Category: Prayers

Suggested Scripture Readings: Psalm 91;  Mark 4: 38 – 41

 Eternal Father, in the Shelter of Your Presence, do we take refuge.
Therefore, we will not fear, though uncertainty ravages the earth.

In this Shelter, may we hear above the cynicism which asks, “Careth Thou not that we perish?” a reassuring voice, proclaiming  with love:
” The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge.”

 Enable each one of us, endowed by the loving touch of Your hand, to let Your beautiful peace, now pervading our lives, inspire the anthem of renewed hope so needed in this unpredictable world.

From within the shadow of Your Presence, comes the complete absence of every fear for all people.  

We fear that self-ridden attitudes, caused by this intensifying disease, may daily fly like arrows, to attack and destroy human dignity, respect, and simple kindnesses towards each other. But You control ‘the arrows that fly by day’ so that they are harmless towards us.

We fear ‘the pestilence’ that stalks in the darkness, that may bring sickness to us and, those we love. But nowhere is there to be found a more compassionate Healer than He of whom experience speaks,” He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings, you will find refuge.”

Even if a knock upon my life’s door summonses me forth, then, from deep within the Shadow of His Presence, may I hear a voice, like the sound of a trumpet, ” Fear not. Though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I am with you!
Enfold us in Your gracious arms until this storm passes by, and then, may we not forget to say, Thank You!
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, we make this prayer. Amen.

Hymn: Peace, Perfect Peace

https://youtu.be/GPOMDSXuIVI   

 

 

 

 

O God, now that the horror of this storm is past, let us not permit the screeching of the hurricane’s fury, or the sounds of the tropical depressions of the skeptics and the doubters to occupy any space in the echo chambers of our lives.

Rather we would employ every blade of grass, every flower that blooms, and every bird that sings to help us to swell our expression of gratitude to You, because You have answered our prayer. You revealed Yourself to us by showing us simple acts of heroism, amazing tenderness, and unmistakable love in the midst of brutal force and destruction. The winds were unbelievably strong and destructive, but You proved Yourself stronger by creating such  forces for good in men and women, who are created in your image.

And where there is heard the sounds of mourning for loved ones lost in this storm, we ask You for an extra measure of Heaven’s comforting grace, and a strengthening of their faith, to know that their loved ones dwell now where the storms come no more. We Offer our prayer, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, AMEN

 

 

 

 

 

1. O God, our help in ages past,
   Our hope for years to come,
   Our shelter from the stormy blast,
   And our eternal home.
2. Within the shadow of thy throne,
   Still may we dwell secure.
   Sufficient is thine arm alone,
   And our defense is sure.
3. Before the hills in order stood,
   Or earth received her frame,
   From everlasting thou art God,
   To endless years the same.
4. O God, our help in ages past,
   Our hope for years to come,
   Be thou our guide while life shall last
   And our eternal home.

   O Gracious God, Keep our sisters and brothers safe from the fierce destruction of this monstrous storm, we ask You In the Name of Christ, our Lord, Who once did order the winds to cease.  AMEN

   Nearer My God To Thee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. 1. O God, our help in ages past,
   Our hope for years to come,
   Our shelter from the stormy blast,
   And our eternal home.
2. 2. Within the shadow of thy throne,
   Still may we dwell secure.
   Sufficient is thine arm alone,
   And our defense is sure.
3. 3. Before the hills in order stood,
   Or earth received her frame,
   From everlasting thou art God,
   To endless years the same.
4. 4. O God, our help in ages past,
   Our hope for years to come,
   Be thou our guide while life shall last
   And our eternal home.

Prayer One
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My Father, Your compassion goes far beyond my ability to express. I am unable to express the feeling of gratitude I feel in my heart;

When I remember that You hold me in Your arms when I feel most vulnerable, and I find new courage to continue;

Whenever I look around at all the dark, depressing scenes that bombard my eyes and batter my mind, You teach me to look up and see the sun by day, and the stars by night;

Whenever I feel hemmed in with nothing in this life but work all the time and the unceasing demands to produce more and, more, make me sensible enough to lift up my eyes unto the hills and embrace the help of a wider, deeper view.

I am sometimes depressed by the thought that I have accomplished very little for You in this life. I have left undone many of the things I should have done, and have done those things that pleased me. At that very moment of my depression, You open the door to new opportunities for me and say: “Arise and let us go hence!” Father, Your mercy and Your compassion join hands with each other and leave me speechless. My heartfelt thanks are all I have to offer and a heart ready to do Your bidding, Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer Two
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Our Father, Your gracious mercy outshines the stars of space. Grant us now we ask You, a blessing upon our hearts that will enable us to reflect Your mercy, for a broken and deeply troubled world.
Where we have wittingly or unwittingly inflicted upon Your world wounds of pain and sorrow: Your mercy, Lord, we implore. If we never learned – not even from our first parents, Adam and Eve – the fallacy of reaching after those things seen by the physical eyes, and if we never notice that behind every gift there is a Giver: Your mercy we implore.
Where we have made little or no effort to restore Paradise to this world, where people living in peace are encouraged to walk with their God in the cool of the Garden: Your mercy, Lord we implore.
When we leave a person exactly the way we first encounter them, never once using the God-given vision to show them what, by His grace, they might yet become: Your mercy, Lord, we implore.
The world is waiting for a more compassionate people, but like Zacchaeus, we first must experience for ourselves the mercy of Christ. When this happens, then the whole world will glow, and many of the tarnishing agents will disappear. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Prayer Three
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O Lord, calm the waves of this heart,
Calm its tempest, so that You may find a quiet Place inside me to repose. Push aside the millions of worries and cares, the chaos and the sorrows, that find their way into that space within I promised to reserve for You.  Please, help me to close the windows so as to shut out the distracting noises coming from outside. Lord, that is at least part of my problem. I hear music and dancing in the streets, and I keep thinking perhaps noise will make it easier for me to be alone with You. Like the prodigal son, I am not sure what Love will sound like, coming from You in the silence; just You and me, me and You! And yet, Lord, right at this moment, more than anything else, I want the peace that You alone give. Come and find repose within me, and slowly I will learn that You are with me always, and the music and the dancing will be an integral part of Our celebration of Life together.  Strengthen me to know that you keep me as firm as the Rock to which I cling. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Prayer Four

Our Father, You are the Creator and the Sustainer of all that lives. We praise You that You have not yet finished our creation as human beings. We continue to remain in Your workshop throughout the seasons of our lives. Our times are in Your hands. We are always Your most recent response to the world’s brokenness ; Where there is hatred let us bring love; where there is bitterness let us bring reason; where there is discord, let us bring harmony and peace. Enable us to learn how to be faithful in using the gifts You give for each particular season as it comes. For the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory yet to be is Yours always Yours. We pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer One

Father, I praise You that Your tenderness knows no limits. When we feel quite grown up and are tempted to declare our independence, the simple faith that permits us to tap upon Your door and  find You waiting for our evening chat is beautiful beyond all other experiences of the day. We feel that You finally tuck us in tenderly and turn on Heaven’s lights just to assure us that no darkness can hide us from You and that You are always near. We praise You; We glorify You . Our Freedom is to be found in You alone!
Amen.
Prayer Two
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Our Father, Your gracious mercy outshines the stars of space. Grant us now we ask You, a blessing upon our hearts that will enable us to reflect Your mercy, for a broken and deeply troubled world.
Where we have wittingly or unwittingly inflicted upon Your world wounds of pain and sorrow, Your mercy, Lord, we implore. If we, having never learned, not even from our first parents, Adam and Eve, the fallacy of reaching after those things seen by the physical eyes, and never notice that behind every gift there is a Giver, Your mercy we implore.
Where we have made little or no effort to restore Paradise to this world, where people living in peace are encouraged to walk with their God in the cool of the Garden, Your mercy, Lord we implore.
When we leave a person exactly the way, we first encounter them, never once using the God-given vision to show them what, by His grace, they might yet become. Your mercy, Lord, we implore.
The world is waiting for a more compassionate people, but like Zacchaeus, we first must experience for ourselves the mercy of Christ. When this happens, then the whole world will glow, and many of the tarnishing agents will disappear. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen

Prayer Three

O Lord, calm the waves of this heart,
Calm its tempest, so that You may find a quiet Place inside me to repose. Push aside the millions of worries and cares, the chaos and the sorrows, that find their way into that space within I promised to reserve for You. Please, help me to close the windows so as to shut out the distracting noises coming from outside. Lord, that is at least part of my problem. I hear music and dancing in the streets, and I keep thinking perhaps noise will make it easier for me to be alone with You. Like the prodigal son, I am not sure what Love will sound like, coming from You in the silence; just You and me, me and You! And yet, Lord, right ar this moment, more than anything else, I want the peace that You alone give. Come and find repose within me, and slowly I will learn that You are with me always, and the music and the dancing will be an integral part of Our celebration of Life together.Strengthen me to know that you keep me as firm as the Rock to which I cling. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Prayer Four

Our Father, You are the Creator and the Sustainer of all that lives. We praise You that You have not yet finished our creation as human beings. We continue to remain in Your workshop throughout the seasons of our lives. Our times are in Your hands. We are always Your most recent response to the world’s brokenness ; Where there is hatred let us bring love; where there is bitterness let us bring reason; where there is discord, let us bring harmony and peace.Enable us to learn how to be faithful in using the gifts You give for each particular season as it comes. For the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory yet to be is Yours always Yours. We pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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