Category: bible

Evening prayer #2


Edinburgh twilight, August 2016 (photo: Irene Bom)

May your angels, holy Son,
guard our homes when day is done,
when at peace, our sleep is best:
Bid them watch us while we rest.

Prince of everything that is,
High Priest of the mysteries,
let your angels, God supreme,
tell us truth dressed as a dream.

May no terror and no fright
spoil our slumber in the night;
free from care our eyelids close;
Spirit, give us prompt repose.

We have laboured through the day;
lift our burdens when we pray,
then our souls in safety keep,
that our sleep be soft and deep.

‘Evening Prayer’, attributed to St Patrick
(c. 389 – c. 461)

(translation by Michael Counsell)

Source
from 2000 Years of Prayer compiled by Michael Counsell, p. 76

Related Scriptures
Psalm 91 (many parallels)
Hebrews 4:14-16 (Jesus, our High Priest)
Genesis 28:10-22 (Jacob’s Dream at Bethel)
Matthew 11:28-30 (Jesus’ invitation to bring him our burdens)

my help / your protector

 

I look up to the hills,
but where will my help really come from?
My help will come from the Lord,
the Creator of heaven and earth.

He will not let you fall.
Your Protector will not fall asleep.
Israel’s Protector does not get tired.
He never sleeps.
The Lord is your Protector.
The Lord stands by your side, shading and protecting you.
The sun cannot harm you during the day,
and the moon cannot harm you at night.
The Lord will protect you from every danger.
He will protect your soul.
The Lord will protect you as you come and go,
both now and forever!

(Psalm 121, Easy-to-Read Version)

 
Application
Thank God for His help and protection – often behind the scenes, in ways we might never know – and pray for those in need of God’s help and protection today.
 

walk, run, soar

Those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31 (NIV UK)
 
 
This post touches on three key elements we find in this beautiful verse from Isaiah 40 – walking, running and soaring – explored through the medium of video/film.
 
It all started with the first video.
My favourite quote: “Walking is medicine for me.”
 
 
WALK (from Millican’s Meaningful Journeys)

 
RUN (from Chariots of Fire)

 
SOAR (from American Beauty) esp. first 2 minutes

 

 
From the blog
Rise up (includes a song inspired by Isaiah 40:31)
 

Quiet near a little stream

With spring upon us, perhaps you can make some time to sit beside a little stream and meditate.
Here is some food for thought.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.

Psalm 23:1-3

from Open House for Butterflies (1960)
by children’s author Ruth Krauss (1901–1993)
with illustrations by Maurice Sendak

More verses featuring streams:

Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;
but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.

Psalm 1:1-3

 

As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.

Psalm 42:1

 

By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches.

Psalm 104:12

 

For more about Open House for Butterflies and the special relationship between author and illustrator, see brainpickings.org.