Uncivilized Prayer
And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.
The idea of a friend knocking on the door of a friend at midnight is fairly alien to most Westerners - I think that we all feel a bit too "civilized" to do something like that. Perhaps that is one of the messages in this passage? Perhaps some prayers are not answered because we are simply not desperate enough to ask God for something in an uncomfortable manner? Perhaps our prayers sometimes go unanswered because we do not put ourselves on the line?
I am reminded of a day in March of 1990 - my first wife Ellen had a heart attack and kidney failure at age 39 and she was in intensive care at our neighborhood hospital - things were tense in her room and she was not breathing strong enough to get oxygen to her extremities. As the doctors began to prep her for a ventilator I told them all that I wanted to pray first. They stopped what they were doing and I cried aloud an awkward prayer of desperation.. and her oxygen levels increased.. and a ventilator was not needed. I believe that God heard my desperate cry for help.
Help us Lord to embrace a style of prayer that makes us feel a bit uncomfortable.
Amen
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Giving Thanks
Dear Lord,
Though I have felt often overwhelmed these past months, I want to stop and say thank you for all you have done for me and blessed me with. I am tired today, but You are here and that is enough.
Amen
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Though I have felt often overwhelmed these past months, I want to stop and say thank you for all you have done for me and blessed me with. I am tired today, but You are here and that is enough.
Amen
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for...
For the Kingdom
Every breath, every rain drop, every breeze that warms our soul. Every mountain, every star, every smile that brings us joy. Every building, every toy, every touch that reaches our heart.
For the Power
You are in control, O Lord. You gave us breath, can move any mountain, take down any building. Only you, O Lord, can cleanse our soul, create pure joy, transform our heart.
For the Glory
All goodness in our lives flows from you, Lord Jesus. We bow at your feet, unworthy to look you in your eyes. Holy, Holy, Holy is your name.
For Us
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Amen
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Every breath, every rain drop, every breeze that warms our soul. Every mountain, every star, every smile that brings us joy. Every building, every toy, every touch that reaches our heart.
For the Power
You are in control, O Lord. You gave us breath, can move any mountain, take down any building. Only you, O Lord, can cleanse our soul, create pure joy, transform our heart.
For the Glory
All goodness in our lives flows from you, Lord Jesus. We bow at your feet, unworthy to look you in your eyes. Holy, Holy, Holy is your name.
For Us
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Amen
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Be strong
May our precious Lord and Savior minister to each person that reads this today. May He touch each life in a powerful way. May He bring healing and restoration. Comfort and peace. May His Hand reach down and embrace those that need a holy hug. Reach up and reach out to Him and allow Him to move in your life as only He can. He is King of kings and Lord of lords and nothing is impossible with Him!
Amen
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Prayer for Fifth Week of Lent
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
from Scot McKnight
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from Scot McKnight
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Acceptance and Release
At thirty-nine years old my wife, Ellen, had heart and kidney failure ... at the brink of her death I found myself begging God to not let her die ... I could not accept her situation or the possibility of her death. Three and a half years later after praying almost daily for her healing ... never giving up ... I found myself again faced with the possibility of her dying.
Driving to work one day ... racked with the agony of thoughts of a world without Ellen ... I began to pray. At once I saw a picture in my mind. In this vision I saw myself standing on a mountain looking down at a valley ... some how I knew it was the valley of the shadow of Ellen's death. As I looked into the vision I saw Jesus come to my side, take my hand, and walk with me into the valley. It was a comforting picture. God was trying to tell me that he would be with me when Ellen died and that I would be ok.
I had peace about her dying but I still would not give in - I couldn’t accept death as God’s will ... I still prayed daily for her healing. It took about six months for acceptance to take hold of me. A month before Ellen died I found myself praying a prayer of both acceptance and release. I released Ellen into His hands and said that whatever He wanted was OK with me. It was one of the toughest prayers that I have ever prayed.
Acceptance. Not my will but Your will be done. Almost trite. The night before he would die a horrible death on a cross Jesus Christ knelt to pray in the garden of Gethsemane. Seeing that the cup of death was near, Jesus prayed “Father, if you are willing take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done”. After that prayer of acceptance in the garden ... accepting the fate of three nails and a cross ... we find that Jesus moved with much strength through a time of great suffering and trial.
Our lesson ... trust is only trust when it involves acceptance of things that we don't understand ... things that fly in the face of our belief system ... in the face of the way we think that things should be ... accepting trouble, as well as good, from the loving hands of God.
Help us Lord to pray that difficult prayer of release and acceptance today lord. Not my will but yours be done.
Amen
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Driving to work one day ... racked with the agony of thoughts of a world without Ellen ... I began to pray. At once I saw a picture in my mind. In this vision I saw myself standing on a mountain looking down at a valley ... some how I knew it was the valley of the shadow of Ellen's death. As I looked into the vision I saw Jesus come to my side, take my hand, and walk with me into the valley. It was a comforting picture. God was trying to tell me that he would be with me when Ellen died and that I would be ok.
I had peace about her dying but I still would not give in - I couldn’t accept death as God’s will ... I still prayed daily for her healing. It took about six months for acceptance to take hold of me. A month before Ellen died I found myself praying a prayer of both acceptance and release. I released Ellen into His hands and said that whatever He wanted was OK with me. It was one of the toughest prayers that I have ever prayed.
Acceptance. Not my will but Your will be done. Almost trite. The night before he would die a horrible death on a cross Jesus Christ knelt to pray in the garden of Gethsemane. Seeing that the cup of death was near, Jesus prayed “Father, if you are willing take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done”. After that prayer of acceptance in the garden ... accepting the fate of three nails and a cross ... we find that Jesus moved with much strength through a time of great suffering and trial.
Our lesson ... trust is only trust when it involves acceptance of things that we don't understand ... things that fly in the face of our belief system ... in the face of the way we think that things should be ... accepting trouble, as well as good, from the loving hands of God.
Help us Lord to pray that difficult prayer of release and acceptance today lord. Not my will but yours be done.
Amen
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prayer of Nehemiah
"And it came to pass, when I heard these words,
that I sat down and wept, and mourned
certain days, and fasted, and prayed
before the God of Heaven"
(Nehemiah 1:4)
"Oh, sweet Father God, today we lift our eyes toward the heavens and we ask your forgiveness for those times we have neglected Your Word and forsaken You. We weep over those certain days that we failed to see You working and join in. We lament over the lost opportunities that we had to share the precious gospel of You with others and didn't. May we fast and pray before You as we seek to become men and women after Your heart. To have a heart like Yours. To be righteous and holy as You are. We beseech You, precious Savior and Lord, to come into our lives in abundance and in strength. Touch those who are hurting and minister to those who are sick. We will give You all the praise and all the glory that is so due Your name. You are the King of kings and the Lord of lords and we love you with all that we are,
Amen
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PRAYER OF SURRENDER
My Father I commend myself to You;
I give myself to You; I leave myself in Your hands.
My Father do with me as You wish.
Whatever You do with me, I thank You. I accept everything.
I am ready for anything. I thank You always.
So long as Your will is done in me and in all creatures,
I have no other wish, my God.
I put my soul into Your hands…
Without reserve, with utter confidence, for are You not my Father?
Amen
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My Father I commend myself to You;
I give myself to You; I leave myself in Your hands.
My Father do with me as You wish.
Whatever You do with me, I thank You. I accept everything.
I am ready for anything. I thank You always.
So long as Your will is done in me and in all creatures,
I have no other wish, my God.
I put my soul into Your hands…
Without reserve, with utter confidence, for are You not my Father?
Amen
Celtic Prayer from Celtic Daily Prayer
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Spring
Father, thank you for Spring. We see the rebirth of the trees and flowers and the birds building nests to house their little ones, and we see your hand in all of it. We are reminded of the resurrection of our Savior, of our own rebirth, and of the coming restoration of creation. We praise you for your amazing grace and mercy. Amen
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The Path of His Passion Part 2
"Then all the disciples left Him and fled" (Matthew 26:56)
In our own moments of spiritual desertion, we would do well to remind ourselves of the safety of His presence and the wonders of forgiving grace. He is the loving Lord who forgives our destructive choices as we confess them to Him. He is the mighty God who accomplishes His good will in our lives as we yield to Him. He is the saving Shepherd who cares for His own and protects us ~ sometimes even from ourselves and the worst inclinations of our hearts.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
In the darkness, we try to hid from Your gaze, Lord Jesus, but Your eyes clearly see. Expose our hearts when they move toward treachery and self-seeking. Strengthen our hearts when we need to stand strong, and remind us of the perfect peace that comes when we rest in the matchless purposes of the Father's plans. Remind us that we do not need the weapons of the world or even the armies of heaven to protect us ~~ we need only the Shepherd's powerful care. Help us to trust You with all our hearts. Amen
This passage and prayer are taken from the book I am reading for my Easter Meditations. The Path of His Passion by Bill Crowder. The picture at the top is from googleimages.com
Amen
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Warrior
Dear Lord,
I want to be a warrior, a prayer warrior, but I am weak. Please be my strength and teach me how to fight.
Amen
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I want to be a warrior, a prayer warrior, but I am weak. Please be my strength and teach me how to fight.
Amen
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the body prayer
Help my surrender my body to you, O Lord.
Fill my eyes with love. Open them to your beauty.
Let my eyebrows rest in a position of empathy and concern.
Bring the corners of my mouth up, creating a smile that will bring peace to a passing stranger.
Lower my shoulders, so I can receive.
Take my hands out of my pockets, and put them in a position to serve.
Lean my torso forwards, so I can listen and hear.
Strengthen my hips. Fortify my legs. For I desire to stand firm in the faith.
Lower my knees, that I may see everyone eye to eye… especially those who have stumbled.
Bring my feet off my heals—and set me off now to do your work.
Amen
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Fill my eyes with love. Open them to your beauty.
Let my eyebrows rest in a position of empathy and concern.
Bring the corners of my mouth up, creating a smile that will bring peace to a passing stranger.
Lower my shoulders, so I can receive.
Take my hands out of my pockets, and put them in a position to serve.
Lean my torso forwards, so I can listen and hear.
Strengthen my hips. Fortify my legs. For I desire to stand firm in the faith.
Lower my knees, that I may see everyone eye to eye… especially those who have stumbled.
Bring my feet off my heals—and set me off now to do your work.
Amen
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we seek you
"O God, thou art my God, early
will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee,
my flesh longeth for thee in a dry
and thirsty land, where no water is"
(Psalms 63:1)
Thank you, Lord, that we can seek you. You are so amazing and you
are so worthy of our every longing. We thirst and hunger for more
of you and are so thankful that you meet us in that deep place of our need.
Minister to hearts and souls today in a mighty way. Touch lives and change hearts.
And we give you all glory and all honor and all praise.
In the mighty, saving and delivering name of Jesus,
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Grace
Father, thank you for your inexhaustible grace. Even when we don't recognize it and continue to try and do things our own way, your grace brings us back and leads us to love you more. Amen
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Please visit The Prayer List and pray with us.
The Path of His Passion
As part of my personal preparation of my heart for Easter, I'm reading the book "The PATH of His Passion" by Bill Crowder. To journey the last 40 days with Jesus and His Disciples through this book is both inspiring and humbling. This prayer was in today's reading and the Scripture of the agony in the Garden. How my heart is touch, and my gratitude increased.
"Blessed Father, how could You love me this much? How could Your love be so rich that it would suspend the judgment I deserved, placing it instead on Your Son? I thank You for Your love ~~ help me to rejoice in it. I thank You for Your grace ~~ assist me to bring honor to it. Thank You for your Son's obedience ~~ enable me to mirror it. Thank You for Your often-mysterious will ~~ teach me to embrace it. Teach me to live a life that is a holy place for Your presence. For obedience that flows out of love and awe of the Christ, I pray. Amen
Amen
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Prayer for Clear Vision
O CHRIST who sees the little and the lost:the child,
the lamb,
the lost coin.
Widen my eyes with your compassion;
clear my vision with your justice;
soften my gaze with your tears
for all who need my prayers today.
Amen.
... a prayer from The Awkward Season: Prayers for Lent by Pamela C. Hawkins
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the kingdom of heaven is near
Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.'
Thank you, O Lord, for being so near today.
Perhaps we can imagine a time when we are invited to your banquet table, living and loving in the presence of Christ for all eternity.
Maybe we have heard your soft whisper, felt your hand on our shoulder when we needed a friend.
Perchance we saw you today, in the sunrise, the dancing treetops, the smile of a stranger.
Or it could be that today was a challenge, a chore, a tester... but for some unexplainable reason we have hope that tomorrow will be better.
The kingdom of heaven is near. Let us be the people who proclaim this good news.
Amen
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Thank you, O Lord, for being so near today.
Perhaps we can imagine a time when we are invited to your banquet table, living and loving in the presence of Christ for all eternity.
Maybe we have heard your soft whisper, felt your hand on our shoulder when we needed a friend.
Perchance we saw you today, in the sunrise, the dancing treetops, the smile of a stranger.
Or it could be that today was a challenge, a chore, a tester... but for some unexplainable reason we have hope that tomorrow will be better.
The kingdom of heaven is near. Let us be the people who proclaim this good news.
Amen
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"Most merciful God, order my day so that I may know what you want me to do, and then help me to do it. Let me not be elated by success or depressed by failure. I want only to take pleasure in what pleases you, and only to grieve at what displeases you.
"For the sake of your love I would willingly forgo all temporal comforts.
"May all the joys in which you have no part weary me.
"May all the work which you do not prompt be tedious to me.
"Let my thoughts frequently turn to you, that I may be
obedient to you without complaint,
patient without grumbling,
cheerful without self-indulgence,
contrite without dejections,
and serious without solemnity.
"Let me hold you in awe without feeling terrified of you, and let me be an example to others withtout any trace of pride."
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Quoted in "Prayers for Today" by Kurt Bjorklund
Amen
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"For the sake of your love I would willingly forgo all temporal comforts.
"May all the joys in which you have no part weary me.
"May all the work which you do not prompt be tedious to me.
"Let my thoughts frequently turn to you, that I may be
obedient to you without complaint,
patient without grumbling,
cheerful without self-indulgence,
contrite without dejections,
and serious without solemnity.
"Let me hold you in awe without feeling terrified of you, and let me be an example to others withtout any trace of pride."
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Quoted in "Prayers for Today" by Kurt Bjorklund
Amen
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Father, we pray for those who have been devastated by the recent storms. Heal those who are injured, provide for those who have lost homes and possessions, and comfort those who have lost loved ones. May your grace and love fill their hearts. Amen
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Please visit The Prayer List and pray with us.
GOING THROUGH THE FIRE
Isaiah 48:10 "See, I have refined you, though not as silver, I have tested you in the furnace of affliction."
"As sure as ever God puts his children in the furnace, he will be in the furnace with them. ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)
Amen
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The Samaritan Prayer
- and so imitate you, the Good Samaritan.
I read this today in a Lenten prayer and was struck by the second line of it. Jesus personified for us in his life, his teaching, his ministry and in his death what it was like to be a Good Samaritan.
So today I ask you to join with me in asking the Lord for:
:: a heart that will cry for those wounded on the side of the road;This we ask Lord in the name of your son Jesus.
:: hands that are willing to lift such a one and bandage their hurts;
:: feet that will carry such a one to a warm and safe place and
:: resources to provide for the desolate and hurting in our midst.
Amen
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A prayer for the faithful
Let us surrender to you, O Lord. We surrender our will to you, our mighty God, who reigns supreme in all things.
Let us abandon our lives, and hold nothing back. For no harm can come to anyone who willingly lives in the hand of God.
Let us be content--in who you are, in who we are, and with the lot that has fallen to us. May our heart overflow with gratitude and joy.
Let us participate in your work, and bring the kingdom of heaven to earth on a daily basis. May we embrace our circumstances and act for your good.
Today's prayer inspired by Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice
Amen
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Let us abandon our lives, and hold nothing back. For no harm can come to anyone who willingly lives in the hand of God.
Let us be content--in who you are, in who we are, and with the lot that has fallen to us. May our heart overflow with gratitude and joy.
Let us participate in your work, and bring the kingdom of heaven to earth on a daily basis. May we embrace our circumstances and act for your good.
Today's prayer inspired by Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice
Amen
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