Again
O God,
This week we will do lots of
things that we do every week.
We have done them many times before;
this week we will do them again.
Thank you for routine. Thank you for things
we do so regularly that they come naturally.
Don’t let us do them without thinking, though.
Help us to pay attention even to routine matters
and actions since we never know when something
new—some new angle, some new approach, some
new possibility, or some new opportunity—
might spring up in the midst of the regular.
Help us to anticipate the unanticipated
and to expect the unexpected.
Keep us ready to respond—and even to change.
Help us to remember that, even if we’ve
done something many times before,
we’ve never done it this time.
And we never know how it might be different . . .
Amen.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Sunday, August 30, 2015
A Prayer for Sunday, August 30, 2015
The Lord’s Day
O God,
We praise you for your presence
among us as we gather to worship you.
We praise you for your presence
in us as we go about our daily lives.
Make us as aware as we possibly can be
of your presence in and among us as
we worship you and as we serve you.
Also make us as aware as we possibly can be
of how we who are your people are
your presence in the world. Help us
by our attitudes,
by our words, and
by our actions
to bear witness to others of the
Savior who lived, died and rose again.
Help us to bear witness in everything we
are and in everything we do to bear witness
to your love, grace, mercy, peace, and hope.
Thank you for your presence with us.
Let us be your presence to others.
Amen.
O God,
We praise you for your presence
among us as we gather to worship you.
We praise you for your presence
in us as we go about our daily lives.
Make us as aware as we possibly can be
of your presence in and among us as
we worship you and as we serve you.
Also make us as aware as we possibly can be
of how we who are your people are
your presence in the world. Help us
by our attitudes,
by our words, and
by our actions
to bear witness to others of the
Savior who lived, died and rose again.
Help us to bear witness in everything we
are and in everything we do to bear witness
to your love, grace, mercy, peace, and hope.
Thank you for your presence with us.
Let us be your presence to others.
Amen.
Saturday, August 29, 2015
A Prayer for Saturday, August 29, 2015
Instrument (Part Six)
O God,
Make us instruments of your love.
We praise you for the love you have for us.
We praise because your love is committed love;
we praise you because you are always faithful
to the relationship you choose to have with us.
We praise you because your love is sacrificial love;
we praise you because you choose
to give yourself away for our sake.
We praise you for Jesus Christ your Son and our Lord,
who is the epitome of your committed and sacrificial love.
We praise you that you have poured your love into our lives.
Fill us to overflowing so that your love will pour out of us and into others.
They’ll know we are your people by your love
that comes from you through us to them.
Let our love be committed love; let us be
consistent and faithful in our relationships.
Let our love be sacrificial love; let us put
others ahead of self so that we consistently
and gladly give ourselves away for their sake.
Lord, make us instruments of your love.
Amen.
O God,
Make us instruments of your love.
We praise you for the love you have for us.
We praise because your love is committed love;
we praise you because you are always faithful
to the relationship you choose to have with us.
We praise you because your love is sacrificial love;
we praise you because you choose
to give yourself away for our sake.
We praise you for Jesus Christ your Son and our Lord,
who is the epitome of your committed and sacrificial love.
We praise you that you have poured your love into our lives.
Fill us to overflowing so that your love will pour out of us and into others.
They’ll know we are your people by your love
that comes from you through us to them.
Let our love be committed love; let us be
consistent and faithful in our relationships.
Let our love be sacrificial love; let us put
others ahead of self so that we consistently
and gladly give ourselves away for their sake.
Lord, make us instruments of your love.
Amen.
Friday, August 28, 2015
A Prayer for Friday, August 28, 2015
Instrument (Part 5)
O God,
Make me an instrument of your mercy.
Thank you for your great mercy that
leads you to forgive me for my sins.
Let my experience and awareness of
your mercy so pervade my life that
I have to and want to extend mercy
to those who hurt or wrong me.
Rid me of all that stands between
me and my granting of mercy.
Rid me of
pride that must protect
my wounded ego,
grudges that keep track of
wrongs done to me, and
vengeance that is willing to
do wrong to make things right.
Help me to forgive others
as you forgive me.
Help me to forgive others
because you forgive me.
Lord, make me an instrument of your mercy …
Amen.
O God,
Make me an instrument of your mercy.
Thank you for your great mercy that
leads you to forgive me for my sins.
Let my experience and awareness of
your mercy so pervade my life that
I have to and want to extend mercy
to those who hurt or wrong me.
Rid me of all that stands between
me and my granting of mercy.
Rid me of
pride that must protect
my wounded ego,
grudges that keep track of
wrongs done to me, and
vengeance that is willing to
do wrong to make things right.
Help me to forgive others
as you forgive me.
Help me to forgive others
because you forgive me.
Lord, make me an instrument of your mercy …
Amen.
Thursday, August 27, 2015
A Prayer for Thursday, August 27, 2015
Instrument (Part Four)
O God,
Make me an instrument of your compassion.
Don’t let me be hard-hearted toward people
living on the margins and in the shadows.
Don’t let me be hard-headed about trying
to understand other people’s predicaments.
Don’t let me be close-fisted when it comes
to sharing what I have in order to help.
Fill me with your compassion.
Fill me with compassion that
sees people as you see them.
Fill me with compassion that
is moved by people’s hurts.
Fill me with compassion that
gives self away for others’ sake.
Fill me with the kind of compassion that
comes from having you in my heart.
Make me an instrument of your compassion …
Amen.
O God,
Make me an instrument of your compassion.
Don’t let me be hard-hearted toward people
living on the margins and in the shadows.
Don’t let me be hard-headed about trying
to understand other people’s predicaments.
Don’t let me be close-fisted when it comes
to sharing what I have in order to help.
Fill me with your compassion.
Fill me with compassion that
sees people as you see them.
Fill me with compassion that
is moved by people’s hurts.
Fill me with compassion that
gives self away for others’ sake.
Fill me with the kind of compassion that
comes from having you in my heart.
Make me an instrument of your compassion …
Amen.
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
A Prayer for Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Instrument (Part 3)
O God,
Make me an instrument of your hope.
Fill me with the assurance that you
are working your purposes out in
ways that we cannot see or imagine.
Help me to believe in and to look for
the future that you have in store
for your people and for your creation.
Prevent me from giving way
to pessimism or fatalism;
instead show me the way
to optimism and faith.
So many people have given up; so many
have given in to apathy and resignation.
Let me live among them as one who hopes
in you and in what you are going to
accomplish, both through us and despite us.
Lord, make me an instrument of your hope . . .
Amen.
O God,
Make me an instrument of your hope.
Fill me with the assurance that you
are working your purposes out in
ways that we cannot see or imagine.
Help me to believe in and to look for
the future that you have in store
for your people and for your creation.
Prevent me from giving way
to pessimism or fatalism;
instead show me the way
to optimism and faith.
So many people have given up; so many
have given in to apathy and resignation.
Let me live among them as one who hopes
in you and in what you are going to
accomplish, both through us and despite us.
Lord, make me an instrument of your hope . . .
Amen.
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
A Prayer for Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Instrument (Part 2)
O God,
Make me an instrument of your grace.
Let me grow in my awareness of the
great grace that you have given me.
Let me grow in my knowledge
that you love me,
that you accept me, and
that you embrace me.
Fill me to overflowing with your grace so
it can pour out of me and onto others.
So many people need your grace so desperately.
So many people need to know that
they are loved, accepted, and embraced.
Somehow, someway, make your grace obvious
to them
through me.
Amen.
O God,
Make me an instrument of your grace.
Let me grow in my awareness of the
great grace that you have given me.
Let me grow in my knowledge
that you love me,
that you accept me, and
that you embrace me.
Fill me to overflowing with your grace so
it can pour out of me and onto others.
So many people need your grace so desperately.
So many people need to know that
they are loved, accepted, and embraced.
Somehow, someway, make your grace obvious
to them
through me.
Amen.
Monday, August 24, 2015
A Prayer for Monday, August 24, 2015
Instrument (Part One)
O God,
Make me an instrument of your peace.
I recognize that the more peace I experience,
the more peace I have to share.
So work in me through your grace and your Spirit
to heal my brokenness and to increase my wholeness.
Help me to grow in knowing the peace of
being in a whole and sound relationship
with you,
with myself, and
with others.
Then, let me carry that peace with me
everywhere I go and into every encounter and
conversation that I have with someone else.
Give me peace that is obvious but humble.
Give me peace that is contagious and generous.
Help me to share your peace
through my presence,
through my bearing,
through my attitudes,
through my perspectives,
through my words, and
through my actions.
O God, make me an instrument of your peace . . .
Amen.
O God,
Make me an instrument of your peace.
I recognize that the more peace I experience,
the more peace I have to share.
So work in me through your grace and your Spirit
to heal my brokenness and to increase my wholeness.
Help me to grow in knowing the peace of
being in a whole and sound relationship
with you,
with myself, and
with others.
Then, let me carry that peace with me
everywhere I go and into every encounter and
conversation that I have with someone else.
Give me peace that is obvious but humble.
Give me peace that is contagious and generous.
Help me to share your peace
through my presence,
through my bearing,
through my attitudes,
through my perspectives,
through my words, and
through my actions.
O God, make me an instrument of your peace . . .
Amen.
Sunday, August 23, 2015
A Prayer for Sunday, August 23, 2015
The Lord’s Day
O God,
We will come before you in prayer today.
We will open our hearts to you so we can pour
what is in them out before you and so we can
receive into them what we need from you.
Thank you for the privilege of prayer.
Help us to remember that prayer
is communion and communication and
that communion and communication
are based on personal relationship.
So help us to grow every day
in our relationship with you.
Remind us to commune and communicate
with you every moment of every day.
Help us to live a life of prayer …
Amen.
O God,
We will come before you in prayer today.
We will open our hearts to you so we can pour
what is in them out before you and so we can
receive into them what we need from you.
Thank you for the privilege of prayer.
Help us to remember that prayer
is communion and communication and
that communion and communication
are based on personal relationship.
So help us to grow every day
in our relationship with you.
Remind us to commune and communicate
with you every moment of every day.
Help us to live a life of prayer …
Amen.
Saturday, August 22, 2015
A Prayer for Saturday, August 22, 2015
Plus Plus
O God,
Thank you for baseball.
Thank you for baseball scouts who find the talented players that we eventually get to watch in the major leagues. Thank you for the excellent terminology the scouts use to describe players.
For example, if a pitcher has a fastball that’s better than the average major league fastball, they say he has a “plus fastball.” If he has one that’s as good as the best in baseball, then he has a “plus plus fastball.”
Lord, I want to be a “plus plus” Christian. I want to be a “plus plus” follower of Jesus.
But like James and John when they asked to sit right beside you in your kingdom, I probably don’t know what I’m asking.
Am I really willing to drink the cup you drank? Am I really willing to put obeying you ahead of everything else? Am I really willing to live in ways that run completely counter to the ways of the world? Am I really willing to give myself away? Am I really willing to subsume self-interest to concern and compassion for others? Am I really willing to serve rather than be served?
Lord, I want to be a “plus plus” Christian.
Help me to count the cost—and then to pay it.
Amen.
O God,
Thank you for baseball.
Thank you for baseball scouts who find the talented players that we eventually get to watch in the major leagues. Thank you for the excellent terminology the scouts use to describe players.
For example, if a pitcher has a fastball that’s better than the average major league fastball, they say he has a “plus fastball.” If he has one that’s as good as the best in baseball, then he has a “plus plus fastball.”
Lord, I want to be a “plus plus” Christian. I want to be a “plus plus” follower of Jesus.
But like James and John when they asked to sit right beside you in your kingdom, I probably don’t know what I’m asking.
Am I really willing to drink the cup you drank? Am I really willing to put obeying you ahead of everything else? Am I really willing to live in ways that run completely counter to the ways of the world? Am I really willing to give myself away? Am I really willing to subsume self-interest to concern and compassion for others? Am I really willing to serve rather than be served?
Lord, I want to be a “plus plus” Christian.
Help me to count the cost—and then to pay it.
Amen.
Friday, August 21, 2015
A Prayer for Friday, August 21, 2015
Best (Part Four)
O God,
Help us to be the best Christians we can be.
Help us to be the best followers of Christ we can be.
But don’t let us think about it too much.
Don’t let us be motivated by trying to be the best.
Except when it comes to service, that is.
Help us to do everything we can do to be the best servants we can be.
But don’t let us think about it in terms of being the best;
let us think about it in terms of serving you by serving others.
Help us to be the best we can be at being servants.
Help us to do our best
to put others first,
to give ourselves away, and
to defend and help the powerless.
But we can't be and do our best on our own.
So fill us up with your best love so we can live our best lives.
Amen.
O God,
Help us to be the best Christians we can be.
Help us to be the best followers of Christ we can be.
But don’t let us think about it too much.
Don’t let us be motivated by trying to be the best.
Except when it comes to service, that is.
Help us to do everything we can do to be the best servants we can be.
But don’t let us think about it in terms of being the best;
let us think about it in terms of serving you by serving others.
Help us to be the best we can be at being servants.
Help us to do our best
to put others first,
to give ourselves away, and
to defend and help the powerless.
But we can't be and do our best on our own.
So fill us up with your best love so we can live our best lives.
Amen.
Thursday, August 20, 2015
A Prayer for Thursday, August 20, 2015
Best (Part Three)
O God,
Help us to want what is best.
Help us to want what is best for us.
Help us to seek your will for our lives
and then, having arrived at our best
understanding of your will, to do it.
Help us to want what is best for us
in terms of our service and sacrifice more than
in terms of our success and comfort.
Help us to want what is best for others
even more than we want what is best for us.
Help us to put the needs of
others ahead of our needs.
Help us to think of others more
than we think of ourselves.
Help us, insofar as we are able,
to want what is best for all.
Help us always to want what is best
for the person right in front of us.
Help us to want what is best.
Help us to do what we can
to help the best happen …
Amen.
O God,
Help us to want what is best.
Help us to want what is best for us.
Help us to seek your will for our lives
and then, having arrived at our best
understanding of your will, to do it.
Help us to want what is best for us
in terms of our service and sacrifice more than
in terms of our success and comfort.
Help us to want what is best for others
even more than we want what is best for us.
Help us to put the needs of
others ahead of our needs.
Help us to think of others more
than we think of ourselves.
Help us, insofar as we are able,
to want what is best for all.
Help us always to want what is best
for the person right in front of us.
Help us to want what is best.
Help us to do what we can
to help the best happen …
Amen.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
A Prayer for Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Best (Part Two)
O God,
Help us to do our best.
Help us to do with our might
what our hands find to do.
Help us to be reflective enough to
have an idea of what is worth doing.
Let us give our time, our attention, and our
effort to the things that are most important.
Let us leave undone what
doesn’t really need to be done.
Don’t let us substitute busyness with what is trivial
for engagement with what is necessary.
Help us to do our best at what is best to do.
Thank you for the abilities with which you have gifted us.
Thank you for the opportunities to develop
those gifts of which we have taken advantage.
Help us to keep growing; help us to keep
getting better at doing what we do best.
Keep us free from anxiety so we won’t waste
energy worrying that is better used working.
Give us grace to work hard but
to leave the outcomes to you.
Help us to do our best and
to trust you for the rest.
Amen.
O God,
Help us to do our best.
Help us to do with our might
what our hands find to do.
Help us to be reflective enough to
have an idea of what is worth doing.
Let us give our time, our attention, and our
effort to the things that are most important.
Let us leave undone what
doesn’t really need to be done.
Don’t let us substitute busyness with what is trivial
for engagement with what is necessary.
Help us to do our best at what is best to do.
Thank you for the abilities with which you have gifted us.
Thank you for the opportunities to develop
those gifts of which we have taken advantage.
Help us to keep growing; help us to keep
getting better at doing what we do best.
Keep us free from anxiety so we won’t waste
energy worrying that is better used working.
Give us grace to work hard but
to leave the outcomes to you.
Help us to do our best and
to trust you for the rest.
Amen.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
A Prayer for Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Best (Part One)
O God,
Help us to be our best.
But let us always be aware
that we can be our best only
in you and through you.
Keep us conscious of the
presence of your Spirit in us.
Help us constantly to give ourselves
over to your Spirit for guidance,
for wisdom, and for strength.
Keep us conscious of the presence
of your love and grace in us.
Help us constantly to give ourselves
over to their power to form
us in the image of Christ.
Help us to grow every day toward being
the best version of ourselves we can be.
Give us
hearts that can love like only we can love,
minds that can think like only we can think, and
spirits that can soar like only ours can soar.
Amen.
O God,
Help us to be our best.
But let us always be aware
that we can be our best only
in you and through you.
Keep us conscious of the
presence of your Spirit in us.
Help us constantly to give ourselves
over to your Spirit for guidance,
for wisdom, and for strength.
Keep us conscious of the presence
of your love and grace in us.
Help us constantly to give ourselves
over to their power to form
us in the image of Christ.
Help us to grow every day toward being
the best version of ourselves we can be.
Give us
hearts that can love like only we can love,
minds that can think like only we can think, and
spirits that can soar like only ours can soar.
Amen.
Monday, August 17, 2015
A Prayer for Monday, August 17, 2015
Way
O God,
We’ve come a long way.
Some of the way has been what we expected;
some of it has been most unexpected.
Looking back, we can see how you have
guided and accompanied us along the way.
Thank you.
Who knows how long the
way is that we still have to go?
That’s in your hands.
We are grateful for what has been
and for whatever will be.
As long as we are here, help us to
trust you to continue to direct our
path and to be with us in everything.
Let the way we go, no matter where
it takes us, be the way of Jesus.
Let us follow him in the way
of obedience to you,
of trust in you,
of service to you, and
of love for you and for people.
Nobody else can walk our way for us.
Help us to walk it faithfully …
Amen.
O God,
We’ve come a long way.
Some of the way has been what we expected;
some of it has been most unexpected.
Looking back, we can see how you have
guided and accompanied us along the way.
Thank you.
Who knows how long the
way is that we still have to go?
That’s in your hands.
We are grateful for what has been
and for whatever will be.
As long as we are here, help us to
trust you to continue to direct our
path and to be with us in everything.
Let the way we go, no matter where
it takes us, be the way of Jesus.
Let us follow him in the way
of obedience to you,
of trust in you,
of service to you, and
of love for you and for people.
Nobody else can walk our way for us.
Help us to walk it faithfully …
Amen.
Sunday, August 16, 2015
A Prayer for Sunday, August 16, 2015
The Lord’s Day
O God,
As we worship you today, remind
us of your great love with which
you embrace and accept us.
Help us to know that you love us.
Inspire us to love you
because you first loved us.
As we live our lives during this
week, show us how to love you
by loving other people.
Let our worship be based on love.
Let our lives be based on love.
Amen.
O God,
As we worship you today, remind
us of your great love with which
you embrace and accept us.
Help us to know that you love us.
Inspire us to love you
because you first loved us.
As we live our lives during this
week, show us how to love you
by loving other people.
Let our worship be based on love.
Let our lives be based on love.
Amen.
Saturday, August 15, 2015
A Prayer for Saturday, August 15, 2015
To Be Active
O God,
Help us today and all days to be active.
Help us to be active for our sake;
we need to keep moving
for the sake of our health.
Help us to be active for your sake;
we need to seek your will
so we can do your will.
Help us to be active for others’ sake;
we need to do what we can
to show your love to others.
So help us today and all days to be active.
Help us to be active doing your will
in your way so that we can depend
on your guidance and your strength.
Remind us to do our best
and to trust you for the rest.
Amen.
O God,
Help us today and all days to be active.
Help us to be active for our sake;
we need to keep moving
for the sake of our health.
Help us to be active for your sake;
we need to seek your will
so we can do your will.
Help us to be active for others’ sake;
we need to do what we can
to show your love to others.
So help us today and all days to be active.
Help us to be active doing your will
in your way so that we can depend
on your guidance and your strength.
Remind us to do our best
and to trust you for the rest.
Amen.
Friday, August 14, 2015
A Prayer for Friday, August 14, 2015
To Be Reflective
O God,
Help us today and all days to be reflective.
Help us to think about our lives;
help us to ponder what motivates us.
Why do we say what we say;
why do we do what we do?
Help us to evaluate
why we did what we did,
why we’re doing what we’re doing, and
why we’ll do what we’ll do.
Let us live a reflective life;
let us live an examined life.
As we discover any motives that are
less than loving you and loving others,
help us to move beyond them
and toward the higher ones.
Don’t let us reflect so
much that all we do is think.
Help us to be active in doing good;
help us to live in ways that
honor you and that serve others.
Still, let us be people who try to
understand what lies behind our
actions and who try to do good things
out of sound motivations.
Amen.
O God,
Help us today and all days to be reflective.
Help us to think about our lives;
help us to ponder what motivates us.
Why do we say what we say;
why do we do what we do?
Help us to evaluate
why we did what we did,
why we’re doing what we’re doing, and
why we’ll do what we’ll do.
Let us live a reflective life;
let us live an examined life.
As we discover any motives that are
less than loving you and loving others,
help us to move beyond them
and toward the higher ones.
Don’t let us reflect so
much that all we do is think.
Help us to be active in doing good;
help us to live in ways that
honor you and that serve others.
Still, let us be people who try to
understand what lies behind our
actions and who try to do good things
out of sound motivations.
Amen.
Thursday, August 13, 2015
A Prayer for Thursday, August 13, 2015
To Be Present
O God,
Help us today and all days to be present.
Oh, we’re physically present wherever we are,
but we have a remarkable ability to be
present in body but absent in spirit.
So help us to be fully present
in every moment we live,
in every situation we encounter, and
in every conversation we have,
because every moment, every situation,
and every conversation is a gift
that deserves our full participation.
Help us to respect our lives
and the lives of others by being
fully present in everything
we hear, say, and do.
Help us today and all days to be present …
Amen.
O God,
Help us today and all days to be present.
Oh, we’re physically present wherever we are,
but we have a remarkable ability to be
present in body but absent in spirit.
So help us to be fully present
in every moment we live,
in every situation we encounter, and
in every conversation we have,
because every moment, every situation,
and every conversation is a gift
that deserves our full participation.
Help us to respect our lives
and the lives of others by being
fully present in everything
we hear, say, and do.
Help us today and all days to be present …
Amen.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
A Prayer for Wednesday, August 12, 2015
To Be Aware
O God,
Help me today and all days to be aware.
Help me to be aware that I am in the world.
Because I am in the world, what happens in the world affects me.
Because I am in the world, I can affect what happens in the world.
So help me to be aware of what is happening and alert to what I can do to help.
Help me to be aware that I am in community.
Because I am in community, I am not in this life alone.
I am a part of my family community, my local community, my church community, and my work community.
Let me offer myself to my various communities freely; let me accept their help gladly.
Help me to be aware that I am in the kingdom.
Because I am the kingdom, you are always my God and I am always your child.
My values, my motives, and my choices are determined by my following of Jesus.
Help me always to be aware of your Spirit’s guidance, correction, and encouragement.
Help me today and all days to be aware …
Amen.
O God,
Help me today and all days to be aware.
Help me to be aware that I am in the world.
Because I am in the world, what happens in the world affects me.
Because I am in the world, I can affect what happens in the world.
So help me to be aware of what is happening and alert to what I can do to help.
Help me to be aware that I am in community.
Because I am in community, I am not in this life alone.
I am a part of my family community, my local community, my church community, and my work community.
Let me offer myself to my various communities freely; let me accept their help gladly.
Help me to be aware that I am in the kingdom.
Because I am the kingdom, you are always my God and I am always your child.
My values, my motives, and my choices are determined by my following of Jesus.
Help me always to be aware of your Spirit’s guidance, correction, and encouragement.
Help me today and all days to be aware …
Amen.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
A Prayer for Tuesday, August 11, 2015
To Be Authentic
O God,
Help me today and all days to be authentic.
Help me to be genuine and real.
Help me not to settle for being
less than you made me to be.
Help me not to be a shadow of myself
or an imitation of someone else.
If I’m going to be authentic, if
I’m going to be who I really am,
then I must know myself.
So help me to be willing to
examine myself closely so that
I can know who I really am.
Help me to see what is really me
so I can develop and grow it.
Help me to see what is really not me
so I can prune and remove it.
I believe that to be true to you
is to be true to myself.
I believe that to be true to myself
is to be true to you.
So help me today and all days to be authentic …
Amen.
O God,
Help me today and all days to be authentic.
Help me to be genuine and real.
Help me not to settle for being
less than you made me to be.
Help me not to be a shadow of myself
or an imitation of someone else.
If I’m going to be authentic, if
I’m going to be who I really am,
then I must know myself.
So help me to be willing to
examine myself closely so that
I can know who I really am.
Help me to see what is really me
so I can develop and grow it.
Help me to see what is really not me
so I can prune and remove it.
I believe that to be true to you
is to be true to myself.
I believe that to be true to myself
is to be true to you.
So help me today and all days to be authentic …
Amen.
Monday, August 10, 2015
A Prayer for Monday, August 10, 2015
To Be
O God,
Help us today and all days
to be authentic,
to be aware,
to be present,
to be reflective, and
to be active.
Help us today and all days
to be who you intend for us to be.
Help us today and all days
to live our lives for all they’re worth.
Amen.
O God,
Help us today and all days
to be authentic,
to be aware,
to be present,
to be reflective, and
to be active.
Help us today and all days
to be who you intend for us to be.
Help us today and all days
to live our lives for all they’re worth.
Amen.
Sunday, August 9, 2015
A Prayer for Sunday, August 9, 2015
The Lord’s Day
O God,
Thank you for the privilege of giving
ourselves in praise to you today.
Thank you for the privilege of giving
ourselves in service to you every day.
Thank you for the privilege of giving
ourselves in service to others every day.
Help us to see how
it all fits together.
Help us to live so that
it all fits together.
Amen.
O God,
Thank you for the privilege of giving
ourselves in praise to you today.
Thank you for the privilege of giving
ourselves in service to you every day.
Thank you for the privilege of giving
ourselves in service to others every day.
Help us to see how
it all fits together.
Help us to live so that
it all fits together.
Amen.
Saturday, August 8, 2015
A Prayer for Saturday, August 8, 2015
Signs (Part Nine)
O God,
As we travel down the road, remind
us to pay attention to the signs.
Help us to heed the signs that
tell us to watch out for pedestrians.
People cross our path all the time.
We don’t want to hurt them.
So help us
to watch out for them,
to make way for them, and
to avoid running over them.
Protect us from selfishness that causes
us to pay attention only to ourselves.
Protect us from carelessness that causes
us to inflict unintentional harm.
Let us do more than avoid hurting the
people who cross our path, though.
Let us watch for ways that we can help them
through whatever they’re going through.
Let us show love, grace, and mercy
to them at every opportunity.
Let us offer peace, hope, and joy
to them whenever we can.
Make us aware of people, O God.
Don’t let us hurt them.
Show us how to help them.
Amen.
O God,
As we travel down the road, remind
us to pay attention to the signs.
Help us to heed the signs that
tell us to watch out for pedestrians.
People cross our path all the time.
We don’t want to hurt them.
So help us
to watch out for them,
to make way for them, and
to avoid running over them.
Protect us from selfishness that causes
us to pay attention only to ourselves.
Protect us from carelessness that causes
us to inflict unintentional harm.
Let us do more than avoid hurting the
people who cross our path, though.
Let us watch for ways that we can help them
through whatever they’re going through.
Let us show love, grace, and mercy
to them at every opportunity.
Let us offer peace, hope, and joy
to them whenever we can.
Make us aware of people, O God.
Don’t let us hurt them.
Show us how to help them.
Amen.
Friday, August 7, 2015
A Prayer for Friday, August 7, 2015
Signs (Part 8)
O God,
As we travel down the road, remind
us to pay attention to the signs.
Help us to heed the signs that warn
us of a coming change in direction.
Some tell us that we’re
going to have to bear right
while some tell us that we’re
going to have to bear left.
We’ll get in trouble if we insist
on continuing to go straight.
Give us wisdom to follow the
road as you lay it out before us.
Make us ready to go whichever
way your road leads us.
Help us not to be concerned about whether
following you causes us to go left or right.
Let us be concerned only with following you in
the ways that Jesus showed us are your ways—
the ways of grace, love, mercy, forgiveness,
compassion, service, and sacrifice.
Amen.
O God,
As we travel down the road, remind
us to pay attention to the signs.
Help us to heed the signs that warn
us of a coming change in direction.
Some tell us that we’re
going to have to bear right
while some tell us that we’re
going to have to bear left.
We’ll get in trouble if we insist
on continuing to go straight.
Give us wisdom to follow the
road as you lay it out before us.
Make us ready to go whichever
way your road leads us.
Help us not to be concerned about whether
following you causes us to go left or right.
Let us be concerned only with following you in
the ways that Jesus showed us are your ways—
the ways of grace, love, mercy, forgiveness,
compassion, service, and sacrifice.
Amen.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
A Prayer for Thursday, August 6, 2015
Signs (Part Seven)
O God,
As we travel down the road,
remind us to pay attention to the signs.
Let us notice and heed the signs that say
“Keep right except to pass” and
“Slower traffic keep right.”
If our attitude, our mindset, or our
biases would impede progress,
help us to stay out of the way.
But if we have an idea or an approach
that would help make things better,
encourage us to get out of the slow lane,
move over to the passing lane,
and floor it …
Amen.
O God,
As we travel down the road,
remind us to pay attention to the signs.
Let us notice and heed the signs that say
“Keep right except to pass” and
“Slower traffic keep right.”
If our attitude, our mindset, or our
biases would impede progress,
help us to stay out of the way.
But if we have an idea or an approach
that would help make things better,
encourage us to get out of the slow lane,
move over to the passing lane,
and floor it …
Amen.
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
A Prayer for Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Signs (Part Six)
O God,
As we travel down the road,
remind us to pay attention to the signs.
Let us notice the signs that
tell us that we are passing into
another state,
another county, or
another town.
As we see those signs, help us to
remember that there are lots of
people and places in this world.
Help us to reflect upon the reality that
different people in different places encounter
different circumstances,
different opportunities,
different perspectives,
different problems, and
different assumptions.
Help us to appreciate the differences.
Help us to embrace what makes us different.
Help us to learn from other people in other places.
Remind us to be thankful for every
community of which we are a part,
from our local community that we
know so well to our world-wide
community that we hardly know at all.
Amen.
O God,
As we travel down the road,
remind us to pay attention to the signs.
Let us notice the signs that
tell us that we are passing into
another state,
another county, or
another town.
As we see those signs, help us to
remember that there are lots of
people and places in this world.
Help us to reflect upon the reality that
different people in different places encounter
different circumstances,
different opportunities,
different perspectives,
different problems, and
different assumptions.
Help us to appreciate the differences.
Help us to embrace what makes us different.
Help us to learn from other people in other places.
Remind us to be thankful for every
community of which we are a part,
from our local community that we
know so well to our world-wide
community that we hardly know at all.
Amen.
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
A Prayer for Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Signs (Part Five)
O God,
As we travel down the road, remind
us to pay attention to the signs.
When our following of you requires
that we ignore or disobey a sign,
give us courage and commitment to do so.
When it’s called for, help us to
ignore the “One Way” signs.
Sometimes, if we are to be faithful
in following you, we just can’t go
the way that everybody else is going.
Even if they’re all going the way of hate,
we must go the way of love.
Even if they’re all going the way of condemnation,
we must go the way of mercy.
Even if they’re all going the way of apathy,
we must go the way of compassion.
Even if they’re all going the way of conflict,
we must go the way of peace.
Even if they’re all going the way of rejection,
we must go the way of acceptance.
Even if they’re all going the way of despair,
we must go the way of hope.
Help us to go the way we should go,
not the way that everybody else is going.
It’s dangerous to go the other way.
We’re bound to impede the flow of traffic;
we’re bound to crash into people.
Don’t let us be motivated by
a desire to cause problems.
Let us be motivated instead by
a desire to be true to you
and to who we are in you.
Amen.
O God,
As we travel down the road, remind
us to pay attention to the signs.
When our following of you requires
that we ignore or disobey a sign,
give us courage and commitment to do so.
When it’s called for, help us to
ignore the “One Way” signs.
Sometimes, if we are to be faithful
in following you, we just can’t go
the way that everybody else is going.
Even if they’re all going the way of hate,
we must go the way of love.
Even if they’re all going the way of condemnation,
we must go the way of mercy.
Even if they’re all going the way of apathy,
we must go the way of compassion.
Even if they’re all going the way of conflict,
we must go the way of peace.
Even if they’re all going the way of rejection,
we must go the way of acceptance.
Even if they’re all going the way of despair,
we must go the way of hope.
Help us to go the way we should go,
not the way that everybody else is going.
It’s dangerous to go the other way.
We’re bound to impede the flow of traffic;
we’re bound to crash into people.
Don’t let us be motivated by
a desire to cause problems.
Let us be motivated instead by
a desire to be true to you
and to who we are in you.
Amen.
Monday, August 3, 2015
A Prayer for Monday, August 3, 2015
Signs (Part 4)
O God,
As we travel down the road,
remind us to pay attention to the signs.
Help us to pay close attention
to the “Stop” signs.
Help us to know
when we’ve worked enough,
when we’ve tried enough,
when we’ve worried enough,
when we’ve talked enough, and
when we’ve wandered enough
—so it’s time to stop.
Don’t let us forget how necessary
it is for us to do all we can and
then to leave the rest to you.
Help us to remember that
our part is up to us—
but that it’s not all up to us.
Amen.
O God,
As we travel down the road,
remind us to pay attention to the signs.
Help us to pay close attention
to the “Stop” signs.
Help us to know
when we’ve worked enough,
when we’ve tried enough,
when we’ve worried enough,
when we’ve talked enough, and
when we’ve wandered enough
—so it’s time to stop.
Don’t let us forget how necessary
it is for us to do all we can and
then to leave the rest to you.
Help us to remember that
our part is up to us—
but that it’s not all up to us.
Amen.
Sunday, August 2, 2015
A Prayer for Sunday, August 2, 2015
The Lord’s Day
O God,
We want to love you with our entire being;
we want to be committed to you with everything we are.
So in our worship of you today,
help us for those few minutes to focus
all of our attention,
all of our thoughts, and
all of our feelings on you.
When our minds and hearts try to wander,
bring them back quickly to you.
Let the discipline we learn in worship
then transfer to our everyday life so that,
even as our minds deal with
whatever we have to deal with,
we are always also focused on you.
Amen.
O God,
We want to love you with our entire being;
we want to be committed to you with everything we are.
So in our worship of you today,
help us for those few minutes to focus
all of our attention,
all of our thoughts, and
all of our feelings on you.
When our minds and hearts try to wander,
bring them back quickly to you.
Let the discipline we learn in worship
then transfer to our everyday life so that,
even as our minds deal with
whatever we have to deal with,
we are always also focused on you.
Amen.
Saturday, August 1, 2015
A Prayer for Saturday, August 1, 2015
Signs (Part Three)
O God,
As we travel down the road, remind
us to pay attention to the signs.
Help us to notice and to heed
the signs that tell us that we
need to slow down because there’s
a curve or an intersection ahead.
We need to slow down for our own safety;
we don’t want to run off the road or be
surprised by people coming from a different direction.
We need to slow down for the safety of others;
we don’t want to endanger someone else because
we don’t heed a warning that our path is about
to stop being straight
or that it could be
impacted by someone else.
The road is not straight.
We need to watch for the curves.
The road has intersections.
We need to watch for other people.
Help us to deal with the road as it really is.
Remind us to approach it with caution …
Amen.
O God,
As we travel down the road, remind
us to pay attention to the signs.
Help us to notice and to heed
the signs that tell us that we
need to slow down because there’s
a curve or an intersection ahead.
We need to slow down for our own safety;
we don’t want to run off the road or be
surprised by people coming from a different direction.
We need to slow down for the safety of others;
we don’t want to endanger someone else because
we don’t heed a warning that our path is about
to stop being straight
or that it could be
impacted by someone else.
The road is not straight.
We need to watch for the curves.
The road has intersections.
We need to watch for other people.
Help us to deal with the road as it really is.
Remind us to approach it with caution …
Amen.
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