Prayer
I am a Christian
–Anonymous
When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not shout'n "I'm clean livin".
I'm whispering "I was lost",
Now I'm found and forgiven.
When I say..."I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need CHRIST to be my guide.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
and need HIS strength to carry on.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
and need God to clean my mess.
When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are far too visible
but, God believes I am worth it.
When I say..."I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain,
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.
When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou
I'm just a simple sinner
who received God's good grace...
Somehow.
Thanks to Linda Hoefert for sharing this with us
GO WELL.
PRAYERS FOR TODAY
Department of Religion
Chautauqua Institution
Chautauqua, New York
In the morning
Think about these things
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things
(Philippians 4:8)
Let go
Lord I believe. Help me today to let go
of putting myself at the center...
of hiding from myself...
of hiding from You, my God.
Lord, I believe. Help me today to be open
to friendship
and affection
and surprise.
Lord, I believe. Help me today to accept whatever comes
in such a way that in every moment I may find
your strong support and most ready help.
By your own love and work within me
help me to love the things that You love
and those whom You love
as the point of my life
to the end of my life.
Search the scriptures
(Read a few verses of the Bible)
Pray out of love for others
(Name those whose needs are close to you. Think also of how God may use your own activity to fulfill your prayer.)
Merciful God,
in Jesus Christ we have your promise of hope,
peace and rest.
Give us a lively and effective sympathy
for those in need or agony;
for any troubled by the demands of today
or fearful of the threats of tomorrow.
Assure them that You are near and able to help. Give them sturdiness enough to face what is before them, and put away the spirit of fear and anxiety within them.
Hold in your love those whom we love...
Help them to rely on the life and strength that
you provide; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Words for going well through the day
All shall be well
and all shall be well
and all manner of thing shall be well
(Julian of Norwich, English mystic, 14th century)
In the middle of the day
A summing up of faith
All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection (Philippians 3:10)
Searching the scriptures
Were you not raised to life with Christ? Then aspire to the realm above, where Christ is...and let your thoughts dwell on that higher realm (Col. 3:1)
For the way ahead
Lord,
there is much darkness in the world;
keep me going well on the way ahead;
with my values right,
my spirits high,
and my goal in sight.
See life shot through with the divine
(Recounting an experience of today, ask:
Am I seeing how things are working for good in it...
what God is showing me?)
Still going well through the day
This is the sum and substance of it all --
God is,
and loveth thee,
God beareth all thy care.
(Tukaram, Indian peasant mystic, 1608-49)
In the evening
Unpacking the day's events
Those who are faithful in a very little are faithful also in much (Luke 16:10)
(The day God has given is over. Count up its parts and respond to each, as it suits:)
with gratitude,
if in this day's difficulties I have been at peace
and faithful to what is true, and honorable,
with regret
if I have failed to live well
and go well
and be glad;
with hope
that God will fill my lack
and stady me for another day.
Search the scriptures
(Read a few verses of the Bible)
Ease up
(In a quiet place
watch the sun set, or
feel the wind blow, or
listen to an old song,
or cherish a special memory,
and say:)
Lead us, God,
from the sight and sound of the things of the
world to the thought of You, their Maker.
Who has made them all, but Beauty eternal?
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Words for going well through the night
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art,
thou my best thought, by day or by night.
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
(Traditional Irish)