A Knight's Prayer

My Lord, I am ready on the threshold of this new day to go forth armed with thy power, seeking adventure on the high road, to right wrong, to overcome evil, to suffer wounds and endure pain if need be, but in all things to serve thee bravely, faithfully, joyfully, that at the end of the day's labor kneeling for thy blessing, thou mayst find no blot upon my shield." -Knight's Prayer [Inscribed in Chester Cathedral]

"Put on the full armor of God so you can take your stand against the devils schemes." -Ephesians 6:11

Dear Lord,  I too must wear the armor to withstand the flaming arrows of the evil one.  I want to as the Knights of old, seek to go forth in YOUR power, overcoming evil, suffering for Your sake when necessary.  Serve you bravely, faithfully and joyfully, and at the end of the day, receive your blessing that I have served you well.  I love you.  Amen

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Echoing the Priestly Prayer

In John 17 Jesus prays what is known as the high priestly prayer. Following is an echo of that prayer ...

Father, the hour is here.
Glorify your Son in us so we can give glory back to you.
We know that everything Jesus gave is a gift from you.
Our prayer is not for the world, but for those you belong to you -
so that we might bring you glory.

Protect us by the power of your name
so that we will be united just as you and Jesus are.
We are not asking you to take us out of the world,
but to keep us safe from the evil one.

We do not belong to this world any more than you do.
Make us holy by your truth; teach us your word, which is truth.
We are praying not only for ourselves
but also for all who will ever believe in Jesus through our message.

We pray that we will all be one, just as you and Christ are one —
as you are in Jesus, and He is in you.

May we be in you so that the world will believe you sent me.
May we experience such perfect unity that the world will know that
You sent Jesus and that you love them as much as you love us.

Amen

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Legacy

"Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago."

This Warren Buffett quote reminds me of the trees that I have sat under.

• My parents planted many trees. I still sit in the shade of their love for me.
• Taxpayers in New York City planted trees that gave me an excellent education.
• A company planted a pension tree and I enjoy a comfortable retirement.
• Our nation's founders planted trees that provide shade to those who long to be free.
• A man once planted a tree of eternal life for me as he hung on a cross.

My prayer is to be a tree planter. A man who thinks past today. One who is concerned more about providing shade than sitting under it. Someone who wants to leave a legacy of love and compassion. It is my prayer for you too.

Amen

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"Lift up your eyes on High, and behold

who hath created these things that

bringeth out their host by number; He 

calleth them all by names by the greatness

of His might, for that He is strong in

power and not one faileth"

(Isaiah 40:26)

Amen

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LORD, TARRY WITH ME....

"O Holy Spirit of God, visit now this soul of mine, and tarry within it until eventide.  Inspire all my thoughts.  Pervade all my imaginations.  Suggest all my decisions.  Lodge in my will's most inward citadel and order all my doings.  Be with me in my silence and in any speech, in my haste and in my leisure, in company and in solitude, in the freshness of the morning and in the weariness of the evening; and give me grace at all times to rejoice in Thy mysterious companionship.  My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.  Amen."

In all the hustle and bustle of our move and beginning this new chapter of our lives, this prayer from my (Diary of Private Prayer) spoke to my heart.  I pray this for myself, and all of my dear blogger friends.

Amen

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FAITHFULNESS

Psalm 37:25 (NLT)
   Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.

Father, if I have learned anything about you during our relationship of 54 years it is that you are faithful. How true is the experience of the Psalmist and the testimony he shares. Father you are faithful to your word, faithful to your purpose and faithful to your people. How precious and personal is the song:

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changes not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou has been, Thou forever will be

Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Pardon for sin and a peace that endure
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside

Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
And all I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Father it is with a humble and grateful heart that I sing and share this song of praise to you.

Amen

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When we pray, He hears

"My voice shall thou hear

in the morning, O LORD;

in the morning will I direct my prayer 

unto thee, and will look up"

(Psalm 5:3)

"I cried unto the LORD with my

voice, and He heard me out of His

holy hill."

(Psalm 3:4)

Amen

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For Peace and Blessing

Grant us Lord ...

Peace between neighbors,
Peace between kindred,
Peace between lovers,
The love of the King of life.

Help us to have ...

Peace between person and person,
Peace between wife and husband,
Peace between woman and children,
The Peace of Christ above all peace.

Bless, O Christ, my face,
Let my face bless everything;

Bless, O Christ, mine eye,
Let mine eye bless all it sees.

Amen

... adapted from the Carmina Gadelica

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Father's Day Prayer | that they might be a sweet savor

This photo is one of my dad back in the 1980s making his famous stew - and yes ... that is a boat paddle that he is using to stir the stew that is cooking in a cauldron heated by a propane flame. He made the stew each year for the family reunion. When I think about Dad's stew I reflect upon how much his life was like that delicious soup. Like that wonderful red stuff, Dad was a blend of different ingredients - Dad was a blend of the best of the South (He was raised in Mississippi) and of the North (He lived most of his life in New York). He was the most loving man I have ever known - like the savor of that stew his life had a sweet aroma ... people who knew him loved him ... he was such a friendly man. Dad was a kind man ... a southern gentleman who was not corrupted by the crassness of the world ... he emanated a quiet dignity that I appreciated so much.

Dear Heavenly Father, we intercede for fathers today. Help them to be and become a sweet savor to their families and the people closest to them. Season their hearts with kindness and their minds with wisdom. Stir in strength and integrity that they might lead their families in ways that please you and bless their children. May all that taste of their lives be encouraged and find your grace in them.

Amen

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CONTENT

Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT)
   ¹¹ Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. ¹²I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. ¹³ For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Father there are three phrases in these verses that unveil the mystery of a satisfied life. I guess I could put it this way:

   I have the sufficiency of life that is possible through understanding and trusting in the revealed truth that in Christ is disclosed the means and strength of a content life. Life not based on circumstances or self-mastery but on the sovereign wisdom and power of Christ. That in Him is the grace and strength to adapt, to apply and to accept God’s will in all things whether in need or plenty.

Father your Word which is true and when trusted enables us to say: “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” So then we can affirm that our sufficiency and satisfaction are from the Lord. ^“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,” 2 Corinthians 3:5 (ESV)

Thank you Father that in Christ life is complete and content as we learn to follow and be faithful to Him. So then I can say with the Psalmist “The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.”  Psalm 23:1 (NLT)  

Amen

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You are a shield about me. | Praying Psalm 3

O Lord, though many say that you will not help my soul,

I confess that you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

Thanks that You hear me when I cry to You and answer me from heaven.

When I lay down to sleep You are with me and I wake again, for the You sustain me even when I sleep.

I will not be afraid of people because You are with me and Your protection is my banner.

Salvation belongs to you Lord and Your blessing is on your people!

Selah

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MORNING PRAYER

Sometimes I like to go back to the prayers prayed by godly men of years gone by.  Such is my little book "A Diary of Private Prayer" by John Baillie  (1949 edition)

The following prayer is an excerpt from "Seventh Day ~ Morning"

"O Lord and Maker of all things, from whose creative power the first light came forth, who didst look upon the world's first morning and see that it was good.  I praise Thee for this light that now streams through my windows to rouse me to the life of another day.

 

I praise Thee for the life that stirs within me.

I praise Thee for the bright and beautiful world into which I go

I praise Thee for the earth and sea, and sky, for scudding cloud and singing bird.

I praise Thee for work Thou hast given me to do

I praise Thee for all that thou hast given me to fill my leisure hours

I praise Thee for my friends.

I praise Thee for music and books and good company and all pure pleasures.

 

O Thou who Thyself art everlasting Mercy, give me a tender heart today towards all those to whom the morning light brings less joy than it brings to me.

 

Those in whom the pulse of life grows weak,

Those who must lie abed through all the sunny hours,

The blind, who are shut off from the light of day,

The overworked, who have no joy of leisure,

The unemployed, who have no joy of labour,

The bereaved, whose hearts and homes are desolate,

And grant Thy mercy on them all.

 

Let there be nothing within me to darken the brightness of the day.  Let the Spirit of Him whose life was the light of men rule within my heart till eventide.  Amen.

 

It may be long, and written in an English style we're unfamiliar with, but it speaks to  my heart big time.  I hope it speaks to yours too.

Amen

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Enlighten what is dark in me.

Dear God,

Enlighten what is dark in me.

Strengthen what is weak in me.

Mend what is broken in me.

Bind what is bruised in me.

Heal what is sick in me.

And lastly ...

Revive whatever peace and love has died in me.

Amen

... taken from an image shared on Facebook.

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spirit lead me

Spirit lead me where my

 trust is without borders.

Let me walk upon the waters,

wherever You would call me. 

Take me deeper than my

feet could ever wander,

And my faith would be made

stronger in the Presence of my Savior.

(Beautiful lyrics of 'Oceans' by Hillsong)

Amen

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For the Nations | Praying Psalm 2

Thank you Lord that, like Jesus, we are your children.

We ask you today for the nations ... that all peoples would be your heritage and the ends of the earth your possession. Do whatever it takes to bring the world to You.

Please help our earthly rulers to be wise and serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.

Today we kiss you and draw near to you, oh glorious Son of God, with our worship.

We submit to you Lord Jesus. Thank You that you desire none to perish.

Blessed are all who take refuge in You.

Amen

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Ascension

Father, we thank you for the ascension of Christ. It was necessary for him to leave in order for your Holy Spirit to come and dwell in your people. Thank you for not leaving us alone. Amen

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