Self-Love (Part 2)
O God,
“Love your neighbor as yourself,” your Son told us.
But what does it mean for us to love ourselves?
Perhaps part of what it means is for us to realize and accept the reality that we are people in need, that we cannot make it on our own and that we require help if we are going to make it.
Having come to terms with the need we have, then we can better empathize with and respond to the need that others have for help.
So forgive us for acting like we can make it on our own; help us to embrace the twin facts that we need you and that we need other people.
Then, help us to see other people in the way that we have come to see ourselves—as sisters and brothers who need our love, our encouragement, our compassion, and our help.
Amen.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Sunday, September 29, 2013
A Prayer for Sunday, September 29, 2013
The Lord’s Day
O God,
In your great love, you come to us.
Today, because we know your great love, we respond in love by coming to you in worship.
Let our love for you and for others grow today—and every day.
Amen.
O God,
In your great love, you come to us.
Today, because we know your great love, we respond in love by coming to you in worship.
Let our love for you and for others grow today—and every day.
Amen.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
A Prayer for Saturday, September 28, 2013
Go
O God,
These days, people go a lot.
As we go, keep us grounded in the realities that matter—you, family, and home.
But give us the desire and courage to keep going—to go to new places, to return to familiar places, and to go wherever you want us to go.
Remind us that you are with us everywhere, whether it is where we usually are or where we sometimes go.
As we go, help us to see you in the places, in the people, and in the ways that are unfamiliar to us.
Amen.
O God,
These days, people go a lot.
As we go, keep us grounded in the realities that matter—you, family, and home.
But give us the desire and courage to keep going—to go to new places, to return to familiar places, and to go wherever you want us to go.
Remind us that you are with us everywhere, whether it is where we usually are or where we sometimes go.
As we go, help us to see you in the places, in the people, and in the ways that are unfamiliar to us.
Amen.
Friday, September 27, 2013
A Prayer for Friday, September 27, 2013
Self-Love (Part 1)
O God,
“Love your neighbor as yourself,” your Son taught us.
But how are we to love ourselves?
So much of our self-love is such that we need to repent of it—it is motivated by selfishness, by fear, by narrow-mindedness, by greed, and by arrogance.
Perhaps, then, the first step in loving ourselves is being honest about ourselves; perhaps it is acknowledging that we are sinners, that we are flawed, and that we are limited.
If we can see ourselves as we really are, if we can accept ourselves as we really are, and if we can love ourselves as we really are—not as we imagine ourselves to be and not as we wish ourselves to be—we will have made an initial move toward seeing, accepting, and loving our neighbors not as we wish they were but as they really are.
Help us to move that way …
Amen.
O God,
“Love your neighbor as yourself,” your Son taught us.
But how are we to love ourselves?
So much of our self-love is such that we need to repent of it—it is motivated by selfishness, by fear, by narrow-mindedness, by greed, and by arrogance.
Perhaps, then, the first step in loving ourselves is being honest about ourselves; perhaps it is acknowledging that we are sinners, that we are flawed, and that we are limited.
If we can see ourselves as we really are, if we can accept ourselves as we really are, and if we can love ourselves as we really are—not as we imagine ourselves to be and not as we wish ourselves to be—we will have made an initial move toward seeing, accepting, and loving our neighbors not as we wish they were but as they really are.
Help us to move that way …
Amen.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
A Prayer for Thursday, September 26, 2013
End & Means
O God,
Let the end toward which we are aiming in everything we think, say, and do be to love you and to love others.
Let that end affect the living of our lives so that the means we use in reaching it will also demonstrate our love for you and for others.
Thank you that through such an approach to life the end will truly justify the means.
Amen.
O God,
Let the end toward which we are aiming in everything we think, say, and do be to love you and to love others.
Let that end affect the living of our lives so that the means we use in reaching it will also demonstrate our love for you and for others.
Thank you that through such an approach to life the end will truly justify the means.
Amen.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
A Prayer for Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Breaths
O God,
Every breath is a gift; every breath brings with it another moment of life that comes to us only by your grace.
Make us so alert to the blessings of life that we become aware of each breath that we take. Develop in us such gratitude that every breath becomes a prayer of thanks.
Thank you … thank you … thank you … thank you … thank you …
Amen.
O God,
Every breath is a gift; every breath brings with it another moment of life that comes to us only by your grace.
Make us so alert to the blessings of life that we become aware of each breath that we take. Develop in us such gratitude that every breath becomes a prayer of thanks.
Thank you … thank you … thank you … thank you … thank you …
Amen.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
A Prayer for Tuesday, September 24, 2013
55
O God,
On this, the 55th anniversary of my birth, I give you thanks.
Thank you for …
…Champ and Sara Ruffin who loved each other and through whose love you created and nurtured me;
…Dr. George Henry who helped make sure that I got here safe and sound;
…the good people of the Midway Baptist Church, located outside of Barnesville, Georgia on City Pond Road, who showed me how to love you and to love others;
…those teachers at Gordon Grammar School and Lamar County High School who gave me a lifelong love of learning;
…the professors at Mercer University who prepared me for life and at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary who prepared me for ministry;
…Dr. & Mrs. Howard P. Giddens who became my parents after my parents had to go;
…all of the friends I’ve had along the way who came into my life and who have allowed me to enter theirs;
…the medical professionals who have helped to maintain my health and, when necessary, to restore it;
...the people of the First Baptist Church of Adel, Belmont University, The Hill Baptist Church of Augusta, and the First Baptist Church of Fitzgerald who have honored me by allowing me to serve alongside them;
…Debra Kay Johnson Ruffin who has loved me unconditionally for so long;
…Joshua Lee Ruffin and Sara Katherine Ruffin to whom I am Daddy and of whom I am so very proud;
…the late-arriving but much appreciated lifeline of guitar playing and songwriting;
…the grace that has given me every moment I have had and every moment I ever will have; and
…the sense that has never left me—although it has been stronger at some times than at others—that you are with me, that you care about me, and that you are guiding me.
Amen.
O God,
On this, the 55th anniversary of my birth, I give you thanks.
Thank you for …
…Champ and Sara Ruffin who loved each other and through whose love you created and nurtured me;
…Dr. George Henry who helped make sure that I got here safe and sound;
…the good people of the Midway Baptist Church, located outside of Barnesville, Georgia on City Pond Road, who showed me how to love you and to love others;
…those teachers at Gordon Grammar School and Lamar County High School who gave me a lifelong love of learning;
…the professors at Mercer University who prepared me for life and at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary who prepared me for ministry;
…Dr. & Mrs. Howard P. Giddens who became my parents after my parents had to go;
…all of the friends I’ve had along the way who came into my life and who have allowed me to enter theirs;
…the medical professionals who have helped to maintain my health and, when necessary, to restore it;
...the people of the First Baptist Church of Adel, Belmont University, The Hill Baptist Church of Augusta, and the First Baptist Church of Fitzgerald who have honored me by allowing me to serve alongside them;
…Debra Kay Johnson Ruffin who has loved me unconditionally for so long;
…Joshua Lee Ruffin and Sara Katherine Ruffin to whom I am Daddy and of whom I am so very proud;
…the late-arriving but much appreciated lifeline of guitar playing and songwriting;
…the grace that has given me every moment I have had and every moment I ever will have; and
…the sense that has never left me—although it has been stronger at some times than at others—that you are with me, that you care about me, and that you are guiding me.
Amen.
Monday, September 23, 2013
A Prayer for Monday, September 23, 2013
Growth
O God,
By the power of your Spirit and your grace, help us to grow this week toward being more the kind of people that Jesus showed us and told us we should be.
Help us to grow toward being people who confront hate with love, who pursue reconciliation rather than division, and who prefer forgiveness to vengeance.
Growth toward such being and doing is possible only by your Spirit and grace, so move us toward greater reliance on them.
Amen.
O God,
By the power of your Spirit and your grace, help us to grow this week toward being more the kind of people that Jesus showed us and told us we should be.
Help us to grow toward being people who confront hate with love, who pursue reconciliation rather than division, and who prefer forgiveness to vengeance.
Growth toward such being and doing is possible only by your Spirit and grace, so move us toward greater reliance on them.
Amen.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
A Prayer for Sunday, September 22, 2013
The Lord’s Day
Christ the Lord is risen! Christ the Lord is risen indeed!
We thank you, O God, for another Sunday on which we can praise you for the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ and for your grace that enables us to participate in the power of that resurrection.
Grant that we will walk in the newness of life that is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
Christ the Lord is risen! Christ the Lord is risen indeed!
We thank you, O God, for another Sunday on which we can praise you for the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ and for your grace that enables us to participate in the power of that resurrection.
Grant that we will walk in the newness of life that is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
A Prayer for Saturday, September 21, 2013
All
O God,
Thank you for family, for friends, and for foes; life would not be nearly as wonderfully comforting, challenging, and complex without them.
Bless them all.
Amen.
O God,
Thank you for family, for friends, and for foes; life would not be nearly as wonderfully comforting, challenging, and complex without them.
Bless them all.
Amen.
Friday, September 20, 2013
A Prayer for Friday, September 20, 2013
Identity
O God,
Give us a steadily increasing awareness of who we are; let us be constantly becoming who you intend us to be.
Help us to progress in living out our identity; grant us an ever-increasing integrity in which our inner and outer selves become more and more the same.
Thank you for our model Jesus Christ who showed us what a life looks like when the person living it knows who he is and is committed to living a life that is true to that knowledge; help us to know who we are in you and to live in light of that knowledge.
Amen.
O God,
Give us a steadily increasing awareness of who we are; let us be constantly becoming who you intend us to be.
Help us to progress in living out our identity; grant us an ever-increasing integrity in which our inner and outer selves become more and more the same.
Thank you for our model Jesus Christ who showed us what a life looks like when the person living it knows who he is and is committed to living a life that is true to that knowledge; help us to know who we are in you and to live in light of that knowledge.
Amen.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
A Prayer for Thursday, September 19, 2013
Full
O God,
Thank you for coming to us to be with us in your fullness as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. What great grace you have that leads you to be present with us! What a great privilege we have to know you in the fullness of your being, of your grace, and of your love!
Cause us to be so full of you, of your grace, and of your love that it all pours out of us in the ways that we think about, talk about, talk with, and act toward people.
Amen.
O God,
Thank you for coming to us to be with us in your fullness as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. What great grace you have that leads you to be present with us! What a great privilege we have to know you in the fullness of your being, of your grace, and of your love!
Cause us to be so full of you, of your grace, and of your love that it all pours out of us in the ways that we think about, talk about, talk with, and act toward people.
Amen.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
A Prayer for Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Form
O God,
Form us a little more each day into who we are meant to be and into who you intend us to be.
Form us into the most loving, generous, faithful, peaceable, and forgiving versions of ourselves that we can be.
Form us according to your will and into the image of Christ Jesus, who was at all times and in all circumstances fully who he was.
Amen.
O God,
Form us a little more each day into who we are meant to be and into who you intend us to be.
Form us into the most loving, generous, faithful, peaceable, and forgiving versions of ourselves that we can be.
Form us according to your will and into the image of Christ Jesus, who was at all times and in all circumstances fully who he was.
Amen.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
A Prayer for Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Awareness
O God,
Cause us to crave a constant awareness of your presence, of your grace, and of your guidance.
Then satisfy those cravings not all at once but through the ongoing development in us of such awareness.
Let us be a little more aware every day of you because a little more awareness each day will make a huge difference in the ways we live, in the ways we decide, and in the ways we love.
Amen.
O God,
Cause us to crave a constant awareness of your presence, of your grace, and of your guidance.
Then satisfy those cravings not all at once but through the ongoing development in us of such awareness.
Let us be a little more aware every day of you because a little more awareness each day will make a huge difference in the ways we live, in the ways we decide, and in the ways we love.
Amen.
Monday, September 16, 2013
A Prayer for Monday, September 16, 2013
Cracks
O God,
Thank you for the scars that remind us of the cracks through which your grace and love were able to find their way into our lives in the past.
Thank you for the cracks that we now have, painful though they might be, through which your grace and love are able to find their way into our lives in the present.
Amen.
O God,
Thank you for the scars that remind us of the cracks through which your grace and love were able to find their way into our lives in the past.
Thank you for the cracks that we now have, painful though they might be, through which your grace and love are able to find their way into our lives in the present.
Amen.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
A Prayer for Sunday, September 15, 2013
The Lord’s Day
O God,
Let the words of praise that come from our mouths today reflect a genuine attitude of praise in our hearts.
Then, let the words that come from our mouths this week reflect a genuine desire in our hearts to honor you.
Amen.
O God,
Let the words of praise that come from our mouths today reflect a genuine attitude of praise in our hearts.
Then, let the words that come from our mouths this week reflect a genuine desire in our hearts to honor you.
Amen.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
A Prayer for Saturday, September 14, 2013
Remember
O God,
Help us to remember to think always of you and of your grace, love, and mercy.
Help us to stay focused on the truth that you are and that you are with us.
We thank you that in such constant reflection we find the faith, hope, love, peace, and strength to live fully and freely.
Amen.
O God,
Help us to remember to think always of you and of your grace, love, and mercy.
Help us to stay focused on the truth that you are and that you are with us.
We thank you that in such constant reflection we find the faith, hope, love, peace, and strength to live fully and freely.
Amen.
Friday, September 13, 2013
A Prayer for Friday, September 13, 2013
So That (Part 25 & Last)
O God,
Draw us closer and closer to you
so that
we can live life more fully, love you and others more completely, and share ourselves more generously.
Amen.
O God,
Draw us closer and closer to you
so that
we can live life more fully, love you and others more completely, and share ourselves more generously.
Amen.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
A Prayer for Thursday, September 12, 2013
So That (Part 24)
O God,
Help us to walk off the beaten path
so that
we will pay close attention to every step we take and become more fully aware of your presence in every place we go.
Amen.
O God,
Help us to walk off the beaten path
so that
we will pay close attention to every step we take and become more fully aware of your presence in every place we go.
Amen.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
A Prayer for Wednesday, September 11, 2013
So That (Part 23)
O God,
Let our trust in your power be so great that we know that you can accomplish the impossible in us
so that
we will love our enemies and pray for those who despitefully use us.
Amen.
O God,
Let our trust in your power be so great that we know that you can accomplish the impossible in us
so that
we will love our enemies and pray for those who despitefully use us.
Amen.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
A Prayer for Tuesday, September 10, 2013
So That (Part 22)
O God,
Help us to be fully aware of and to embrace our flaws, failings, and shortcomings
so that
we will embrace others even with—especially with—their flaws, failings, and shortcomings.
Amen.
O God,
Help us to be fully aware of and to embrace our flaws, failings, and shortcomings
so that
we will embrace others even with—especially with—their flaws, failings, and shortcomings.
Amen.
Monday, September 9, 2013
A Prayer for Monday, September 9, 2013
So That (Part 21)
O God,
Help us to believe
so that
we can trust you to help us in our unbelief.
Amen.
O God,
Help us to believe
so that
we can trust you to help us in our unbelief.
Amen.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
A Prayer for Sunday, September 8, 2013
The Lord’s Day
O God,
Help us to worship you today as maturing people.
Help us to worship you as people who are growing toward—
--praising you for who you are rather than for what we think we can get from you,
--keeping our eyes on you rather than on our circumstances,
--being aware that Jesus died on the cross for us and calls us to take up our cross for him,
--focusing more on other people’s needs than on our wants,
--becoming more aware of the impact our consumption has on those who are in need,
--showing concern for the real injustices experienced by others rather than nurturing grudges over slight injuries that we have received, and
--developing by your grace and in the power of your Spirit toward becoming people whose lives are lived in radical love.
Amen.
O God,
Help us to worship you today as maturing people.
Help us to worship you as people who are growing toward—
--praising you for who you are rather than for what we think we can get from you,
--keeping our eyes on you rather than on our circumstances,
--being aware that Jesus died on the cross for us and calls us to take up our cross for him,
--focusing more on other people’s needs than on our wants,
--becoming more aware of the impact our consumption has on those who are in need,
--showing concern for the real injustices experienced by others rather than nurturing grudges over slight injuries that we have received, and
--developing by your grace and in the power of your Spirit toward becoming people whose lives are lived in radical love.
Amen.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
A Prayer for Saturday, September 7, 2013
So That (Part 21)
O God,
Remind us to look within
so that
we will remember to pay attention to who we are, to who we no longer are, to who we are becoming—and to your presence in us.
Amen.
O God,
Remind us to look within
so that
we will remember to pay attention to who we are, to who we no longer are, to who we are becoming—and to your presence in us.
Amen.
Friday, September 6, 2013
A Prayer for Friday, September 6, 2013
So That (Part 20)
O God,
Remind us to look around
so that
we will remember the bond that we have with all the people we see and the privilege and responsibility we have to love and to care for them—and to accept love and care from them.
Amen.
O God,
Remind us to look around
so that
we will remember the bond that we have with all the people we see and the privilege and responsibility we have to love and to care for them—and to accept love and care from them.
Amen.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
A Prayer for Thursday, September 5, 2013
So That (Part 19)
O God,
Remind us to look down
so that
we will remember that we are of the earth, that we are connected to the earth, and that we will return to the earth.
Amen.
O God,
Remind us to look down
so that
we will remember that we are of the earth, that we are connected to the earth, and that we will return to the earth.
Amen.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
A Prayer for Wednesday, September 4, 2013
So That (Part 18)
O God,
Remind us to look up
so that
we will remember that you are looking down on us with love and mercy.
Amen.
O God,
Remind us to look up
so that
we will remember that you are looking down on us with love and mercy.
Amen.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
A Prayer for Tuesday, September 3, 2013
So That (Part 17)
O God,
Grant us your light
so that
no matter how great the darkness around us, we can see well enough to find our way.
Amen.
O God,
Grant us your light
so that
no matter how great the darkness around us, we can see well enough to find our way.
Amen.
Monday, September 2, 2013
A Prayer for Monday, September 2, 2013
So That (Part 16)
O God,
Help us to practice Sabbath faithfully and to rest in you regularly
so that
our work will not be a burden but will rather be a gift to us, to you, and to the world.
Amen.
O God,
Help us to practice Sabbath faithfully and to rest in you regularly
so that
our work will not be a burden but will rather be a gift to us, to you, and to the world.
Amen.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
A Prayer for Sunday, September 1, 2013
The Lord’s Day
O God,
You are Almighty God, the Creator and Sustainer of all that is and the Savior and Lord of all of us; as we praise you for who you are we cannot help but realize what we are—and what we are not—in comparison to you.
And yet you reveal yourself to us, you come to us, and you love us; so we praise you not only for your awesomeness and your otherness but also for your grace that is seen most clearly in the life, death, and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ who humbled himself to the point of dying on the cross.
May we worship you well today; may we worship you as the God who is far beyond us and who yet comes to us.
Amen.
O God,
You are Almighty God, the Creator and Sustainer of all that is and the Savior and Lord of all of us; as we praise you for who you are we cannot help but realize what we are—and what we are not—in comparison to you.
And yet you reveal yourself to us, you come to us, and you love us; so we praise you not only for your awesomeness and your otherness but also for your grace that is seen most clearly in the life, death, and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ who humbled himself to the point of dying on the cross.
May we worship you well today; may we worship you as the God who is far beyond us and who yet comes to us.
Amen.
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