Daily Prayer: November 2009

Monday Prayer

Lord, please shower upon me
Every day of this work week
Blessings of peace and serenity
And the things that I bespeak
So that when I start to wander
From the tasks I’m bound to face
I will take the time to ponder
If my actions are off-base.

Lord, please embrace my spirit
When the traffic is a mess
Let the phone ring when I’m near it
So that matters are addressed
Carry me upon Your shoulders
When my boss is walking by
And remove life’s heavy boulders
Should the work week go awry.

Lord, please give my soul direction
In each meeting I attend
Let me work to my perfection
Or the best I can expend
So that when the week is finished
Nothing will have been ignored
But the freedom I’ve diminished
For Your sweet weekend reward.

© 2006 – Jill Eisnaugle’s Poetry Collection

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Giving Thanks for God's Loving Providence

Today's prayer comes from Scot McKnight at Jesus Creed..

O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature:

Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen

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Praying Psalm 90

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all our days.. when we move homes you are there.. when we change jobs you are with us.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Our lives are so temporal.. time goes by so fast.. a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past.. help us know the season in which we live.

The grass fades and withers but you are eternal.. your promises are sure and faithful.. we trust in you Lord.

On the cross you settled sin forever.. you have washed away our sin.. your forgiveness is beyond understanding.. we are loved.

The years of our earthly life are finite.. they are often filled with hardship and pain.. but soon our earthly days will be over and we will be in your presence forever.

So teach us to number our days.. to discern the season we are in.. that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Return in power, O Lord! Please do not tarry.. come Lord Jesus.. have mercy on your servants!

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love.. we long to rejoice and be glad all our days.. our desire is to be a joyful light to the world around us.

Help us to be content and thankful for as many days as we have.. for the many years we have been given on earth we give you thanks.

Let your work be shown to your servants and your glorious power to their children.

Let your favor Lord be upon us and establish the work of our hands upon us.. yes, establish the work of our hands that we might glorify your name!

Amen

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Prayer for Job Seekers

Today's prayer is from Sojourners..

We pray for those who are unemployed in these difficult economic times, those who feel most acutely the burden of getting by and providing for their families. We pray for your provision for them at this time. May those of us who have demonstrate your love through our generosity to them and your welcome through our hospitality to them.

Amen

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giving thanks for the light

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

We swam last night under a star-lit night in what is called the luminous lagoon.

Our local friend Sean had promised that it would be unlike anything we had experienced before and his words held true. This particular lagoon is inhabited by millions of microorganisms called dinoflagellate, which glow whenever the water is disturbed.

Wading in the water, we saw that when you move arm, twitch a finger, kick a leg or simple wiggle a toe, each movement creates a bright glow. From total darkness, movement creates light.

So on this day of thanksgiving, I hope you can join me in the two prayers:

One, that we all can keep our eyes open today to witness the amazing world God has created for us… a world filled with awe, wonder and mystery.

And second, that we can all move beyond the waters of a luminous lagoon to create light right where we are right now – through our words, our deeds, our action and movement – and take away the darkness in someone’s life.

O heavenly Father, we give you praise.
Thank you O Lord for the peace, joy and mysteries of life.
Thank you O Lord for the Word that enables us to become children of the light.

Amen

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Isaiah 65:8

This is what the Lord says:

"As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes and men say, 'Don't destroy it, there is yet some good in it,' so will I do in behalf of my servants; I will not destroy them all."

O Lord I thank you that you see green life flowing deep within the parched brown stems of our vineyards. You observe the remnant of sweetness and nourishment somewhere inside the neglected shriveled fruit of our lives.

You patiently prune us and prop us up. You faithfully feed us and nurture us, determined that the good seed You planted will bear fruit and will reach it's full potential in glory. How we thank You. Father, for Your infinite patience with us.

Lord, let me bear the fruit of the Spirit in my life today.

I love You, Amen

Amen

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He Must Increase

"He must increase, but I must decrease." -John 3:30

Father we ask you to increase your influence in our lives. Help us to factor you in to every decision. Help us to know your presence and love each day. And speak to us of ways that we can bless and help the people that you have put in our loves.

Amen

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Prayer for Freedom

Today's prayer is from Scot McKnight at Jesus Creed..

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen

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Prayer for Redemption

Today's prayer is from Sojourners..

You created us, O Maker of heaven and earth; you created us equal before you. And just as all of us have sinned and fallen short of your glory, so did you send your Son to die for all of us, that we and all of creation might be redeemed and restored to right relationship with you and with each other. Thank you for your grace that reaches out to all of us, sinners and redeemed before you.

Amen

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a little bit louder now...

Shout to the Lord!

Give praise for day break, and the promise of hope that comes each and every morning.

Shout to the Lord!

Give praise for that gentle hand upon our shoulder, the amazing gift of peace.

Should to the Lord!

Give praise for the rock beneath our feet, and the strength that only our almighty God offers.

Shout to the Lord!

Give praise for the warmth of friendship and the relationships that bless our lives.

Shout to the Lord!

Give praise for the wisdom and insight that always leads us to the light.

Shout to the Lord!

Give praise for God who is all-merciful, all-righteous and all-loving.

And when all else fails, simply shout to the Lord!

Amen

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Good Morning Prayer Warriors ~~

Martin Luther said "As it is the business of tailors to make clothes, and of the cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray"

Isaiah 46:9-10 "Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, an what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please."

My prayer O Lord, when I remember Your faithfulness through the ages and through the pages of Your Word, when I consider Your countless acts of kindness to Your people and to me, I can truly say that there is none like You. You save us. You protect us. You provide for us. These are the things You are pleased to do, and You always do exactly as You please. So Lord Jesus, I surrender myself to the sovereignty of Your will, so that I might live in the pleasure of Your will." Lord, may my life today, bring you pleasure. I love You, Amen.

"There is none like You, O God
Your glory fills the heavens.
There is none like You O God;
Your love enfolds. Your virtue flows
All that I need is in Your hands.
There is none like You"
(Debbie Cissna (1998)

Amen

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Thanksgiving: Prayer's Foundation

Last week I shared a few Thanksgiving Rules over at my other blog. One of those rules speaks to the idea that we should always offer thanks when we pray. Thanksgiving is the foundation of prayer.. when we pray we should come to the Father with a thankful heart.. when we do our prayer will be different because our attitude will be different. So let me offer a prayer in that spirit.

Father I am thankful for your presence in my life.. I am grateful that you live in me and feel with me in joy and in sadness. Thank you so much for my friends and my family.. they bless and encourage me.. I ask you to bless them. Thank you for doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers.. give them wisdom as they balance the needs of their patients with their own needs. Thank you Lord for life.. help us to honor you as we live it.

Amen

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samuel, saul, you and me

You don’t need me to tell you that we live in a broken world. That very fact has brought you here today… joining millions of people around the world to lift up our prayers to an amazing, loving God.

While we are definitely called to offer our prayers before God, I wonder today how many times I have been called upon by my Lord to answer someone’s prayer… a call that I simply chose to ignore. The stranded driver I saw disappear in my rear view mirror. The phone call I was too busy to make. The time I was so obsessed with my own life that I simply failed to respond. I can’t lie to you: I felt the “nudge”. But I chose not to listen. And when the nudge became too obvious to miss, I simply chose not to obey.

Last month, Kansas Bob reminded us that there are times when we are called upon to be angels. But these prayers are only answered when you and I listen and obey.

My prayer today is that we as Christ followers will have the confidence and fortitude to answer the prayers we are called upon to answer. My prayer today is that we – the readers and visitors of this site – hone our ability to listen and our desire to obey.

I am reminded of Samuel, who as a young boy heard the whisper, and with the help of his mentor, he trained himself to hear God’s voice.

The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Later in the book of Samuel, there is a time when Saul is given clear instructions. More than a whisper, he hears in clearly spoken words: this is what God wants you to do. But Saul instead follows his own well-intentioned plan. He chose not to obey.

Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.

My prayer today is that we all respond when we hear the whisper. That we all get past the temptation of divination and arrogance and simply obey. Lord – let us not only pray, please use us today to answer the prayers of others. Give is the confidence and fortitude to serve as your angels. Help us to listen. Mold our hearts so we obey.

Amen

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You are the Vine

Dear Jesus ~

In your Word you tell me You are the Vine and I am the branch. Oh Lord, many other "vines" contend for my allegiance. But they promise what they cannot deliver. "Remain in me" says my job, "and you will find true success." "Make us top priority, "says my family" and you will find unmatched love." "Stick with me," says my religious tradition, "and you will enjoy the deepest spiritual experiences." "Plug into status or riches or pleasure" says this world "and you will find yourself." But all these "vines" dear Lord, even those created for our good cannot compete with YOU! You alone are the true vine. In you alone do I find my rightful place in the world. Through Your strength alone will my brief life count for eternity. So I choose, by Your grace to remain in You, to make my home in You forever. I love you Jesus, Amen.
(John 15 - Worship Bible)

"Let us all become a true and fruitful branch on the vine Jesus, by accepting Him in our lives as it pleases Him to come: as the Truth to be told; as the Life to be lived; as the Light to be lighted; as the Love to be loved; as the Way to be walked; As the Joy to be given; as the Peace to be spread; as the Sacrifice to be offered, in our families and within our neighborhoods." ~~Mother Teresa of Calcutta ~ (1910-1997)

"Vine of heaven, Thy love supplies

his blest cup of sacrifice

Tis Thy wounds our healing give;

To Thy cross we look and live

Thou our life! O let us be

Rooted, grafted, built on Thee

Josiah Concer (1824)

God bless you today, as you pray and reflect on being a branch in the One and Only True Vine.

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Praying Psalm 89

Lord, I will sing of your steadfast love forever.. with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.

Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord.. for who in the skies can be compared to you Lord? Who among the angels is like you?

You are awesome and mighty.. your power is matchless.. you are more powerful than the raging of the sea.. when the waves rise, you still them.

The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have created them.. you are Lord of all.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.. steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.. you are worthy of our trust.

Blessed are the people who walk in the light of your face Lord.. who exult in your name all the day and rejoice in your righteousness.

Your faithfulness and steadfast love is with us.. they sustain us in difficult times.. your are present in our lives and comfort us in hardship.

Because of your great love we are not cast off and rejected.. you have promised to never leave us.. and we are filled with joy.

Remember us today Lord.. fill us afresh with your Spirit.. cause us to walk as your children.. and help us to be like Jesus.

Blessed are you Lord forever!

Amen and Amen.

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our loss, your peace

This week I have been struck by the abundance of loss.

Someone in my family had their pocketbook and briefcase stolen. She lost her money, papers and credit cards… but most of all she lost her sense of comfort and security.

A good friend who has been out of work for some time thought he had a job lined up, only to find that it was gone.

A man I know in Maine was preparing to marry his life-long love, only to see that right taken away at the ballot box on Tuesday.

Just this afternoon, a man shot and killed eleven people in Texas. The loss felt by these families is only now beginning to hit.

I am sure we all have been touched by loss… we all know people who are grieving tonight. Will you pray with me?

Jesus… your promise of peace is perhaps your greatest gift. There are people in my life—and many more in the world—who need your peace tonight more than ever… people who may be crushed by the sense of loss without you. May they feel the physical presence of your hand upon the shoulder, the unexplained warmth in their soul that reassures them that you are with them… that everything is as it should be… the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I pray with confidence tonight and with no reservation. For your promise is clear and your love unwavering.

We come before you today comforted by the Psalms…

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

… reassured by the prophets….

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

… emboldened by your own words….

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

For this, we pray.

Amen.

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Blogoversary Invitation

One year ago today I sat in a hospital room watching my wife Ann receive a chemotherapy treatment. Feeling a bit prayerful I started a new blog and called it Daily Prayer. Now 52 weeks and 187 posts later I find that I no longer post there every day. I still regularly pray but don't always feel like writing about what I pray.

So I thought that I would invite you to write a prayer or devotional thought on prayer to be posted there with a link back to your blog. I would also be open to making it a group authored site if anyone would commit to posting once a week. If you are interested please email me and let me know how you would like to be involved.

Please visit The Prayer List and pray with me.