Daily Prayer

a prayer to increase our strength

Please visit The Prayer List and pray with us.

Rhythm of Daily Prayer

One of the interesting things that happen when we spend time with God in prayer is that we find out how tired and anxious we are. If we don't fall asleep, we find out how full our head is of worries and concerns and things we need to do. While we are trying to be with God, we are busy thinking about all the plans we have made. A thousand distractions will come our way, like jumping monkeys filling a banana tree. As soon as we enter into solitude, we discover how chaotic our inner life is. Suddenly all sorts of thoughts, feelings, and fantasies come to the surface, and we soon find ourselves thinking about old pains and old rewards, about appointments we forgot to keep and letters we forgot to write, about people we hope to see and people we hope we never see, about a future vacation, a possible promotion, or our approaching retirement. Instead of being prayerful we become restless and can't wait until our half hour is over.

Don't be surprised at this. You can't just suddenly shut the door of a house that was always open to strangers and expect no one to knock on the door. It will take a while for these countless distractions to disappear, but eventually they will, especially when they realize that you refuse to open the door to them for at least half an hour. If we faithfully keep our time of prayer, every single day, then slowly the distractions diminish and our mind and body join in a rhythm of daily prayer.

“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

- Psalm 119: 130

----

Lord, help me to develop a daily rhythm of prayer that I may find true rest in you and be able to cast aside the many unfruitful distractions of my life.

In Jesus' Name

Amen

Please visit The Prayer List and pray with us.

His name is Wonderful

LORD,

As this beautiful season of Christmas is upon us, help us to keep our eyes focused on You. Help us to remember that long ago HOLY night when SALVATION descended to the earth in the form of a baby. Help us to keep our gaze toward the GIFT of Jesus. And let our hearts forever be filled to overflowing with the WONDER of Christ.

May we spread the beautiful Gospel of Jesus Christ all the days of our lives…

“For a child will be born for us….He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace…” (Isaiah 9:6)

Please visit The Prayer List and pray with us.

a prayer for the unsettled

Heavenly Father,

In this second week of Advent, I know the focus is on the word "Peace" but honestly, my heart doesn't feel very peaceful right now. I'm being pulled in many directions, and my heart feels very unsettled.

I know that the peace the angels spoke of (“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”- Luke 2:14) isn't about horizontal earthy peace, but about the vertical peace we have with you... but I really wish there was horizontal earthy peace right now.

Lord, help me rest in the peace Jesus brought when he came as a baby, a peace in my relationship with you. I am so thankful that I am no longer at war with you because Jesus has covered all my sin. May this peace sink down so deep in my heart that I become an agent of peace in this world.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Amen.

Please visit The Prayer List and pray with us.

A Prayer to Celebrate the Miracle of Christmas

Dear Father,

Christmas began with the miracle of the Incarnation.

It seems that it is a time of hope, possibilities and optimism.

We thank you so much for giving us Jesus.

As we celebrate his miraculous birth, turn our hearts toward heaven.

Cause us to see you anew with hearts transformed by your Spirit.

Bless us to reflect your love and goodness to all around us.

You, O blessed Savior, are worthy of all honor and praise.

In this season we celebrate and glory in your Son.

To him belongs all praise.

In love we say amen. And amen.

Please visit The Prayer List and pray with us.

a prayer to help others this holiday season

Dearest Lord,

During this season of Christmas we ask you to open our eyes.

Help us to see those who are hurting, sad and lonely.

We pray for those around us who need your touch and ministry.

Extend your hand of compassion and provision through us to them.

Help us to be vessels of Your love and support.

Bless us as we offer helping hands and listening ears.

We thank you, Father, for the privilege of prayer and ministry.

To you belongs all praise and honor.

We love you Lord.

Amen.

Please visit The Prayer List and pray with us.

A prayer for Advent to help restore our focus

Come, Lord Christ,

to restore all that has been lost

through struggle and fear,

in sorrow and in pain.

Come, Lord Christ,

to restore the balance of hope

for those oppressed and hungry for justice,

overlooked and counted of little worth.

Come, Lord Christ,

to restore to wholeness

the image that is tarnished

with sin and shame,

neglect and distraction.

Come, Lord Christ,

in poverty and humility

to raise us to your eternal glory. Amen.

Source: Black, Ian. 2011. Prayers for All Occasions. London: SPCK.

Please visit The Prayer List and pray with us.

a prayer of hope

Father,

Hope.

It's the first word we often ponder during the Advent season and yet this year it feels strange to even think about hope with so much despair and conflict all around us.

So we lament. We cry out to You.

But in this, there is hope.

Because we wouldn't cry out to You if we didn't hope You would hear us. If we didn't hope You would fix what was broken and right what was wrong.

Lord help us see hope in a new way this Advent and Christmas season. Remind us to find hope in what You have done and what You are doing, and to find hope in the promises You have made for our future. Remind us that we are secure in our place as Your children and that our union with You is at Your gracious and loving hand.

Remind us that our hope is not in the things of this world, but in the person of Jesus Christ who will come again. For this, we wait and hope.

Please visit The Prayer List and pray with us.

a prayer for clarity

Lord of Light and Clarity,

As we begin this season of Advent, fill our hearts with your beautiful light.

As seasonal candles are lit, bring the warmth of the time to our hearts.

In the darkness of uncertainty, remind us that your love never fails.

Bring clarity to our lives as we confess our trust in Your presence.

Help us to recognize the still small voice of your Spirit.

Bring grace to our lives as we lean into your presence in us.

Strengthen our hearts and minds for the days ahead.

Help us to carry your light and hope into the world.

Amen

Please visit The Prayer List and pray with us.

A Prayer as we Prepare for Christmas

Lord Jesus, master of both the light and the darkness,

Send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.

We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day.

We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.

We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.

We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.

We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.

To you we say, "Come Lord Jesus!'

Amen.

- Henri J.M. Nouwen

Please visit The Prayer List and pray with us.

as we navigate holiday grief

Dear Father,

We come to you with heavy hearts as we navigate this holiday season.

We know that you are with us in our sadness.

We pray for Your comfort and peace in the midst of our sorrow and loss.

Wrap us in Your love and strength, and remind us that we are not alone.

Please bring us courage to face each day with hope.

Grant us grace that we might find hope and healing, even through the pain.

For we who mourn, let your presence be our solace.

And let our memories of our loved ones be a source of peace.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Please visit The Prayer List and pray with us.

Deliver Me from Slothfulness, Lukewarmness and Dejection (John Wesley)

Deliver me, O God, from a slothful mind, from all lukewarmness, and all dejection of spirit. I know these cannot but deaden my love to you; mercifully free my heart from them, and give me a lively, zealous, active, and cheerful spirit; that I may vigorously perform whatever you command, thankfully suffer whatever you choose for me, and be ever ardent to obey in all things your holy love.

John Wesley

Romans 12:11 (ESV)

11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Revelation 3:16 (ESV)

16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

Please visit The Prayer List and pray with us.

Confidence in Jesus

Please visit The Prayer List and pray with us.

on forgiving others

Father,

This week many of us will come to the table for holiday celebrations. And sometimes, Lord, it's hard for us to come to this table without hurt, baggage, and trauma around other at the table who've hurt us. It's hard to forgive those who haven't asked for forgiveness, or to forgive those who don't think they've done anything wrong.

May we be reminded that refusing to forgiving others is hard on our own hearts.

You've established forgiveness as a command, but a command for our good. When our sense of justice gets in the way, Lord remind us that release is good for our body, hearts, and souls.

We come with open hearts and open hands. Give us the grace to forgive all who have offended us. Give us the grace to let go.

Help us to walk in the forgiveness you have given us. Encourage unconditional love.

Teach us to forgive as we are forgiven.

Amen.

Please visit The Prayer List and pray with us.