Hop, Skip, Jump
O God,
Some problems are small
and we don’t need to make
a big deal of them;
help us to hop over such problems.
Some problems are opportunities
and need to be eagerly confronted;
help us to skip through such problems.
Some problems are huge
and need to be handled
with daring courage;
help us to jump into such problems.
Give us
faith to hop,
joy to skip,
and
courage to jump—
and discernment to know
which action is appropriate.
Amen.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Monday, September 29, 2014
A Prayer for Monday, September 29, 2014
Eternal
O God,
We stand in awe of the truth that you are eternal; indeed, it is impossible for us in our mortality to get our minds around it and so all we can do is to praise you in light of it.
As best as we can tell, for you to be eternal means that you exist outside of time. Therefore, for you there is no past, present, and future; for you, it is all of one piece. Again, our minds are boggled and all we can do is to praise you.
To know you and to know your Son whom you have sent is eternal life; so your Book tells us. Even now, then, because of your grace in allowing us to know you, we are already living the eternal life. Again, our minds boggle and we must praise you.
It seems to us, though, that to have eternal life could mean that we are better able to see life as you see it and to evaluate events as you evaluate them. Insofar as such insight is available to us, we praise you for it and we ask you to help us to grow in it and to take full advantage of it.
Help us to live fully in the moment in which we find ourselves but help us also to live in it light of the big picture—in light of the eternal picture.
Amen.
O God,
We stand in awe of the truth that you are eternal; indeed, it is impossible for us in our mortality to get our minds around it and so all we can do is to praise you in light of it.
As best as we can tell, for you to be eternal means that you exist outside of time. Therefore, for you there is no past, present, and future; for you, it is all of one piece. Again, our minds are boggled and all we can do is to praise you.
To know you and to know your Son whom you have sent is eternal life; so your Book tells us. Even now, then, because of your grace in allowing us to know you, we are already living the eternal life. Again, our minds boggle and we must praise you.
It seems to us, though, that to have eternal life could mean that we are better able to see life as you see it and to evaluate events as you evaluate them. Insofar as such insight is available to us, we praise you for it and we ask you to help us to grow in it and to take full advantage of it.
Help us to live fully in the moment in which we find ourselves but help us also to live in it light of the big picture—in light of the eternal picture.
Amen.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
A Prayer for Sunday, September 28, 2014
The Lord’s Day
O God,
We praise you today
because Jesus Christ was
raised from the dead.
We praise you today
because you are God
not of the dead but
of the living.
We praise you today
because in Christ we
will be raised to new life.
We praise you today
because in Christ we
have been raised to walk
in newness of life.
We praise you today
because those who
believe in you
will never die.
We praise you today
because you deliver us from
those events that threaten
to take the life out of us.
We praise you today
because Jesus Christ
is risen.
Amen.
O God,
We praise you today
because Jesus Christ was
raised from the dead.
We praise you today
because you are God
not of the dead but
of the living.
We praise you today
because in Christ we
will be raised to new life.
We praise you today
because in Christ we
have been raised to walk
in newness of life.
We praise you today
because those who
believe in you
will never die.
We praise you today
because you deliver us from
those events that threaten
to take the life out of us.
We praise you today
because Jesus Christ
is risen.
Amen.
Saturday, September 27, 2014
A Prayer for Saturday, September 27, 2014
Pause
O God,
Remind us to pause every now and then
to be still,
to take a deep breath,
to look toward the heavens,
to look within ourselves,
to listen for you,
to break the pattern,
to change the routine,
to seek perspective,
to remember that you are,
to remember who we are,
to celebrate your grace,
to offer thanks,
and
to ask for help.
Remind us to pause every now and then …
Amen.
O God,
Remind us to pause every now and then
to be still,
to take a deep breath,
to look toward the heavens,
to look within ourselves,
to listen for you,
to break the pattern,
to change the routine,
to seek perspective,
to remember that you are,
to remember who we are,
to celebrate your grace,
to offer thanks,
and
to ask for help.
Remind us to pause every now and then …
Amen.
Friday, September 26, 2014
A Prayer for Friday, September 26, 2014
Too
O God,
Sometimes we do too much.
We do too much
to manage our lives,
to keep ourselves entertained,
to make more money,
and
to avoid the pain of caring.
Sometimes we do too little.
We do too little
to stay in communion with you,
to understand other people,
to pay attention to what’s happening around us,
and
to do what we can to help make things better.
Help us to do just enough
to take care of ourselves;
help us to trust in you to provide for us
and help us to give up our anxiety about our lives.
Help us to do more and more
to serve you by helping others;
help us to give ourselves away
out of love for you and for our neighbors.
Amen.
O God,
Sometimes we do too much.
We do too much
to manage our lives,
to keep ourselves entertained,
to make more money,
and
to avoid the pain of caring.
Sometimes we do too little.
We do too little
to stay in communion with you,
to understand other people,
to pay attention to what’s happening around us,
and
to do what we can to help make things better.
Help us to do just enough
to take care of ourselves;
help us to trust in you to provide for us
and help us to give up our anxiety about our lives.
Help us to do more and more
to serve you by helping others;
help us to give ourselves away
out of love for you and for our neighbors.
Amen.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
A Prayer for Thursday, September 25, 2014
Ignorance
O God,
Give us grace to accept that there is a lot we don’t know
and that there will always be a lot that we don’t know.
Thank you that we know more than we used to know.
Thank you that we can constantly be learning more.
Thank you that we don’t have to accept our ignorance
and that we can always be growing in knowledge.
Never let us be content in our ignorance;
never let us be proud of our ignorance.
Give us grace to accept our limitations
even as we strive to overcome them.
Give us grace to accept mystery
even as we try to understand it.
Give us grace never to accept ignorance
but always to be eager to learn.
Amen.
O God,
Give us grace to accept that there is a lot we don’t know
and that there will always be a lot that we don’t know.
Thank you that we know more than we used to know.
Thank you that we can constantly be learning more.
Thank you that we don’t have to accept our ignorance
and that we can always be growing in knowledge.
Never let us be content in our ignorance;
never let us be proud of our ignorance.
Give us grace to accept our limitations
even as we strive to overcome them.
Give us grace to accept mystery
even as we try to understand it.
Give us grace never to accept ignorance
but always to be eager to learn.
Amen.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
A Prayer for Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Never
O God,
“Never say ‘never,’” the saying goes.
But help us to say “never” when it’s appropriate
and let us say it with conviction and with integrity.
Help us to say
that we’ll never give up,
that we’ll never stop trying,
that we’ll never finish growing,
that we’ll never cease giving,
that we’ll never stop trusting,
that we’ll never stop helping,
that we’ll never stop learning,
and
that we’ll never stop loving.
Having said what we’ll never do,
let our lives show that we mean it.
Amen.
O God,
“Never say ‘never,’” the saying goes.
But help us to say “never” when it’s appropriate
and let us say it with conviction and with integrity.
Help us to say
that we’ll never give up,
that we’ll never stop trying,
that we’ll never finish growing,
that we’ll never cease giving,
that we’ll never stop trusting,
that we’ll never stop helping,
that we’ll never stop learning,
and
that we’ll never stop loving.
Having said what we’ll never do,
let our lives show that we mean it.
Amen.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
A Prayer for Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Between
O God,
Thank you for birth and death
and for everything in between.
Thank you for this life
that you give us to live.
Help us to make the most of life;
help us to live it
with great trust,
with great hope,
with great grace,
with great joy,
with great empathy,
with great compassion,
and
with great love.
Help us to live fully in the moment
and to experience fully what is happening;
at the same time,
help us to live beyond the moment
and to see the broader context and implications
of what is happening.
Today’s events are enough
for us to deal with today.
And thy kingdom come;
thy will be done …
Amen.
O God,
Thank you for birth and death
and for everything in between.
Thank you for this life
that you give us to live.
Help us to make the most of life;
help us to live it
with great trust,
with great hope,
with great grace,
with great joy,
with great empathy,
with great compassion,
and
with great love.
Help us to live fully in the moment
and to experience fully what is happening;
at the same time,
help us to live beyond the moment
and to see the broader context and implications
of what is happening.
Today’s events are enough
for us to deal with today.
And thy kingdom come;
thy will be done …
Amen.
Monday, September 22, 2014
A Prayer for Monday, September 22, 2014
Awake, Alive, Alert
O God,
We are awake.
We are alive.
We are alert.
Thank you!
As this week progresses,
help us to stay awake
so that we will fully experience
what is ours to experience;
help us to stay alive
so that we will be engaged
with life fully and joyfully;
help us to stay alert
so that we will see
who and what
we need to see
so that we can react and respond
as we should.
In all things,
help us
to be awake to you,
to be alive in you,
and
to be alert to you.
Amen.
O God,
We are awake.
We are alive.
We are alert.
Thank you!
As this week progresses,
help us to stay awake
so that we will fully experience
what is ours to experience;
help us to stay alive
so that we will be engaged
with life fully and joyfully;
help us to stay alert
so that we will see
who and what
we need to see
so that we can react and respond
as we should.
In all things,
help us
to be awake to you,
to be alive in you,
and
to be alert to you.
Amen.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
A Prayer for Sunday, September 21, 2014
The Lord’s Day
O God,
We worship you today
because you are God,
because you made us,
because you sustain us,
and
because you love us.
We worship you today
as people who acknowledge
that you are God,
that you made us,
that you sustain us,
and
that you love us.
As we worship you today,
help us to grow in
our knowledge of
and
appreciation for
who you are.
As a by-product of our worship today,
help us to grow in
our knowledge of
and
appreciation for
who we are.
Amen.
O God,
We worship you today
because you are God,
because you made us,
because you sustain us,
and
because you love us.
We worship you today
as people who acknowledge
that you are God,
that you made us,
that you sustain us,
and
that you love us.
As we worship you today,
help us to grow in
our knowledge of
and
appreciation for
who you are.
As a by-product of our worship today,
help us to grow in
our knowledge of
and
appreciation for
who we are.
Amen.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
A Prayer for Saturday, September 20, 2014
Only You
O God,
Only you can see my heart.
Only you can know my motives.
Only you can mold my spirit.
Only you can know me as I really am.
Only you can judge me for who I truly am.
Only you can transform me into who I can be.
Help me to acknowledge
and to live in light of the truth
that only you are God,
that only you know me,
that only you made me to be
who only I am, and
that only you can shape me into
the person that only I can be.
Amen.
O God,
Only you can see my heart.
Only you can know my motives.
Only you can mold my spirit.
Only you can know me as I really am.
Only you can judge me for who I truly am.
Only you can transform me into who I can be.
Help me to acknowledge
and to live in light of the truth
that only you are God,
that only you know me,
that only you made me to be
who only I am, and
that only you can shape me into
the person that only I can be.
Amen.
Friday, September 19, 2014
A Prayer for Friday, September 19, 2014
Violence
O God,
We hear so much about violence because there is so much of it in our culture and in the world. Somehow we manage simultaneously to fear violence and to glorify it; forgive us for our fascination with it and for our acceptance of it. Help us to do better at understanding it, at resisting it, and at lessening it. Help us to pursue the kind of relationship with you, with ourselves, and with each other that will make for genuine peace in our own lives and in the communities of which we are a part.
Protect us from the violence that could be done to us.
Protect us even more from the even greater danger of the violence that we can do to ourselves and to others.
Protect us from attitudes and assumptions that cause us to think more of ourselves and of our kind than we ought and to think less of others than we ought. Protect us from words that are born of a need to be defensive that leads us to be offensive in the use of our words against others. Protect us from our tendency to think that because we are relatively safe and secure that we need have no concern about other peoples’ lack of safety and security.
Give us such peace with you, with ourselves, and with others that our default setting is one of love, grace, kindness, acceptance, and openness toward everybody and especially toward the person who is right in front of us at any given time. Give us such security in you that we genuinely have no fear of what any other person can do to us. Give us an attitude toward life that refuses to live in fear and that refuses to accept a world in which anyone has to live in fear.
Amen.
O God,
We hear so much about violence because there is so much of it in our culture and in the world. Somehow we manage simultaneously to fear violence and to glorify it; forgive us for our fascination with it and for our acceptance of it. Help us to do better at understanding it, at resisting it, and at lessening it. Help us to pursue the kind of relationship with you, with ourselves, and with each other that will make for genuine peace in our own lives and in the communities of which we are a part.
Protect us from the violence that could be done to us.
Protect us even more from the even greater danger of the violence that we can do to ourselves and to others.
Protect us from attitudes and assumptions that cause us to think more of ourselves and of our kind than we ought and to think less of others than we ought. Protect us from words that are born of a need to be defensive that leads us to be offensive in the use of our words against others. Protect us from our tendency to think that because we are relatively safe and secure that we need have no concern about other peoples’ lack of safety and security.
Give us such peace with you, with ourselves, and with others that our default setting is one of love, grace, kindness, acceptance, and openness toward everybody and especially toward the person who is right in front of us at any given time. Give us such security in you that we genuinely have no fear of what any other person can do to us. Give us an attitude toward life that refuses to live in fear and that refuses to accept a world in which anyone has to live in fear.
Amen.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
A Prayer for Thursday, September 18, 2014
Listen
O God,
Thank you for listening to us
when we speak to you.
Help us to listen to you
when you speak to us.
Make us sensitive to your
voice as it comes to us in
the advice of wise friends,
the glory of nature,
the events of history,
the words of Scripture,
the writings of trustworthy women and men,
the preaching of the Word,
the gentle stirrings of your Spirit,
the life of Jesus Christ,
and
from unexpected and surprising sources.
Help us to listen to you, O God.
Then let our lives demonstrate
that we have in fact heard you.
Amen.
O God,
Thank you for listening to us
when we speak to you.
Help us to listen to you
when you speak to us.
Make us sensitive to your
voice as it comes to us in
the advice of wise friends,
the glory of nature,
the events of history,
the words of Scripture,
the writings of trustworthy women and men,
the preaching of the Word,
the gentle stirrings of your Spirit,
the life of Jesus Christ,
and
from unexpected and surprising sources.
Help us to listen to you, O God.
Then let our lives demonstrate
that we have in fact heard you.
Amen.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
A Prayer for Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Rhythm
O God,
Let us feel the rhythm of the world today.
If today is like every other day up until now,
at times the world’s rhythm will be steady
while at other times it will be irregular;
at times it will be quick
while at other times it will be slow;
at times it will be smooth
while at other times it will be broken;
at times it will be celebrative
while at other times it will be mournful.
Let us feel the rhythm of the world today
and let us participate in it as we should.
Let us also offer the counter rhythm of your kingdom.
When the world beats out a rhythm of fear,
let us offer the counter rhythm of trust;
when the world beats out a rhythm of war,
let us offer the counter rhythm of peace;
when the world beats out a rhythm of despair,
let us offer the counter rhythm of hope;
when the world beats out a rhythm of hate,
let us offer the counter rhythm of love;
when the world beats out a rhythm of aimlessness,
let us offer the counter rhythm of purpose.
Help us to remember that
the counter rhythm of the kingdom
will not drown out the rhythm of the world;
help us nonetheless to offer it
alongside and within the world’s rhythm
so as to alter the sound
and to change the song …
Amen.
O God,
Let us feel the rhythm of the world today.
If today is like every other day up until now,
at times the world’s rhythm will be steady
while at other times it will be irregular;
at times it will be quick
while at other times it will be slow;
at times it will be smooth
while at other times it will be broken;
at times it will be celebrative
while at other times it will be mournful.
Let us feel the rhythm of the world today
and let us participate in it as we should.
Let us also offer the counter rhythm of your kingdom.
When the world beats out a rhythm of fear,
let us offer the counter rhythm of trust;
when the world beats out a rhythm of war,
let us offer the counter rhythm of peace;
when the world beats out a rhythm of despair,
let us offer the counter rhythm of hope;
when the world beats out a rhythm of hate,
let us offer the counter rhythm of love;
when the world beats out a rhythm of aimlessness,
let us offer the counter rhythm of purpose.
Help us to remember that
the counter rhythm of the kingdom
will not drown out the rhythm of the world;
help us nonetheless to offer it
alongside and within the world’s rhythm
so as to alter the sound
and to change the song …
Amen.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
A Prayer for Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Wander
O God,
I confess that I am
prone to wander.
Hard as I try to stay focused,
sometimes my mind will wander.
When it does, let its wandering
always lead me back to you.
Hard as I try to stay on the right path,
sometimes my steps will wander.
When they do, let their wandering
always lead me back to you.
Hard as I try to stay close to you,
sometimes my spirit will wander.
When it does, let its wandering
always lead me back to you.
I am prone to wander;
let me be more prone
to wander back to you.
Amen.
O God,
I confess that I am
prone to wander.
Hard as I try to stay focused,
sometimes my mind will wander.
When it does, let its wandering
always lead me back to you.
Hard as I try to stay on the right path,
sometimes my steps will wander.
When they do, let their wandering
always lead me back to you.
Hard as I try to stay close to you,
sometimes my spirit will wander.
When it does, let its wandering
always lead me back to you.
I am prone to wander;
let me be more prone
to wander back to you.
Amen.
Monday, September 15, 2014
A Prayer for Monday, September 15, 2014
Step
O God,
Guide our steps as we journey through this week.
Show us when we need to step around something. Sometimes the best we can do with a situation is to avoid it. Help us to recognize such situations and to step accordingly.
Show us when we need to step over something. Sometimes the proper response to a situation is to rise above it. Help us to recognize such situations and to step accordingly.
Show us when we need to step back from something. Sometimes we need to take our time and ponder a situation. Help us to recognize such situations and to step accordingly.
Show us when we need to step into something. Sometimes we need to insert ourselves into a situation and offer our deep involvement. Help us to recognize such situations and to step accordingly.
Guide our steps, O God, as we journey through this week.
Amen.
O God,
Guide our steps as we journey through this week.
Show us when we need to step around something. Sometimes the best we can do with a situation is to avoid it. Help us to recognize such situations and to step accordingly.
Show us when we need to step over something. Sometimes the proper response to a situation is to rise above it. Help us to recognize such situations and to step accordingly.
Show us when we need to step back from something. Sometimes we need to take our time and ponder a situation. Help us to recognize such situations and to step accordingly.
Show us when we need to step into something. Sometimes we need to insert ourselves into a situation and offer our deep involvement. Help us to recognize such situations and to step accordingly.
Guide our steps, O God, as we journey through this week.
Amen.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
A Prayer for Sunday, September 14, 2014
The Lord’s Day
O God,
We are coming out of a week
in which we have done too much
and
in which we have done too little.
We have done too much
to try to make our own way,
to try to justify our attitudes and behaviors,
to try to think less of others so we can think more of ourselves,
and
to try to maintain the illusion that busyness equals necessity.
We need to rest, O God.
We need to step aside,
to honor you,
to let the world run without us,
and
to gain some perspective on our place in the world.
We have done too little
to develop our trust in you,
to grow in your grace,
to be still and know that you are God,
to think more of others than we do of ourselves,
and
to look for ways to serve rather than for ways to be served.
We need to reflect, O God.
We need to step aside,
to worship you,
to seek your forgiveness,
and
to submit our lives to your will and way.
Thank you for this Lord’s Day.
Let it be a day in which we learn
how better to live in light
of who you are
and
of who we are—and aren’t.
Amen.
O God,
We are coming out of a week
in which we have done too much
and
in which we have done too little.
We have done too much
to try to make our own way,
to try to justify our attitudes and behaviors,
to try to think less of others so we can think more of ourselves,
and
to try to maintain the illusion that busyness equals necessity.
We need to rest, O God.
We need to step aside,
to honor you,
to let the world run without us,
and
to gain some perspective on our place in the world.
We have done too little
to develop our trust in you,
to grow in your grace,
to be still and know that you are God,
to think more of others than we do of ourselves,
and
to look for ways to serve rather than for ways to be served.
We need to reflect, O God.
We need to step aside,
to worship you,
to seek your forgiveness,
and
to submit our lives to your will and way.
Thank you for this Lord’s Day.
Let it be a day in which we learn
how better to live in light
of who you are
and
of who we are—and aren’t.
Amen.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
A Prayer for Saturday, September 13, 2014
Cycle
O God,
We have experienced your love; let us share much love that we might experience even more of your love and then show more love and so on and so on ...
We have experienced your grace; let us share much grace that we might experience even more of your grace and then show more grace and so on and so on …
We have experienced your forgiveness; let us share much forgiveness that we might experience even more of your forgiveness and then show more forgiveness and so on and so on …
We have experienced your mercy; let us share much mercy that we might experience even more of your mercy and then show more mercy and so on and so on …
We have experienced you; let us share ourselves that we might experience even more of you and then share more of ourselves and so on and so on …
Amen.
O God,
We have experienced your love; let us share much love that we might experience even more of your love and then show more love and so on and so on ...
We have experienced your grace; let us share much grace that we might experience even more of your grace and then show more grace and so on and so on …
We have experienced your forgiveness; let us share much forgiveness that we might experience even more of your forgiveness and then show more forgiveness and so on and so on …
We have experienced your mercy; let us share much mercy that we might experience even more of your mercy and then show more mercy and so on and so on …
We have experienced you; let us share ourselves that we might experience even more of you and then share more of ourselves and so on and so on …
Amen.
Friday, September 12, 2014
A Prayer for Friday, September 12, 2014
Show
O God,
Show us how to live so that
our hearts are always being formed
in ways that make us
more genuinely Christ-like.
Show us how to live so that
our actions are always becoming
more genuinely Christ-like
because our motives are becoming
more genuinely Christ-like.
Show us how to live so that
our actions are carried out because
they must be done if we are
genuinely to be who we are
becoming in Christ.
Show us how to live so that
our actions are not
for show
but are
for real.
Amen.
O God,
Show us how to live so that
our hearts are always being formed
in ways that make us
more genuinely Christ-like.
Show us how to live so that
our actions are always becoming
more genuinely Christ-like
because our motives are becoming
more genuinely Christ-like.
Show us how to live so that
our actions are carried out because
they must be done if we are
genuinely to be who we are
becoming in Christ.
Show us how to live so that
our actions are not
for show
but are
for real.
Amen.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
A Prayer for Thursday, September 11, 2014
Exceed
O God,
Deliver us from arrogance that
would lead us think for even a moment
that we could ever exceed
your expectations of us.
Remind us that even if we
meet your expectations of us
we have only done what
we should have done and
we have done so only
by your grace and by your Spirit.
Help us to exceed
our expectations of ourselves.
Help our commitment to you
to become ever more comprehensive and
our commitment to others
to become ever more complete.
Help us not to have
low expectations of ourselves
so that to meet or exceed them
requires little of us;
help us instead to have
high expectations of ourselves
so that to meet or exceed them
requires much of us—indeed,
so that to meet or exceed them
requires our acknowledgement that
we could never have met or exceeded them
without your help.
Let our growth
in our love for you,
in our love for others,
in our trust in you,
in our obedience to you,
in our acceptance of your forgiveness,
in our offering of forgiveness to others,
in our personal integrity,
and
in our sacrificial service
be such that we find it
impossible to congratulate ourselves
for what we have accomplished and
possible only to praise you.
Amen.
O God,
Deliver us from arrogance that
would lead us think for even a moment
that we could ever exceed
your expectations of us.
Remind us that even if we
meet your expectations of us
we have only done what
we should have done and
we have done so only
by your grace and by your Spirit.
Help us to exceed
our expectations of ourselves.
Help our commitment to you
to become ever more comprehensive and
our commitment to others
to become ever more complete.
Help us not to have
low expectations of ourselves
so that to meet or exceed them
requires little of us;
help us instead to have
high expectations of ourselves
so that to meet or exceed them
requires much of us—indeed,
so that to meet or exceed them
requires our acknowledgement that
we could never have met or exceeded them
without your help.
Let our growth
in our love for you,
in our love for others,
in our trust in you,
in our obedience to you,
in our acceptance of your forgiveness,
in our offering of forgiveness to others,
in our personal integrity,
and
in our sacrificial service
be such that we find it
impossible to congratulate ourselves
for what we have accomplished and
possible only to praise you.
Amen.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
A Prayer for Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Great
O God,
Help us to be great today
in the ways that
matter most to you.
Help us
to show great love,
to exercise great faith,
to exhibit great mercy,
to practice great hope,
and
to demonstrate great kindness.
Help us to be great in your eyes
even if such greatness means that
we are small in the eyes of others.
Amen.
O God,
Help us to be great today
in the ways that
matter most to you.
Help us
to show great love,
to exercise great faith,
to exhibit great mercy,
to practice great hope,
and
to demonstrate great kindness.
Help us to be great in your eyes
even if such greatness means that
we are small in the eyes of others.
Amen.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
A Prayer for Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Shine On
O God,
We praise you for the wonders of creation, one of which is that many of the stars that we “see” at night have in fact been dead for a very long time; even though light is, so far as we know, the fastest thing in the universe, those stars were so far away and it takes their light so long to reach us that we still receive that light long after the stars are gone.
We praise you for the people who are like those stars to us; though they have been dead for a long time, their light shined so brightly that we can still see it. In some cases, their light shines so brightly that it is almost as if they are still here even though they are long gone. Perhaps their light lingers because they reflected your light.
Help us to reflect your light and to let our light shine so that the light of our lives will still be seen long after we are gone.
Amen.
O God,
We praise you for the wonders of creation, one of which is that many of the stars that we “see” at night have in fact been dead for a very long time; even though light is, so far as we know, the fastest thing in the universe, those stars were so far away and it takes their light so long to reach us that we still receive that light long after the stars are gone.
We praise you for the people who are like those stars to us; though they have been dead for a long time, their light shined so brightly that we can still see it. In some cases, their light shines so brightly that it is almost as if they are still here even though they are long gone. Perhaps their light lingers because they reflected your light.
Help us to reflect your light and to let our light shine so that the light of our lives will still be seen long after we are gone.
Amen.
Monday, September 8, 2014
A Prayer for Monday, September 8, 2014
Orientation
O God,
Work in us by your grace
and through your Spirit
to orient us toward life
and not toward death.
Help us to see that for those
who are willing to risk it,
the living of life continuously
opens up to new possibilities
and to ever broadening
experiences,
understandings,
and
relationships.
Help us to grow away from
our tendency to let our fears
cause us to limit our lives
to that with which and
to those with whom
we are comfortable,
to that with which and
to those who
do not challenge us,
and
to that which and
to those who
keep our perspective limited,
our minds narrow,
and
our lives small.
Help us to live with
an orientation toward life
that causes us to experience
life more and more fully
and more and more broadly
so that when the gift of
our sojourn on Earth is over,
we will be ready for
and not surprised by
the indescribably broad vistas
and unlimited possibilities
that lay before us.
Amen.
O God,
Work in us by your grace
and through your Spirit
to orient us toward life
and not toward death.
Help us to see that for those
who are willing to risk it,
the living of life continuously
opens up to new possibilities
and to ever broadening
experiences,
understandings,
and
relationships.
Help us to grow away from
our tendency to let our fears
cause us to limit our lives
to that with which and
to those with whom
we are comfortable,
to that with which and
to those who
do not challenge us,
and
to that which and
to those who
keep our perspective limited,
our minds narrow,
and
our lives small.
Help us to live with
an orientation toward life
that causes us to experience
life more and more fully
and more and more broadly
so that when the gift of
our sojourn on Earth is over,
we will be ready for
and not surprised by
the indescribably broad vistas
and unlimited possibilities
that lay before us.
Amen.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
A Prayer for Sunday, September 7, 2014
The Lord’s Day
O God,
We thank you that
we are alive today
to praise you
for all that you are,
for all that you have done,
for all that you are doing,
and
for all that you will do.
We praise you
because in you
we have life,
we have real life,
we have eternal life,
we have abundant life,
and
we have hopeful life.
We acknowledge that
we can know you only
because you in your grace
choose to make
yourself known to us.
Help us to move
more and more toward
worshiping you in spirit
and in truth even as
we humbly admit that
we cannot know
or understand you fully.
We thank you that one day
we will awake to the opportunity
to worship you fully and forever.
Amen.
O God,
We thank you that
we are alive today
to praise you
for all that you are,
for all that you have done,
for all that you are doing,
and
for all that you will do.
We praise you
because in you
we have life,
we have real life,
we have eternal life,
we have abundant life,
and
we have hopeful life.
We acknowledge that
we can know you only
because you in your grace
choose to make
yourself known to us.
Help us to move
more and more toward
worshiping you in spirit
and in truth even as
we humbly admit that
we cannot know
or understand you fully.
We thank you that one day
we will awake to the opportunity
to worship you fully and forever.
Amen.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
A Prayer for Saturday, September 6, 2014
Words
O God,
For words that ring,
for words that sing, and
for words that sting
we thank you.
Help us
to hear the words we need to hear,
to heed the words we need to heed, and
to bear the words we need to bear.
Amen.
O God,
For words that ring,
for words that sing, and
for words that sting
we thank you.
Help us
to hear the words we need to hear,
to heed the words we need to heed, and
to bear the words we need to bear.
Amen.
Friday, September 5, 2014
A Prayer for Friday, September 5, 2014
Wide
O God,
In the months leading up to our birth, we were safe and secure in a confined space; then, we navigated the narrowness of the birth canal until we emerged into the wide, wide world. We drew our first breath, we cried our first cry, and then we settled in for the long haul.
Ever since, we’ve been fighting the temptation to find another confined and safe place to stay in rather than facing the challenge and embracing the wonder of continually moving out into the wide, wide world.
We thank you that in you we have a safe secure place in the core of our being to which we can retreat to find strength and rest. But give us the curiosity, the incentive, the courage, and the openness to go out from that secure place to explore the wonders of your creation, the wonders of various cultures, the wonders of diverse people, and the wonders of endless possibilities.
We thank you that one day we will be safe and secure forever. But surely when we are, we will have the eternal opportunity to explore the vastness of all of your heavens; surely we’ll spend time resting in you and praising you and celebrating our security but will also spend time experiencing everything there is to experience.
Remind us to get started now …
Amen.
O God,
In the months leading up to our birth, we were safe and secure in a confined space; then, we navigated the narrowness of the birth canal until we emerged into the wide, wide world. We drew our first breath, we cried our first cry, and then we settled in for the long haul.
Ever since, we’ve been fighting the temptation to find another confined and safe place to stay in rather than facing the challenge and embracing the wonder of continually moving out into the wide, wide world.
We thank you that in you we have a safe secure place in the core of our being to which we can retreat to find strength and rest. But give us the curiosity, the incentive, the courage, and the openness to go out from that secure place to explore the wonders of your creation, the wonders of various cultures, the wonders of diverse people, and the wonders of endless possibilities.
We thank you that one day we will be safe and secure forever. But surely when we are, we will have the eternal opportunity to explore the vastness of all of your heavens; surely we’ll spend time resting in you and praising you and celebrating our security but will also spend time experiencing everything there is to experience.
Remind us to get started now …
Amen.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
A Prayer for Thursday, September 4, 2014
Afraid
O God,
There is so much going on in the world right now that can make us afraid.
There are the wars in Syria and Iraq, in Israel and Palestine, and in Ukraine.
There is the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
There is the ongoing threat of terrorism.
Fill us with trust in you so that there will be no room for fear.
Give our leaders and the leaders of other nations and groups the desire to work for peace and the wisdom to know how to foster it.
Give medical professionals and researchers wisdom and insight as they work to treat and to find cures for dreaded diseases.
Cause our hope for the future to be stronger than our worries about the present.
Grant us your peace …
Amen.
O God,
There is so much going on in the world right now that can make us afraid.
There are the wars in Syria and Iraq, in Israel and Palestine, and in Ukraine.
There is the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
There is the ongoing threat of terrorism.
Fill us with trust in you so that there will be no room for fear.
Give our leaders and the leaders of other nations and groups the desire to work for peace and the wisdom to know how to foster it.
Give medical professionals and researchers wisdom and insight as they work to treat and to find cures for dreaded diseases.
Cause our hope for the future to be stronger than our worries about the present.
Grant us your peace …
Amen.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
A Prayer for Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Direction
O God,
We will have many choices today
about which way to go.
Give us a good sense of direction
so we’ll know which way we should head.
Let the grace and love that are ours in Christ our Lord
be the star by which we orient our journey;
let your Holy Spirit that is your presence with us
be our guide as we travel;
let your Book that tells your story
help us to find our place in that story.
Give us faith to trust
that you will lead us
in the way we should go.
Give us faith to trust
that when we go the wrong way
you will still lead us
to our destination.
Amen.
O God,
We will have many choices today
about which way to go.
Give us a good sense of direction
so we’ll know which way we should head.
Let the grace and love that are ours in Christ our Lord
be the star by which we orient our journey;
let your Holy Spirit that is your presence with us
be our guide as we travel;
let your Book that tells your story
help us to find our place in that story.
Give us faith to trust
that you will lead us
in the way we should go.
Give us faith to trust
that when we go the wrong way
you will still lead us
to our destination.
Amen.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
A Prayer for Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Today
O God,
Thank you that today
the Earth is rotating on its axis,
the sun is shining in the sky,
blood is circulating in our bodies,
air is filling our lungs,
thoughts are forming in our brains,
love is stirring in our hearts,
and
you are enlivening our spirits.
Help us to show our appreciation
by making the most
of this day,
by doing all the good we can
in this day,
and
by sharing all the love and hope we can
in this day.
Amen.
O God,
Thank you that today
the Earth is rotating on its axis,
the sun is shining in the sky,
blood is circulating in our bodies,
air is filling our lungs,
thoughts are forming in our brains,
love is stirring in our hearts,
and
you are enlivening our spirits.
Help us to show our appreciation
by making the most
of this day,
by doing all the good we can
in this day,
and
by sharing all the love and hope we can
in this day.
Amen.
Monday, September 1, 2014
A Prayer for Monday, September 1, 2014
Together
O God,
Help us to keep it together; don’t let the stresses placed upon us by life cause us to come apart at the seams.
On the other hand, let such stresses cause our seams to pull apart just enough for more of your grace to come through since it is only by your grace that we can keep it together. And the more stress we experience, the more of your grace we need.
Thank you that no matter what happens, nothing can separate us from your love; thank you that in your love you and we always stay together.
Amen.
O God,
Help us to keep it together; don’t let the stresses placed upon us by life cause us to come apart at the seams.
On the other hand, let such stresses cause our seams to pull apart just enough for more of your grace to come through since it is only by your grace that we can keep it together. And the more stress we experience, the more of your grace we need.
Thank you that no matter what happens, nothing can separate us from your love; thank you that in your love you and we always stay together.
Amen.
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