Christ the Lord, and others with whom we can share life.
We thank you, O God, for all that we can give to others: love, forgiveness, mercy, acceptance, time, attention, and, when the situation calls for it, material resources.
Inspire us, O God, to practice the discipline of sharing ourselves with others in ways that come from the very heart of who we are by your grace becoming.
Amen.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
A Prayer for Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Give Away (Sixth Day of Lent)
O God,
We praise you because in your love and grace you have chosen to give yourself away, a giving away that culminated in the death of your Son Jesus Christ on the Cross and that continues in the giving of your Holy Spirit to your Church.
May your love, your grace, your Son, and your Spirit motivate and compel us to give ourselves away in service to you that expresses itself in service to other people.
Amen.
O God,
We praise you because in your love and grace you have chosen to give yourself away, a giving away that culminated in the death of your Son Jesus Christ on the Cross and that continues in the giving of your Holy Spirit to your Church.
May your love, your grace, your Son, and your Spirit motivate and compel us to give ourselves away in service to you that expresses itself in service to other people.
Amen.
Monday, February 18, 2013
A Prayer for Monday, February 18, 2013
Give Out (Fifth Day of Lent)
Sometimes we just give out; sometimes we have had all we can take and we have used up everything we have.
Remind us, O God, that when we are in such a state we might be right where we need to be, since it is at such a time that we can remember that we have no one to whom to turn but you.
We confess our tendency to remember that great truth only at such a time; give us grace and wisdom to remember it all the time.
Amen.
Sometimes we just give out; sometimes we have had all we can take and we have used up everything we have.
Remind us, O God, that when we are in such a state we might be right where we need to be, since it is at such a time that we can remember that we have no one to whom to turn but you.
We confess our tendency to remember that great truth only at such a time; give us grace and wisdom to remember it all the time.
Amen.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
A Prayer for Sunday, February 17, 2013
First Sunday in Lent
In the midst of our Lenten repentance, in the midst of our facing up to who we are, O God, we will gather to worship you because of who you are and because of what you have done through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ to offer us forgiveness and to enable us to be who you intend for us to be.
How can we do other than praise you?
Amen.
In the midst of our Lenten repentance, in the midst of our facing up to who we are, O God, we will gather to worship you because of who you are and because of what you have done through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ to offer us forgiveness and to enable us to be who you intend for us to be.
How can we do other than praise you?
Amen.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
A Prayer for Saturday, February 16, 2013
Give Over (Fourth Day of Lent)
Thank you, O God, for your good gift of these good lives that you have given us to live.
Help us to see, despite the counterintuitive nature of it, that the key to living these lives well is to give them back over to you.
We are going to do that in the end, anyway, so give us the willingness to do it now while we have some choice in the matter.
Here we are, O God—do with us as you will.
Every day, increase our trust in you…
Amen.
Thank you, O God, for your good gift of these good lives that you have given us to live.
Help us to see, despite the counterintuitive nature of it, that the key to living these lives well is to give them back over to you.
We are going to do that in the end, anyway, so give us the willingness to do it now while we have some choice in the matter.
Here we are, O God—do with us as you will.
Every day, increase our trust in you…
Amen.
Friday, February 15, 2013
A Prayer for Friday, February 15, 2013
Give Up (Third Day of Lent)
On the one hand, O God, give us strength and faith never to give up to circumstances that threaten to hold us back, to temptations that threaten to trip us up, or to successes that threaten to bog us down.
On the other hand, O God, give us trust and insight always to give up to your persistent grace that accepts us, to your constant love that forgives us, and to your abiding help that encourages us.
Amen.
On the one hand, O God, give us strength and faith never to give up to circumstances that threaten to hold us back, to temptations that threaten to trip us up, or to successes that threaten to bog us down.
On the other hand, O God, give us trust and insight always to give up to your persistent grace that accepts us, to your constant love that forgives us, and to your abiding help that encourages us.
Amen.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
A Prayer for Thursday, February 14, 2013
Give In (Second Day of Lent)
O God,
Keep us ever mindful of your great passion that compels you to keep on pursuing us. Help us to give in to your relentless love and grace that continuously reach out to us. Forgive our stubborn resistance and grant us the faith to acknowledge that we are yours so that we can live confidently in the embrace of your love.
Amen.
O God,
Keep us ever mindful of your great passion that compels you to keep on pursuing us. Help us to give in to your relentless love and grace that continuously reach out to us. Forgive our stubborn resistance and grant us the faith to acknowledge that we are yours so that we can live confidently in the embrace of your love.
Amen.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
A Prayer for Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Ashes
O God,
Remind us today of our mortality and frailty.
Remind us today of the great grace that led your Son to take on our dusty nature.
Remind us, even as we remember what we are, of what you have done to love and to redeem what we are.
Remind us to tinge our repentance with celebration…
Amen.
O God,
Remind us today of our mortality and frailty.
Remind us today of the great grace that led your Son to take on our dusty nature.
Remind us, even as we remember what we are, of what you have done to love and to redeem what we are.
Remind us to tinge our repentance with celebration…
Amen.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
A Prayer for Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Roots
As we reach out to the skies, O Lord, help us to send our roots deeper and deeper.
As we branch out into the world, O Lord, help to send our roots deeper and deeper.
As we produce our fruit, O Lord, help us to send our roots deeper and deeper.
We pray these things, O Lord, because down deep is where we find the water and nutrients that give us life and because down deep is where we find the foundation that keeps us from being toppled over by pride and self-congratulation.
Amen.
As we reach out to the skies, O Lord, help us to send our roots deeper and deeper.
As we branch out into the world, O Lord, help to send our roots deeper and deeper.
As we produce our fruit, O Lord, help us to send our roots deeper and deeper.
We pray these things, O Lord, because down deep is where we find the water and nutrients that give us life and because down deep is where we find the foundation that keeps us from being toppled over by pride and self-congratulation.
Amen.
Monday, February 11, 2013
A Prayer for Monday, February 11, 2013
Reality
O God,
We want to live up to your ideals. So make us strong; make us wise; make us faithful.
At the same time, we need to accept reality. So use our weakness to show your strength; use our foolishness to show our wisdom; use our inconsistency to show your faithfulness.
Amen.
O God,
We want to live up to your ideals. So make us strong; make us wise; make us faithful.
At the same time, we need to accept reality. So use our weakness to show your strength; use our foolishness to show our wisdom; use our inconsistency to show your faithfulness.
Amen.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
A Prayer for Sunday, February 10, 2013
The Lord’s Day
As we worship you on this Transfiguration Sunday, O Lord, cause us to remember both the transformation that Jesus experienced that day and to embrace the transformation that you are working in us day after day.
Amen.
As we worship you on this Transfiguration Sunday, O Lord, cause us to remember both the transformation that Jesus experienced that day and to embrace the transformation that you are working in us day after day.
Amen.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
A Prayer for Saturday, February 9, 2013
Songs & Songwriters
O God,
For Lennon, McCartney, & Harrison; for Springsteen; for Browne; for Lightfoot; for Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young; for Dylan; for Taylor; for King; and for all of the other songwriters who have written and who write the songs that have spoken and that continue to speak to me, I give you thanks.
For all those songwriters whose songs have spoken to us in their own way to our own lives, we all give you thanks.
Amen.
O God,
For Lennon, McCartney, & Harrison; for Springsteen; for Browne; for Lightfoot; for Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young; for Dylan; for Taylor; for King; and for all of the other songwriters who have written and who write the songs that have spoken and that continue to speak to me, I give you thanks.
For all those songwriters whose songs have spoken to us in their own way to our own lives, we all give you thanks.
Amen.
Friday, February 8, 2013
A Prayer for Friday, February 8, 2013
Listen
O God,
Help us on this day to listen a little more closely.
Help us to listen to…
…the whispers of your Spirit;
…the cries of the oppressed;
…the words of your Book;
…the words of all who speak the truth;
…the sounds of community;
…the stirrings of nature;
…the reminders of experience; and
…the possibilities of change.
Help us on this day to listen to you, to ourselves, and to others in all the ways that we express ourselves.
Amen.
O God,
Help us on this day to listen a little more closely.
Help us to listen to…
…the whispers of your Spirit;
…the cries of the oppressed;
…the words of your Book;
…the words of all who speak the truth;
…the sounds of community;
…the stirrings of nature;
…the reminders of experience; and
…the possibilities of change.
Help us on this day to listen to you, to ourselves, and to others in all the ways that we express ourselves.
Amen.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
A Prayer for Thursday, February 7, 2013
Truth
O God,
When we speak, help us to speak the truth.
Help us to speak the truth in humility, knowing that our perspective is limited by personal circumstances and personal experiences.
Help us to speak the truth in love, motivated by the desire to build up, not to tear down and to help, not to hurt.
Help us to speak the truth in trust, having the words we speak come out of our relationship with the One who is the Truth.
Amen.
O God,
When we speak, help us to speak the truth.
Help us to speak the truth in humility, knowing that our perspective is limited by personal circumstances and personal experiences.
Help us to speak the truth in love, motivated by the desire to build up, not to tear down and to help, not to hurt.
Help us to speak the truth in trust, having the words we speak come out of our relationship with the One who is the Truth.
Amen.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
A Prayer for Wednesday, February 6, 2013
There, Here, & Everywhere
We praise you, O God, that you are there, high and exalted and unfathomable.
We praise you, O God, that you here, present and loving and prodding.
We praise you, O God, that you are everywhere, in and beyond time and in and beyond our experience.
Amen.
We praise you, O God, that you are there, high and exalted and unfathomable.
We praise you, O God, that you here, present and loving and prodding.
We praise you, O God, that you are everywhere, in and beyond time and in and beyond our experience.
Amen.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
A Prayer for Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Trust
O God,
Give us trust in your sovereignty; give us trust in the truth that you are in your grace, in your love, and in your time working your ultimate purposes out.
Give us trust in your providence; give us trust in the truth that you are with us to guide us in the day-to-day, moment-to-moment, decision-to-decision, choice-to-choice living of our lives.
Give us trust in our participation; give us trust in the truth that our choices, decision, and actions matter in the mysterious working out of your will.
We give it all over to you even as we embrace our responsibility to do our part.
Amen.
O God,
Give us trust in your sovereignty; give us trust in the truth that you are in your grace, in your love, and in your time working your ultimate purposes out.
Give us trust in your providence; give us trust in the truth that you are with us to guide us in the day-to-day, moment-to-moment, decision-to-decision, choice-to-choice living of our lives.
Give us trust in our participation; give us trust in the truth that our choices, decision, and actions matter in the mysterious working out of your will.
We give it all over to you even as we embrace our responsibility to do our part.
Amen.
Monday, February 4, 2013
A Prayer for Monday, February 4, 2013
Sunrise
O God,
As the sun’s glow begins to reach out from the horizon, we are reminded that our solar system’s star will today, like all days to this point in our planet’s life, give us the light and heat that are necessary for the existence of the Earth and of every living thing on it.
The sun’s rising renews our hope and reminds us of possibilities.
Thank you!
Thank you also that your grace and mercy come to us every day even more surely than does the sun; thank you that by our grace and mercy this day, like all days, is filled with hope and with possibilities—indeed, with life!
Amen.
O God,
As the sun’s glow begins to reach out from the horizon, we are reminded that our solar system’s star will today, like all days to this point in our planet’s life, give us the light and heat that are necessary for the existence of the Earth and of every living thing on it.
The sun’s rising renews our hope and reminds us of possibilities.
Thank you!
Thank you also that your grace and mercy come to us every day even more surely than does the sun; thank you that by our grace and mercy this day, like all days, is filled with hope and with possibilities—indeed, with life!
Amen.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
A Prayer for Sunday, February 3, 2013
The Lord’s Day
Worshiping God is akin to standing on the beach and looking at the ocean; we can see enough to be amazed but we know that beyond the horizon, beyond the limit of our vision, there is so much more ocean—there is so much more God—than we can ever comprehend.
As we worship you today, O God, may we be amazed, awed, inspired, and humbled.
Amen.
(I owe the thought behind this prayer to my good wife.)
Worshiping God is akin to standing on the beach and looking at the ocean; we can see enough to be amazed but we know that beyond the horizon, beyond the limit of our vision, there is so much more ocean—there is so much more God—than we can ever comprehend.
As we worship you today, O God, may we be amazed, awed, inspired, and humbled.
Amen.
(I owe the thought behind this prayer to my good wife.)
Saturday, February 2, 2013
A Prayer for Saturday, February 2, 2013
Earth
For the beauty of the Earth, O God, we praise you.
For such a wonderful place to call home, O God, we praise you.
For the resources that enable us to live, O God, we praise you.
For the ways that we have harmed and continue to harm this great gift, O God, we repent.
For our failure to take seriously our responsibility to protect our home, O God, we repent.
For our inability or unwillingness to consider the effects our actions will have on future generations, O God, we repent.
For the facing of this hour, O God, give us wisdom and courage.
Amen.
For the beauty of the Earth, O God, we praise you.
For such a wonderful place to call home, O God, we praise you.
For the resources that enable us to live, O God, we praise you.
For the ways that we have harmed and continue to harm this great gift, O God, we repent.
For our failure to take seriously our responsibility to protect our home, O God, we repent.
For our inability or unwillingness to consider the effects our actions will have on future generations, O God, we repent.
For the facing of this hour, O God, give us wisdom and courage.
Amen.
Friday, February 1, 2013
A Prayer for Friday, February 1, 2013
When
Sometimes “If” is the only way to begin a sentence honestly; after all, life is characterized by a great deal of uncertainty: “If I live another twenty years…”; “If the stock market has an upturn…”; “If we don’t have another layoff…”, for examples.
Help us, O God, to be honest and realistic enough to know and to admit that the future is not under our control; guard us against inappropriate presumption.
Sometimes, though, “When” is the right way to begin a sentence faithfully; after all, our life with you is characterized by trust and assurance: “When God works God’s purposes out…”; “When we all get to heaven…”; “When God walks with me through this thing I am going through…”, for examples.
Help us, O God, to be trusting and hopeful enough to know and to confess that our lives—indeed, the life of the entire universe—are in your strong and loving hands.
Amen.
Sometimes “If” is the only way to begin a sentence honestly; after all, life is characterized by a great deal of uncertainty: “If I live another twenty years…”; “If the stock market has an upturn…”; “If we don’t have another layoff…”, for examples.
Help us, O God, to be honest and realistic enough to know and to admit that the future is not under our control; guard us against inappropriate presumption.
Sometimes, though, “When” is the right way to begin a sentence faithfully; after all, our life with you is characterized by trust and assurance: “When God works God’s purposes out…”; “When we all get to heaven…”; “When God walks with me through this thing I am going through…”, for examples.
Help us, O God, to be trusting and hopeful enough to know and to confess that our lives—indeed, the life of the entire universe—are in your strong and loving hands.
Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)