Category: prayer

3 More prayers for courage


 
 

Here are 3 brief prayers for courage to aid you in your prayers as you bring your hopes and fears before God.

Note: I’ve called this post 3 More prayers for courage as I already had a post entitled 3 Prayers for courage, posted in September 2020 when the theme of the month was “Threshold”.
 

#1

“Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’
After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.” (John 20:19-20)

Living God,
You appeared to your disciples in their hour of fear,
and offered them your peace to still their hearts.
May we open our arms
to be living hope in the world today,
bringing peace to those living in fear.
Give us courage to be bold in sharing what we believe;
may we hold firm to your promise of life and hope,
and strive for a new world,
free from poverty, injustice and conflict.

~ from the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website,
posted on re:worship
 

#2

Eternal God,
you call us to ventures
of which we cannot see the ending,
by paths as yet untrodden,
through perils unknown.
Give us faith
to go out with courage, not knowing
where we go but only that your hand
is leading us,
and your love supporting us.

~ written by Eric Milner White,
posted on Christine Jerrett’s blog
 

#3

(inspired by Luke 24:13-35)

O God, you come to us in unexpected places:
in isolation, behind closed doors;
on dusty roads, as we go from place to place;
in video chats with friends and telephone conversations with loved ones.
You come bringing us peace, where there is no peace.
You come bringing us hope when everything seems hopeless.
You come bringing us courage when we are afraid.
Come and be among us now, in every place where we are.
Open our eyes to see you, open our hearts to know you.
In the name of the Risen Christ we pray.
Amen

~ submitted by Ann Harbridge,
posted on re:worship
 

From the blog
Wilderness encouragement
3 Prayers for refugees
Theme: Still small voice  [prayer sheet]
 

For courage and grace


 

A bold prayer for this first week in Lent.

 

A prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,
who for our sake drew to yourself the world’s hate,
grant us the courage to be vulnerable,
grace to expose ourselves to the furies without
      and the furies within;
and in our frailty send your holy angels
      to minister to us.
 

~ written by Richard Harries
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #770
 

Evening prayer #4

 

A prayer to accompany you as day changes into night.

 

O God our Creator,
by whose mercy and might
the world turns safely into darkness
and returns again to light:
we give into your hands
our unfinished tasks,
our unsolved problems
and our unfulfilled hopes,
knowing that only those things which you bless
will prosper.

To your great love and protection
we commit each other,
and all for whom we have prayed,
knowing that you alone are our sure defender;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 
The Book of Common Worship, Church of South India (adapted)
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #672
 

More evening prayers
Evening prayer #1
Evening prayer #2
Evening prayer #3
 

Germinate and grow

 

Another New Year’s prayer, albeit a few days late, a prayer that beautifully connects to our current theme of the month: GROW.

 

New Year’s prayer

Lord, as this new year dawns,
welcome.

Welcome into our world
and into our lives.

Sow light in our hearts.
Let it germinate and grow
and bring forth fruit.
Birth in us something new.

Let your peace take root.
Nurture it,
encourage it to flourish.

Let your love blossom
with the fragrance
of patience and compassion.

Let it strengthen
forgiveness and understanding.

Let your life emerge
in us, through us, around us,
bringing newness to all it touches.

 
~ written by Christine Sine, and posted on godspacelight.com.
 

 
From the blog
3 prayers for the New Year
3 Prayers for endings and beginnings
Big strong tree
 

3 prayers for the New Year


ending well …  (Artwork: Irene Bom)
 

Because prayer matters, from one year to the next …

 

#1

O Christ,
tirelessly you seek out those who are looking for you
and who think that you are far away;
teach us, at every moment,
to place our spirits in your hands.
While we are still looking for you,
already you have found us.
However poor our prayer,
you hear us far more than we can imagine or believe.

Brother Roger of Taizé
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #13
 

#2

God, bless our year
giving us
time for the task
peace for the pathway
wisdom for the work
friends for the fireside
love to the last.

The Mother’s Union Anthology of Public Prayers
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #752
 

#3

O Lord, as the years change, may we find rest in your eternal changelessness. Help us to meet this new year bravely, in the faith that, while life changes all around us, you are always the same, guiding us with your wisdom and protecting us with your love; through our Saviour Jesus Christ.

William Temple (1881-1944)
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #749
 

Credits

“If you want to start well, it is deeply connected to ending well.”
from Creative Pep Talk podcast (episode #345), hosted by Andy J. Miller (alias Andy J. Pizza).
 

All my longings


 

All my longings lie open before you, Lord:
      my sighing is not hidden from you.

 

A prayer

My God,
I pray that I may so know you and love you
that I may rejoice in you.
And if I may not do so fully in this life,
let me go steadily on
to the day when I come to fullness of life.
Meanwhile let my mind meditate on your eternal goodness,
let my tongue speak of it,
let my heart live it,
let my soul hunger for it,
and my whole being desire it,
until I enter into your joy.
 
by St Anselm (1033-1109)
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #85
 

From the blog
United by love
Not deserted
Holy moment beneath the stars
 

Longing for his appearing

 

This past Sunday I got to preach on the topic of “Longing” as part of our Advent series, Waiting, longing, hoping and praying for the Day of the Lord.

May God increase your longing for Jesus’ return as we move through Advent and on to another Covid-coloured Christmas. According to Paul, there is a crown of righteousness awaiting “all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

 

Prayer

In the promise which is everywhere about us
Hold us, God

In the longing for a new world and new living
Cradle us, God

In the need to see advent’s revelation in our world
Direct us, God

In the silence of memories that haunt us
Comfort us, God

In the hunger for justice that aches in us
Feed us, God

In the yearning for love in each of our days
Reassure us, God

In the setting out of truth in our political world
Aid us, God

In the call for peace in our crazy world
Hear us, God

In the search for healing in our broken world
Find us, God

In the gathering round the table
Gather with us, God

In the breaking of bread and spilling of wine
Share with us, God

In the community of faith
Reveal yourself, God

 
— from the archives of the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website, posted on re:worship.
 

 
Resound Worship Podcast: One of my songs got mentioned

For a sample and review of the theme song I wrote for our Advent series, Waiting, longing, hoping and praying for the Day of the Lord, check out the Resound Worship Podcast, episode 91 (from 40:35 to 45:30).
 

Considering considerate


 

James tells us the wisdom from heaven is – amongst other things – considerate (James 3:17).

 
Here’s a quote from a recent sermon I preached entitled Be wise in God’s eyes that references this verse:
 

What does genuine wisdom look like? James spells it out for us in v. 17: ‘the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.’

True wisdom, the wisdom that comes from heaven looks like Jesus: Pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

The more we let Jesus shape our lives, the wiser we will be. Pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

 

A prayer

Lord, help me to understand what it truly means to be considerate of others and put their needs above my own. May I recognize the little things I do that reveal I am thinking more of myself than of others. Help me to see the blessing that comes from putting others first.

May I see that everything I think doesn’t need to be said. May I understand that an affirmative smile is better than speaking my mind. Please give me insight into where others need to be lifted up and encouraged in you.

Putting others first means that I listen to others and hear what they say even if I don’t agree with them. If you would have me speak truth then enable me to do it with gentleness and compassion, not with antagonism and force. In all things, remind me to examine myself first to see if there is any wrong way in me.

Lord, teach me to keep my words few and my heart full of you. May my mind be aligned with your mind and may I see into the souls of others and know what you know. May I recognize that all people need you and may the words I speak to them reveal a little of who you are and all that you have done for us.

Lord, at the heart of putting others first is the dying to self. It isn’t important what I want and think. What is important is what you want and that should be at the forefront of my mind. Lord may my thoughts and words be considerate of others and pleasing to you. May I learn to speak as you speak and love as you love. May all that I do be done in your name and bring glory to you.

Amen

 
~ written by Marty Elwell, posted on www.ultimateoutcomes.org
 

Thank you. For fruit-bearing trees


Apples ready for harvest  (Photo: Irene Bom)
 

Then God said, ‘Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.’ And it was so.

 

Thanksgiving Litany

For summer’s passing and harvest home —
we thank you!
For autumn’s splendor and winter’s chill —
we thank you!
For seed that has fallen, the promise of spring —
we thank you!

As a part of nature’s wondrous cycle
of new birth, growth, fruitfulness and death
we rejoice in the creation of new life.

May our lives blossom as the apple tree in Spring
May we become fruitful in thought and deed
And may the seed of love that falls to the ground
Linger beyond our time on this earth.

 
~ posted on Third Space blog (excerpt)
 

Hear creation singing


(Photo: Irene Bom)
 

Call to Worship

(inspired by Isaiah 35:1-10)

Listen–all creation rejoices, can you hear it?
There is so much noise and chatter, are you sure there is music?
Listen–the wilderness and desert are breaking out in song, can you hear it?
It’s been so long since we’ve heard a melody of praise.
Listen–the crocus blooms with joyful singing,
      the very mountains join in the refrain. Can you hear it?
We join our voices in hope,
      worshipping our God who brings forth a new song in the world.

Opening Prayer

Life-giving God, we are a blessed people.
In this moment of worship we pray that you might bless us anew.
Give us ears to hear the melodies of praise that fill the world around us.
And as we hear the songs,
      teach us to sing,
      to dance with abandon,
      to rejoice in the wonders of your grace.
Forgive us when we have passed by signs of your mercy.
From this moment forward,
      open our eyes to the places where joy is springing
      up from parched ground.
Lead us by your Spirit in the pathways of your overflowing
      peace, hope, and joy.
Amen.

 
~ written by Rev. Nancy J.
posted on wonderings, writings and scribbles
 

From the blog
Theme: Part of creation [prayer sheet]
Bright and beautiful
A prayer to the God of summer