Dear God,Forgive me for labeling people as enemies and calling them difficult.Help me to offer understanding when I want to win an argument.Bless me that I might lay down my pride and my hurt feelings.When I am tempted to judge help me to genuinely love.Teach me to have thick skin that I may not be easily offended.In all my ways help me to see others the way you see them.That I may be a true citizen of heaven.Amen.
God of all Wisdom,Help us to hear the wisdom you have put in our hearts.
Bless us to follow the paths of wisdom and of love.
Teach us how to discover the wisdom written in our stories.
Encourage us to find the wisdom in our friends and family.
Soften our hearts that we might be open us to new ways.
In all our ways, cause us to be wise and humble.
Amen.
Father God,Bless our dads. Our papas. Our grandfathers.Help them to find courage and strength as they lead.Let their good examples shape and mold their children.Inspire us to honor cherish them always.That you might be glorified in their lives.Amen.
God of Goodness,
I come into your presence so aware of my human frailty and yet overwhelmed by your love for me.I thank you that there is no human experience that I might walk through where your love cannot reach me.
If I climb the highest mountain you are there and yet if I find myself in the darkest valley of my life, you are there.Teach me today to love you more.Help me to rest in that love that asks nothing more than the simple trusting heart of a child.
Amen
Create Space in Your Innermost Self |
Today I imagined my inner self as a place crowded with pins and needles. How could I receive anyone in my prayer when there is no place for them to be free and relaxed? When I am still so full of preoccupations, jealousies, angry feelings, anyone who enters will get hurt. I had a very vivid realization that I must create some free space in my innermost self so that I may indeed invite others to enter and be healed. To pray for others means to offer others a hospitable place where I can really listen to their needs and pains. Compassion, therefore, calls for a self-scrutiny that can lead to inner gentleness. |
Taken from "You are the Beloved" by Henri J.M. Nouwen ---------------- Lord, heal me so that I might find peace. Lord calm my inner turmoil that I might experience and enjoy Your Presence and Hospitality. Lord, heal me so that I might be a source of healing to others. Lord, grant me serenity within my soul that I may be able to listen to the needs of others and pray for them. In Jesus' Name, Amen Philippians 4:6–8 (ESV) 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. |
Dear God,
Things seem dark and I feel all alone.
I am lonely and afraid.
Help me to know that you are here with me.
Open my heart that I might sense your presence.
Return me to the simple path of love and joy.
Teach me to be happy in small things.
And to not worry about things outside of my control.
Lead my friends in helpful ways.
Bless me that I may be a blessing.
Cause me to be a testimony of your love.
I love you Lord.
Amen.
Dear Lord,I do not know why I am so angry. But you do.I seem so powerless to deal with this strong emotion.Free me from these chains that seem to bind me.Forgive me for the times I have given into anger.Help me to have self control and power over anger.I lay down all of the anger and rage. I release it all.Set a guard over my mouth and bless me with patience.Renew me and refresh me that I may be at peace.I give you all praise and honor.You are worthy.Amen.
"Prayer is the only entryway into genuine self-knowledge. It is also the main way we experience deep change - the reordering of our loves. Prayer is how God gives us so many of the unimaginable things He has for us. Indeed, prayer makes it safe for God to give us many of the things we most desire. It is the way we know God, the way we finally treat God as God. Prayer is simply the key to everything we need to do and be in life. We must learn to pray. We have to."
- Timothy Keller
Knowing You, Jesus
by Graham Kendrick
All I once held dear, built my life upon
All this world reveres, and wars to own
All I once thought gain I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now, compared to this
Knowing You, Jesus
Knowing You
There is no greater thing
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love You, Lord
Now my heart's desire is to know You more
To be found in You and known as Yours
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All-surpassing gift of righteousness
Oh, to know the power of Your risen life
And to know You in Your sufferings
To become like You in Your death, my Lord
So with You to live and never die
Dear Lord,Empower us to live into your kindness today.
Cultivate in us a heart that looks like your heart.
Remind us that what we do reflects who we are.
Help us to love as you love and forgive all who hurt us.
Teach us to open our arms to those who are not like us.
May all those who are kind be blessed and prosper.
To you belong all love, honor and worship.
Amen.
Our Father,
Here I am, at your disposal, your child, to use me to continue your loving the world, by giving Jesus to me and through me, to each other that we allow Jesus to love in us and through us with the love with which His Father loves him.
Amen
