Daily Prayer

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

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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

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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.

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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.

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Confidence in Jesus

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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.

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giving thanks in every season

Heavenly Father,

You are the God of all seasons.

You are with me in my joys and in my sorrows.

I thank you for your unconditional love.

I am blessed to have you in my life in every season.

I am so thankful that you are working all things for my good.

I pray for the strength and faith to walk through every season.

I praise you in both glad times and in painful times.

I am trusting in you as I become more and more like your Son.

In every season, I give thanks to you and for you.

Amen.

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a prayer of thanks in rough times

There is something healing about the giving of thanks. We acknowledge God's goodness when we give thanks to him in the midst of struggle and pain. We seemingly reach back to times of divine blessings when we remember what God has done in our lives. Such memories can be an anchor in the storm.

I can relate to times of pain when all I had was a memory of the goodness of God. There is something about a memory that can cause me to be thankful. When my parents passed on my memories of them caused me to be thankful for their lives. I think that it is helpful to give thanks to God in rough times.

With that in mind, I ask you to pray with me.

We remember what you have done in our lives Lord. And we give thanks.

For your presence in good times and bad. We give thanks.

For the people that you have placed in our lives. We give thanks.

For the ways that you work all things together for our good. We give thanks.

For the gift of your Son. Our hearts are filled with Thanksgiving.

Amen

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May the Words We Have Heard Be Grafted in Our Hearts (George Whitefield)

Grant, we ask you, Almighty God, that the words which we have heard this day with our outward ears, may through your grace be so grafted inwardly in our hearts, that they may bring forth in us the fruit of good living, to the honor and praise of your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!

George Whitefield

Matthew 13:23 (ESV)

23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

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a prayer for mental peace

O God, the One who has set us free - the One who is our peace:

We seek the strength of your Spirit, that we may live in a more deep and powerful union with you.

May Your faithfulness be a source of comfort for us as we live in the reality of a world, a community - and even our own hearts - that struggle to thrive in the midst of loneliness, political upheaval, financial battles, health concerns, broken relationships, and the continued deep divide between people with different beliefs.

Teach us to give grace when we don't understand.

Give us eyes to see those who are drowning in despair.

Give us hearts to help, and feet that are ready and able.

May Your hope overcome despair, may Your love be felt by those who feel far away from it, and may Your provision come to those who need it. Grant that we may gain courage to love and understand each other, and live with mercy toward those that need Your help and our help. May the Great Comforter - the Holy Spirit - wash over each one of us this day and every day forward.

Amen

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a prayer to be flexible

Dear Lord,

Grant me flexibility, the ability to bend without breaking.

Enable me to find the grace to adapt to change with a peaceful heart.

Help me to be less stubborn and more open to new experiences.

Bless me that I might trust you when my plans go sideways.

Open my heart that I might find joy in unexpected moments.

And guide me to release rigidness and be more responsive to You.

In all things I will praise you and seek your will.

Amen.

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a prayer of hope and praise

O Lord,

For a long time you have been my hope and my trust.

Upon you my heart has leaned for many many years.

You have watched over me from childhood.

Help me to be a reflection of your grace and mercy.

I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.

My mouth will tell of your righteousness and testify to your love.

I praise you with my whole being and I will hope in your name.

Amen.

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A prayer to be of use in my generation (by William Wilberforce)

‘That I really may be of use in my generation’

‘Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.’ Psalm 71:18

I have a vast multiplicity of objects soliciting my attention and I seem to myself to be failing in the discharge of the duties of my several relations, as Member of Parliament, as father, and as a master [of household servants]. To thee, O God, I fly, through the Saviour; enable me to live more worthy of my holy calling; to be more useful and efficient, that my time may not be frittered away unprofitably to myself and others, but that I really may be of use in my generation, and adorn the doctrine of God my Saviour. I am a poor, helpless creature, Lord, strengthen me.

FOR MEDITATION:

To be more useful and efficient. Wilberforce learned early in his career as a reformer from the writings of Philip Doddridge, who wrote: ‘nothing conduces more to the advancement of grace than the lively exercise of love to God, and a holy joy in him. I would remind the real Christian of those mercies which tend to excite that love and joy; and in the view of them to animate him to those vigorous efforts of usefulness in life, which so well become his character.’

Doddridge then concluded with the following prayer:

‘Nor would I forget to acknowledge thy favour in rendering me capable of serving others, and giving me in any instance to know how much “more blessed it is to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). I thank thee for a heart which feels the sorrows of the necessitous, and a mind which can make it my early care and refreshment to contrive, according to my little ability, for their relief; for “this also cometh forth from thee, O Lord!” (Isaiah 28:29) the great Author of every benevolent inclination, of every prudent scheme, of every successful attempt to spread happiness around us, or in any instance to lessen distress.’

Adapted from: Wilberforce, William, and Kevin Belmonte. 2006. 365 Days with Wilberforce.

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NOTHING!

LORD, we are so thankful that there is NOTHING impossible with You!! You are the AUTHOR of all things. The CREATOR of the world. And we are grateful beyond measure for Your Hand of MERCY and GRACE upon Your Children.

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