Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

HE KNOWS MY NAME



I have a maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in His hands.

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call.

I have a Father
He calls me his own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call.

********
Dear Heavenly Father, how grateful we are to call you Father.  How precious that Your Word tells us you know our every thought.  You see every heartache and tear that falls.  You hear us when we cry out to you.  Thank You that you call us Your own and never, never leave or forsake us.
We deserve Hell, but instead through Your Son's blood and sacrifice we get to call You Father, and know that we will spend eternity with you in Heaven.
Thank you that you know MY name!
Amen.

Song "He knows my name" 
Tommy Walker

A prayer when doubting




Luke 17:5–6 (ESV)
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

----

Lord, I’m not sure anymore.
Are you really there?
Some days I’m as certain of you as I’m sitting here now. But at other times my faith wavers. It seems to be as light and thin as a piece of tissue paper.
There seem to be so many questions; the world is full of uncertainties. 
Why are babies born deformed? 
Why do innocent people suffer? 
Why is there so much injustice in the world? 
Why do police officers get killed? 
Why are there earthquakes? 
Why do planes crash? 
The list could go on and on, Lord …
Help me look beyond my lack of faith to you, to see the “bigger picture” of you.
Thank you that I do have faith that is small, even though it seems to be as small as a grain of sand. Even though that is so tiny, may that be built on today.
“Lord, I believe a little; help me to believe more.”
Amen.


Martin Manser, (2018). A Book of Prayers 


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as we reach out



Dear Heavenly Father,

I pray that you might open my eyes to new friendships.
Help me to see the lonely people all around me.
Cause me to reach out and offer love to them.

Lead me Lord that I might enlarge my circle.
Encourage me to be a friend like Jesus was.
In all things and in every place let me live as your friend.

Amen.


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for inner strength



I get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. 
I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. 
And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. 
Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! 
Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

— Paul, the Apostle, from The Message  


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bless us with love



Bless us with Love, O Merciful God;
That we may Love as you Love!

That we may show patience, tolerance,
Kindness, caring and love to all!

Thank you for the gift of forgiveness,
Help me to love and forgive when I am offended.

O Compassionate One, grant compassion unto us;
That we may help all fellow souls in need!

Bless us with your Love O God.
Bless us with your Love.
-adapted from a prayer by an unknown author  

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GOD OF COMPASSION




You are a God of great compassion and mercy,  You love us with a love that is not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered ~~ a love that keeps no records of wrongs.  This is the love of Christ.  And it is to this kind of love you call us.  Lord, help me to love others the way You love me.  Amen


Give us the eyes of a child




Luke 18:15–17 (ESV)
15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”



-----

  Give us the eyes of a child, O God,
  to delight in your world.
  May we see your wonders anew,
  hear the sounds of joy and laughter,
  and discover as we play the majesty of your glory.
  Keep us from closing our hearts
  through arrogance and pride.
  Open us to the praise that excites the soul,
  through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Ian Black



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confessing our dependence



We are dependent on you Lord.

You are the one who sustains us and gives us purpose.

Apart from you, our life lacks meaning.

You are the one who never leaves and is always with us.

In you we are never alone or forsaken.

You have imparted life into our souls.

Because of you we spiritually live and breathe.

We confess our trust and dependence in you.

Amen.


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a prayer for dads



Dear Heavenly Father,

You entrusted your son Jesus to the care of Joseph, an earthly father.

Bless all fathers as they care for their families.

Give them strength and wisdom, tenderness and patience.

Support them in the work they do, protecting those who look to them.

We commit them to you in the name of your Son..

Amen.
    

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for eyes that see



Open our eyes Lord.

   To the beauty all around us.

   To your love expressed through our family and friends.

   To all of the way that you provide for our needs.

Cause us to be people who bless what we see.

   Help us to be encouragers and givers.

   Help us to find ways to bless those who are down.

   Help us to be healers and people of reconciliation.

We commit ourselves afresh to you.

Amen.


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THE VALLEY OF VISION





Lord, it is my chief design to bring my heart back to thee.
Convince me that I cannot be my own God,
to make myself happy,
Nor my own Christ to restore my joy,
Nor my own Spirit to teach, guide, rule me.
Help me to see that GRACE does this by
Providential affliction.
Amen!


How easy it is to see affliction as negative, when sometimes
it's the only way God has of showing us our need.  King David thanked God for
his affliction, as it brought him back to his relationship with his God.
Today, let us pray this prayer found in the prayers of the Puritans,
The Valley of Vision

googleimages.com

The prayer of groans





Romans 8:26 (ESV)
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Psalm 5:1–2 (ESV)
Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning. 2 Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.


Lord, help me to know that when I feel I have no words to pray, I can pray.
Help me to know that You know what my needs are. 
You hear the deep groans and pain of my heart
You respond to my groans, audible or silent because You know all things.
Help me turn my groans into a posture of prayer, knowing that Your Holy Spirit intercedes for me.
Lord, help me realize that when I am weak, Your Power is made perfect.
Help me realize that when I groan in pain and despair, Your grace is more than sufficient*
Thank You, Lord, that You do not despise "the prayer of groans" because You can see that they are from the depths of my heart.

In Jesus' Name
AMEN

* 2 Corinthians 12:9

---
The best prayers have often more groans than words, and those words that it has are but a lean and shallow representation of the heart, life, and spirit of that prayer. (John Bunyan)



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for transformation



We surrender to your will and your ways Father.

Lead us that we might share your love in the world.

Help us to see you present in our good times and bad.

We ask you to spiritually transform us.

That we will be like your Son.

For it is in his name that we pray and say amen.


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SHEPHERD OF MY SOUL


Shepherd of my soul,
I give you full control,
Wherever you may lead
I will follow.
I have made the choice
To listen to Your voice,
Wherever you may lead
I will go.

Be it in a quiet pasture
Or by a gentle stream,
The Shepherd of my soul
Is by my side.
Should I face a mighty mountain
Or a valley dark and deep,
The Shepherd of my soul
Will be my guide.


Oh Father, Shepherd of Love, I am content to trust You.   Lead me beside quiet waters or through the valley of the shadow of death.  Help me follow You down the paths of righteousness and gain wisdom from the experience.  The Good Shepherd knows His sheep, and calls them by name.  Thank you Father for knowing all my deepest thoughts and desires.  Thank you for keeping me safe in the fold.  Thank you for your mighty strong arm and the security of your love.  In Jesus Name.  Amen

image from googleimages,com

Take my hands






Lord Christ, in your days on earth your hands were constantly stretched out to heal and serve and bless.
    We have hands similar to yours.
    What marvelous pieces of mechanism they are!
    What an endless variety of things they can do!
Throughout the day, from morning to night, we use them for a hundred different purposes, without even thinking of them, still less thanking you for them.
We pray that as our hands serve us so well, they may also be of service to others; and so we sing:

         Take my hands, and let them move
         At the impulse of thy love.


Frank Colquhoun, ed. (1989). Prayers for Today 


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Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.

Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.

Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.

Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee.

Frances Ridley Havergal, 1836-1879


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for empowerment



Holy Spirit,

Empower me to live your message and love my neighbors.

Empower me to lay down my life as Jesus did.

Empower me to value others more than myself.

Empower me to be an ambassador of your love.

Empower me to hear your voice in all that I do.

Amen.



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when life is hard



Dearest Father,

I feel alone and forsaken.

My heart hurts and I am in pain.

I am desperate and in need of your joy.

I know that you care and are here with me.

Help me to feel your presence.

Give me grace that I might not fear and be afraid.

Help me to trust you and to not despair.

Bless me that I might feel your comfort and your joy.

In the your name I pray.

Amen.


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a deconstructing prayer



Dear Father,

Change seems to be so overwhelming.

Help us to let go of old ways of living and thinking.

Teach us that our faith might evolve instead of cease.

Bring encouragers into our live, to help us embrace new ways.

Inform us that we might grow in faith and wisdom.

That we might be transformed into the image of your Son.

Amen.


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HIS MERCY IS MORE



What love could remember no wrongs we have done
Omniscient, all knowing, he counts not their sum
Thrown into a sea without bottom or shore
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more.

What riches of kindness He lavished on us
His blood was the payment, His life was the cost
We stood 'neath a debt we could never afford
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more.

Praise the Lord, His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness, new every morn
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more.

Oh Father God, You are so awesome.  So kind to look beyond our faults and see our need.  How gracious to make the payment for us.  We deserved hell, but you paid our debt in full and show us new mercies every morning.  Thank You for showing us your unconditional love and mercy.  In the precious Name of Jesus,  Amen.

A prayer for renewal






Deuteronomy 10:12–13 (ESV)
12 “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?

---

Lord, too often I get wrapped up in my personal troubles and concerns, and the desires of my heart that I forget that I am here to seek the desires of Your heart. 
Forgive me.
Help me today to refocus on You and Your good desires for my life.
Renew my heart Lord, that I may fear You, and walk in all Your ways
Renew my heart Lord, that I may love You more each day 
Renew my heart Lord, that I may desire to serve You with my whole being
Renew my heart, Lord, that I may know that your desires and commands are for my good.

In Jesus' Name
AMEN


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