Tag: deep

Deep connection


 

A prayer

O Lord, how hard it is to accept your way. You come to me as a small, powerless child born away from home. You live for me as a stranger in your own land. You die for me as a criminal outside the walls of the city, rejected by your own people, misunderstood by your friends, and feeling abandoned by your God.

I am trying the overcome the feelings of alienation and separation which continue to assail me. But I wonder now if my deep sense of homelessness does not bring me closer to you than my occasional feelings of belonging.

I don’t have to run away from those experiences that are closest to yours. Every time I feel this way I have an occasion to be grateful and to embrace you better and taste more fully your joy and peace.

Come, Lord Jesus, and be with me where I feel poorest. I trust that this is the place where you will find your manger and bring your light. Come, Lord Jesus, come.

 
by Henri Nouwen
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #299

From the blog
In the school of prayer with Pádraig Ó Tuama
Theme: Good news  [prayer sheet]
A holy space
 

Go deep

Franciscan blessing

May God bless you with discomfort…
at easy answers, hard hearts,
half-truths, and superficial relationships.
May God bless you so that you may live
from deep within your heart
where God’s Spirit dwells.

May God bless you with anger…
at injustice, oppression,
and exploitation of people.
May God bless you so that you may
work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears…
to shed for those who suffer from pain,
rejection, starvation and war.
May God bless you so that you
may reach out your hand
to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with
enough foolishness
to believe that you can make a difference
in this world, in your neighbourhood,
so that you will courageously try
what you don’t think you can do, but,
in Jesus Christ you’ll have all the strength necessary.

May God bless you to fearlessly
speak out about injustice,
unjust laws, corrupt politicians,
unjust and cruel treatment of prisoners,
and senseless wars,
genocides, starvations, and poverty that is so pervasive.

May God bless you that you remember
we are all called
to continue God’s redemptive work
of love and healing
in God’s place, in and through God’s name,
in God’s Spirit, continually creating
and breathing new life and grace
into everything and everyone we touch.
 
from Troubadour: A Missionary Magazine, posted on re:worship

From the blog
Theme: Change my heart, O God  [prayer sheet]
In the school of prayer with St Francis of Assisi
Sister moon
 

Deep and unfathomable


Sunset on Lake Balaton outside Budapest

Prayer of intercession

O Lord our God,
You are Love, living and dancing through creation;
You are Light, challenging and purifying our hearts;
You are Peace, deep and unfathomable,
working through and beyond all pain and conflict.

We praise you for the gift of life itself;
we praise you for our fragile and beautiful planet;
we praise you for the richness and variety of different races and cultures;
we praise you for human love and laughter;
we praise you for the sheer fun of celebration.

Use us now as channels of blessing for those in need:
for victims of famine, especially in …,
for victims of war, especially in …,
for victims of hatred, prejudice and injustice;
for those who are ill or depressed,
the lonely, and those longing to be alone;
and for those who have lost all hope of finding a home,
or finding work.

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Risen Christ,
breaking the bonds of evil and death,
shine on us, and on those for whom we pray,
with your eyes of compassion and glory.
Let your light flood the darkness in us and in our world,
and make us bearers of
      your healing for people,
      your delight in this planet,
      and your outrageously generous forgiveness,
on which we all depend,
through Christ our Lord,
our Lover and our Saviour.
Amen.
 
by Angela Ashwin,
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #391

From the blog
Pilgrims together
Sister moon
In the school of prayer with Ann Lewin
 

Deep and hidden things revealed

 
Searching the Scriptures for a reference to “deep”, I stumbled on Daniel 2 and Daniel’s prayer after God gifted him with knowledge and wisdom and revealed to him “deep and hidden things” that saved many lives and brought God glory.

Prayer in response to answered prayer

During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20 and said:

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
      wisdom and power are his.
21 He changes times and seasons;
      he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise
      and knowledge to the discerning.
22 He reveals deep and hidden things;
      he knows what lies in darkness,
      and light dwells with him.”

 
 
May God give you knowledge and wisdom regarding the “deep and hidden things” you face, and may we all be faithful in following Paul’s “urgent” advice in 1 Timothy 2:1-4:

“1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
 

From the blog
Stand still for a moment
Consider this
Small talk