prayer Archives - Page 3 of 31

Bread of life

“One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Matthew 4:4

Lord, let me hunger enough that I not forget the world’s hunger.
Lord, let me hunger enough that I may have bread to share.
Lord, let me hunger enough that I may long for the Bread of Heaven.
Lord, let me hunger enough that I may be filled.

But, O Lord,
let me not hunger so much
that I seek after that which is not bread,
nor try to live by bread alone.
Amen.

~ from Banquet of Praise: A Book of Worship Resources,
published by Bread for the World, posted on re:Worship

drawing by John Giuliani, from Becoming Bread: Meditations on Loving and Transformation by Gunilla Norris

From the blog
Crossing the threshold
Table grace
Time together

Strange but true

TO PONDER

‘Our pilgrimage on earth cannot be exempt from trial. We actually progress by means of trial. We do not know ourselves except through trial, or receive a crown except after victory.’

by Augustine of Hippo

from Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals by Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Enuma Okoro, p. 391

Prayer

Keeper of our lives,
      you know the hardness and gentleness of human hearts.
You call your people to faithful living.
Through the storms of life
      that bring suffering and fear, joy and laughter,
      teach us to turn to you for all we need,
      so that we may come to know your presence
      even in the midst of the trials that surround us.
Amen.

posted on re:Worship

From the blog
Trust in the slow work of God
In the school of prayer with Terry Hinks
“A Good Night’s Sleep” inspirations

Strange territory

Prayer

inspired by the Beatitudes

God of life and of truth,
Your Son invites us to see the world through your eyes and we find ourselves disoriented:

You bless the poor
You bless the meek
You bless the pure in heart.
You turn our world and its values upside down.

We have signed on to follow your Son
but this is strange territory.
It doesn’t look anything like
the life we have been taught to yearn for,
to work for,
to believe will bring us happiness.

Yet, You know the despair that besets
so many of our young people
who fear that their future has been mortgaged
by our greed and carelessness.
You hear the cries of those who
have traded their souls for power and money
and now have emptiness as a friend.
You see those who are caught in lives that
lead only to weariness and anxiety.

Set us at Jesus’ feet
so we can learn to judge our lives differently.
Awaken in us that hunger and thirst for you
which will lead us to your will
and your peace.

Open our eyes to see your unexpected blessings.
Open our hearts to welcome you
when you come to us in strange ways.

Then make us into a community of blessedness
that beckons this neighbourhood
into your joy.

We ask these things in the name of Jesus
who blesses us with your living presence
and fills our lives with your life-changing truth.
Amen.

~ written by Christine Jerrett, posted on her website

From the blog
Summer-friendly spiritual practices
St Patrick’s Breastplate embodied
In all seasons – grow

A simple “Yes. Amen.”

But as surely as God is faithful,
our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.”
For the Son of God,
Jesus Christ,
who was preached among you by us —
by me and Silas and Timothy —
was not “Yes” and “No,”
but in him it has always been “Yes.”
For no matter how many promises God has made,
they are “Yes” in Christ.
And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us
to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 1:18-20

Prayer

Discerning God,
help me consider this day
how I live my life
and how I choose the direction I take.

Do I make my plans according to ordinary human standards,
ready to say ‘Yes, yes’ and ‘No, no’ at the same time? (2 Corinthians 1:17)

Discriminating God,
help me understand
how crucial are the words I speak to others
as I seek relationships in my life.

“Let your ‘Yes’ be your yes
and your ‘No,’ no,
or you will be condemned.” (James 5:12)

Disturbing God,
help me find clarity in my relationship with you,
with others, and maybe especially with myself.

Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’:
anything more than this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5:37)

~ written by Kenn Stright, posted on re:Worship

From the blog
Amazing to consider
3 Prayers to our Father
Wonder-full psalm

Pure and simple

Prayer

For the gift of faith
which sees beyond the present moment
and looks to an eternity,
we thank you.
For the gift of faith
small as a mustard seed, which has power
within its simplicity,
we thank you.
For the gift of faith
bestowed on those who would simply come,
hearts open in humility,
we thank you. Amen

~ written by John Birch, and posted on re:Worship

From the blog
Deeper and deeper here
Far horizon
To dance with God

Tune in to God’s presence

“Prayer is the gift
of God’s presence in our life.”

from www.cslewisinstitute.org

Praying for guidance

inspired by Psalm 16

O God our protector,
we trust in you for safety,
we depend on you for all we need;
all good things come from you –
we commit our future into your hands:

Guide us by day and teach us by night,
be near us so that nothing can shake us,
make us always aware of your presence,
show us the path that leads to life,
let your Spirit fill us with joy,
and let your service be our delight for ever.
Amen.

~ written by Michael Perry, from www.jubilate.co.uk

From the blog
Sola gratia – Deo gratias
In all seasons – grow
First love

Centering presence

Coot

Centering prayer

Lord God, the source of all good things,
we pause in your presence and hold our day before you.
Still us, calm us, guide us as we enter this day.

~ from Third Space, posted on re:worship

From the blog
Nature bringing joy
3 Prayers for summer
On trust

On my mind

Philip Roth: “make the daily connections” (Artwork: Irene Bom)

UPON RANDOMLY THINKING OF ANOTHER PERSON
God, as I hold ____________ a moment in my thoughts, I ask that you would hold them eternally in yours, remaining ever at work in their heart and life, even now directing their paths toward your good deeds.