Eternal Father, loving God,
Who made us from the dust of earth,
Transform us by the Spirit’s grace,
Give value to our little worth.
Prepare us for that day of days
When Christ from heaven will come with might
To call us out of dust again,
Our bodies glorified in light.
O Godhead, here untouched, unseen,
All things created bear your trace;
The seed of glory sown in man
Will flower when we see your face.
– Stanbrook Abbey Hymnal
Many of us love this familiar passage:
“”And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.”
Joel 2:28-29 ESV
However, we tend to overlook some verses that lead up to it:
“”Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.”
Joel 2:12-13, 15-16 ESV
Can you imagine pastors in a region issuing a call for prayer and fasting — and having all of God’s people respond, with parents bringing their children into the prayer gatherings, and newlyweds leaving their honeymoons to come and pray? How desperate would we have to get for something like that to happen? How much more violence, bloodshed, civil unrest, and terrorist attacks will it take for the Church in America to repent, fast, weep, and allow our hearts to be broken? What will it take for us to make joining together in prayer a priority?
I talk about this on my brand-spankin’ new podcast:
Too tired to pray podcast episode
Updated to add different link.
Although my children are all grown, this prayer still struck a chord with me this morning.
I modified it slightly as I prayed this morning:
I pray for my childrens’ hearts, that You would guard them. Keep them protected, covered, shielded, and sheltered from all harm that seeks to touch them. Make their hearts soft when they should show compassion, firm when “tough love” is required, and always holy. Fill their hearts with Your love.
Amen.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength,
the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of
Christ’s birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of
His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of
His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of
His descent for the judgement of Doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of
the love of the Cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of the resurrection
to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In prediction of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendour of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.
I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak to me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me,
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From every one who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in a multitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.
Christ to shield me today
Against poisoning, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So there come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye of every one who sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength,
the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.
Literal translation by Kuno Meyer
Maybe that’s you — you want to have a regular prayer life, but you don’t know quite how to get started, how to go from hardly praying at all to praying regularly.
This article gives some good suggestions: 5 Steps to Get your Prayer Life off the Ground.
UNITED WITH THE CHURCHFriday – February 26, 2016
John 13:34-35; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Philippians 2:1-2
In Jesus’ Name, I Pray God’s Will for You Today
I pray that, as you desire to be united with Christ, you may also desire to be united with the members of the church. May you share the same spirit and purpose as your brothers and sisters in Christ. May you contribute to the strengthening of the church by encouraging, edifying, and instructing your brothers and sisters. May you also welcome encouragement, edification and instruction from them. Most of all, may you show you are one with them through your love, for this is how all men will know that you are a true disciple of Christ.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
PRAY GOD’S WILL in 365 DAYS
Copyright © 2005 by Jay Duque
All rights reserved.
Download at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pray-gods-will-in-365-days/id365841698?mt=8
PRESENT YOUR REQUESTS — Thursday • January 21, 2016
Psalm 5:3; Philippiahs 4:6-7
In Jesus’ Name, I Pray God’s Will for You Today
I pray that you start your day praying to God and wait in expectation for His answer. I pray that you will not be anxious about anything, but in everything may you present your requests to the Lord in prayer with thanksgiving, certain that His response will be what is best for you. I pray that as you do this, the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. May you lay your petitions before Him today.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
PRAY GOD’S WILL in 365 DAYS
Copyright © 2005 by Jay Duque
All rights reserved.
Download at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pray-gods-will-in-365-days/id365841698?mt=8
“Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones,
And give thanks to His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.”
-Psalms 30:4-5 NASB
I thought of this passage this morning as I caught sight of the sunrise while leaving the house.
Via Facebook had come the news, moments before, that a man I’d never met — but had been alerted to pray for — had turned out to be one of those killed by the killers in San Bernardino yesterday:
“We lost one of our own yesterday. A good man. A solid Christian. A husband and father. A member of our church. He was apparently in the room where the shooting started.
If you live on our mountain, or in the San Bernardino area I…
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O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting on your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the night of Jesus Christ our Lord.
– from Texts for Common Prayer
Adventures in prayer 