a prayer for mental peace

 

O God, the One who has set us free - the One who is our peace:

We seek the strength of your Spirit, that we may live in a more deep and powerful union with you. 

May Your faithfulness be a source of comfort for us as we live in the reality of a world, a community - and even our own hearts - that struggle to thrive in the midst of loneliness, political upheaval, financial battles, health concerns, broken relationships, and the continued deep divide between people with different beliefs.

Teach us to give grace when we don't understand.

Give us eyes to see those who are drowning in despair.

Give us hearts to help, and feet that are ready and able.

May Your hope overcome despair,  may Your love be felt by those who feel far away from it, and may Your provision come to those who need it. Grant that we may gain courage to love and understand each other, and live with mercy toward those that need Your help and our help. May the Great Comforter - the Holy Spirit - wash over each one of us this day and every day forward.

 Amen

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a prayer to be flexible

Dear Lord,

Grant me flexibility, the ability to bend without breaking.

Enable me to find the grace to adapt to change with a peaceful heart.

Help me to be less stubborn and more open to new experiences.

Bless me that I might trust you when my plans go sideways.

Open my heart that I might find joy in unexpected moments.

And guide me to release rigidness and be more responsive to You.

In all things I will praise you and seek your will.

Amen. 

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a prayer of hope and praise

O Lord,

For a long time you have been my hope and my trust.

Upon you my heart has leaned for many many years.

You have watched over me from childhood.

Help me to be a reflection of your grace and mercy.

I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.

My mouth will tell of your righteousness and testify to your love.

I praise you with my whole being and I will hope in your name.

Amen.

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A prayer to be of use in my generation (by William Wilberforce)

‘That I really may be of use in my generation’

‘Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.’ Psalm 71:18

I have a vast multiplicity of objects soliciting my attention and I seem to myself to be failing in the discharge of the duties of my several relations, as Member of Parliament, as father, and as a master [of household servants]. To thee, O God, I fly, through the Saviour; enable me to live more worthy of my holy calling; to be more useful and efficient, that my time may not be frittered away unprofitably to myself and others, but that I really may be of use in my generation, and adorn the doctrine of God my Saviour. I am a poor, helpless creature, Lord, strengthen me.

FOR MEDITATION: 

To be more useful and efficient. Wilberforce learned early in his career as a reformer from the writings of Philip Doddridge, who wrote: ‘nothing conduces more to the advancement of grace than the lively exercise of love to God, and a holy joy in him. I would remind the real Christian of those mercies which tend to excite that love and joy; and in the view of them to animate him to those vigorous efforts of usefulness in life, which so well become his character.’ 

Doddridge then concluded with the following prayer: 

‘Nor would I forget to acknowledge thy favour in rendering me capable of serving others, and giving me in any instance to know how much “more blessed it is to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). I thank thee for a heart which feels the sorrows of the necessitous, and a mind which can make it my early care and refreshment to contrive, according to my little ability, for their relief; for “this also cometh forth from thee, O Lord!” (Isaiah 28:29) the great Author of every benevolent inclination, of every prudent scheme, of every successful attempt to spread happiness around us, or in any instance to lessen distress.’

Adapted from:  Wilberforce, William, and Kevin Belmonte. 2006. 365 Days with Wilberforce. 

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NOTHING!

LORD, we are so thankful that there is NOTHING impossible with You!! You are the AUTHOR of all things. The CREATOR of the world. And we are grateful beyond measure for Your Hand of MERCY and GRACE upon Your Children.

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prayer for joy in dark times

Dear Lord,

I pray for the power to rejoice amid my trials, my pains and my sufferings.

Fill my heart with your peace, and let that peace guard my heart and mind.

Today I will choose to walk in the light that you have shone on my path.

Though the darkness is real, I will place my hope in the coming joy.

May my life be a testimony of joy as others see your light shining through me.

In Your name, I will trust.

Amen. And amen.

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a prayer to release control

Dear Lord,

I kneel before you and ask for wisdom and guidance.

I am having difficulty releasing control and trusting you.

Some days it seems impossible to let go of control.

In your mercy and kindness, please help me to know how to let go.

Teach me how to trust you with all of my heart and not with my head.

Bless me that my approach to life might be from my heart and not my head.

Cause me to let go of all the fears and worries that grip me.

Please fill my heart and soul with your love and peace.

In all my ways I commit to following you.

You are worthy.

Amen.

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A planting of seeds prayer

  

    Seed we bring

    Lord, to thee, wilt thou bless them, O Lord!

    Gardens we bring

    Lord, to thee, wilt thou bless them, O Lord!

    Hoes we bring

    Lord, to thee, wilt thou bless them, O Lord!

    Knives we bring

    Lord, to thee, wilt thou bless them, O Lord!

    Hands we bring

    Lord, to thee, wilt thou bless them, O Lord!

    Ourselves we bring

    Lord, to thee, wilt thou bless them, O Lord!

  East African hymn used at a service for blessing of seeds (Appleton, 1985)

Source: Wilkinson, Alan, and Christopher Cocksworth, eds. 2001. An Anglican Companion: Words from the Heart of Faith. L

p/s - it is spring in the Southern Hemisphere :-)

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A Prayer for Strength and Healing

 

Heavenly Father,

I come before You with a heart full of faith and trust in Your power to heal.

Lord, You are the Great Physician, and I believe in Your ability to restore health and bring comfort in times of distress.

Just as Your word says, “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise,” I place my hope and confidence in Your promises.

Father, I surrender my pain, my worries, and my fears into Your hands.

I ask that You touch me with Your healing hand, renew my strength, and fill me with the peace that surpasses all understanding. Help me to trust in Your plan for my life, knowing that Your plan is to prosper me and give me hope and a future.

Lord, I also lift up my loved ones who are in need of healing.

You know their needs, their struggles, and their hearts. I pray that You would surround them with Your love and grace, bringing healing to their bodies, minds, and spirits.

Let Your Holy Spirit work within them, bringing comfort and hope where there is pain and uncertainty.

May Your presence be felt in every moment, and may Your peace guard our hearts as we wait for Your miraculous touch.

Thank You, Lord, for hearing our prayers and for being our ever-present help in times of need. We give You all the praise and glory, trusting in Your unfailing love and mercy.

In Jesus’ name, 

Amen.

(Prayer by Rich Bitterman) 

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a prayer for restoration

Heavenly Father,

I come before you today, acknowledging my weariness and brokenness. I ask for divine restoration in every area of my life - my mind, my body, and my spirit.

Restore my strength where it has been depleted, my peace where anxiety has taken hold, and my joy where sorrow has settled. Help me to change.

Mend what is broken, heal what is wounded, and bring beauty from ashes. Help me to walk in Your strength and to trust in your power to make all things new.

Amen

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giving thanks when life is hard

Dear God,

My world and my life is a mess. I wake to deal with a lot of sorrow and pain.Yet you, O Lord, are precious in my sight. I am thankful for you and the people who are in my life. There is no one like you. Your love breaks me and your mercy encourages me every day.

Thank you for your constant presence and for guiding me through every step of my journey. I am grateful for the strength you provide in my weakness, the comfort you offer in sorrow, and the hope You instill in my heart. All praise to you Lord. Honor and glory belong to you.

Thank you for the lessons I am learning through this difficult time, for the strength I am building by overcoming it, and for the way it is making me more like you. Help me to remember my blessings, no matter how small they may seem, and to see the good that can come from this hard time.

Remind me that You are bringing beauty from my struggles and that peace can be found in letting go. Please give me the wisdom to navigate this challenge and the patience to endure it. Continue to be with me, and help me to always have a heart of gratitude, even when it is difficult. 

Amen.

 

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A prayer to be courageous in our different callings

  We are counted your people.

    We are grateful to be called by you, and

      glad for our special way of faith in the world.

  You have marked us and named us and signed us,

    and we are different,

           different memories,

           different hopes,

           different fears,

           different commands,

           different ways of being.

  That difference we find glorious, but at times a burden too severe.

    We yearn to be like the others,

           like the others in power,

                    in money,

                    in freedom,

                    in certitude,

                    in security,

           like the others,

             uncalled, unburdened, unembarrassed.

  We come to you in that deep trial of difference and likeness.

    Engage us in our difference,

    Give us courage for our different vocations,

      and energy for our different hope.

  In the name of your crucified, Easter One, so unlike all the others.

  Amen.

Source: Brueggemann, Walter. 2003. Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth: Prayers of Walter Brueggemann. E

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1 Corinthians 1:26–29 (ESV)

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

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A Prayer to Begin Your Day

Lord, 

I don’t know what is before me today, but I commit it all to You. 

Please give me strength and courage to get through the joys, challenges and happenings.  I thank You for my life and for all that I have; I commit this day to You. No matter what happens, I know You have me in the palm of Your hand. 

I ask that You would guide my path today and, more specifically, my thoughts, words and actions. Please be with me throughout the day and help me navigate whatever comes my way. Most importantly, help me to reflect and live out my life in a way that is honoring to You. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen.

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a prayer for when a friend is going through hard times

Compassionate Lord,

I lift up my friend who is going through a hard time.

Please grant them strength and courage to overcome their struggles.

Give them patience and resolve to hang in there with a good attitude.

Wrap them in Your peace, and help them feel your presence and comfort.

Calm any fear or anxiety they may be feeling.

Help them to know that they are not alone.

Guide them with Your wisdom and let them find hope in You.

Amen

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