Prayer for Daily Use

Week of May 13

 

God our Creator, we pray:
for new mothers, coming to terms with new responsibility ;
for expectant mothers, wondering and waiting;
for those who are tired, stressed or depressed;
for those who struggle to balance the tasks of work and family;
for those who are unable to feed their children due to poverty;
for those whose children have physical, mental or emotional disabilities;
for those who have children they do not want;
for those who raise children on their own;
for those who have lost a child;
for those who care for the children of others;
for those whose children have left home; 
and for those whose desire to be a mother has not been fulfilled.
Bless all mothers, that their love may be deep and tender,
and that they may lead their children to know and do what is good,
living not for themselves alone, but for God and for others.
Amen.

 

Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:21 am in Prayer for Daily Use.

Week of May 6

 

Gracious and merciful God, I give thanks for your majesty and glory. You call the worlds into being, create humankind in your own image, and set before each of us the ways of life and death.

 

In all I do, help me to choose life:

By worshipping and praying regularly, and studying your Word;

By giving of myself – my time, talents, treasure – freely and generously;

By listening for cries of pain & need, and responding with compassion;

By sharing a word of hope with those who are depressed and despairing;

By giving thanks regularly for all my blessings.

 

Be with me this day as I pray.

 

Be with me each day of my life.

 

In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

(Includes an adapted quotation from the UCC Statement of Faith)

 

Posted on May 8, 2012 at 10:33 am in Prayer for Daily Use.

Week of April 29

 

Gracious and loving God, give me the humility to understand that I am not above or better than other people, so I can stand with them, whatever their condition.

Give me the empathy to mourn for the pain and hurt of others, so I may experience comfort in my own mourning.

Help me listen more than speak, and offer compassion more than advice.

Give me a deep thirst for fairness and justice in all situations.

Grant me mercy, that I may offer mercy.

Grant me a singleness of focus on your presence in my life, and a deep desire to do your will each day.

Help me search for reconciliation in my own relationships, and peace among the people of the world.

Bless me as your child, and lead me in the way of faithful discipleship.

I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

Posted on May 1, 2012 at 10:38 am in Prayer for Daily Use.

Week of April 14

 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love. Send forth Your Spirit, and we shall be created. And, You shall renew the face of the earth.

O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy Your consolations. Amen.

 

Adapted from John Wesely

 

Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:48 am in Prayer for Daily Use.

Easter Sunday

 

O God of new beginnings, we rejoice that through your love, Christ has risen from the dead. Now we know that neither trouble nor persecution, hardship nor poverty, danger nor death can separate us from your love. Free us to live in the confidence that we are always your children.

In the resurrection, you were victorious over sin, violence and oppression. Free us to risk ourselves in the struggle for justice and peace.

In the resurrection, you have opened the gates of eternal life. Free us from the fear of death, that we may live and serve you with courage.

In the resurrection, you bring new possibilities out of hopelessness. Free us from all despair, that we might bring your hope to those who have lost heart.

Draw us into your community of freedom, hope and love, O God. Work your new creation among us, that we may love you without hesitation, and serve you without fear.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our risen Savior.  Amen.

(UCC Book of worship, adapted)

 

Posted on April 5, 2012 at 10:30 am in Prayer for Daily Use.

Week of April 1-7

God of Grace and Glory, we come singing with palms and praises, knowing that our efforts to be faithful to You at times fall short. We, like the disciples of Jesus’ day, will at times run away, betray and deny Jesus. We seek Your guidance in our lives to be more authentic, more true to You, so that we might share Your love with the world in a way that the world will know it is from You. All too often, we wrap up Your gift of love in our own expectations and demands, to where Your gift of love may seem too great a burden to others. Peel off the layers that we hide You in, God, and guide us into living Your love faithfully in this world. Amen.

Adapted from Rev. Mindi

 

Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:07 am in Prayer for Daily Use.

Week of March 25

 

Good and gracious God, you made heaven and earth, the sea and the dry land, and the creatures of this world; and you uphold your good creation forever, in the face of human wrongdoing and apathy.  I give you thanks for your constant presence with this world, and with each of us.

I give you thanks today for the new season that is dawning: for sun and rain, for bright, early-singing birds, and for new green growth on trees and from the ground.  I give you thanks for the joy and the hope that your whole created world now seems to affirm.  Through all the turmoil and trouble in our human world, and all the damage we are causing in our natural world, please keep us all deeply in your care.

Grant me a strong sense of the goodness of your world, even in the face of human sin, and also a strong sense of what I can do to protect your world from further harm.   Help me strengthen and share the goodness and the blessings that are always present.  Empower me to act in ways that are faithful and true.

I pray in Jesus’ name.      Amen

Posted on March 22, 2012 at 9:53 am in Prayer for Daily Use.

Week of March 18

 

For God so loved the world;

The sparrows, the mountain lions,

the fish and the people.

 

For God so loved the world;

In success and failure,

in sickness and health,

in mediocrity and extraordinary.

 

For God so loved the world;

Enough to become one of us,

enough to suffer along with us,

enough to offer new life for us.

 

For God so loved the world;

To offer unconditional love,

to grant grace abundantly.

 

Let us offer our praise and love in return!

Amen!

 

Adapted from Katherine Hawker

 

Posted on March 15, 2012 at 9:01 am in Prayer for Daily Use.

Week of March 11-17

 

Gracious God, by the cross of Jesus Christ you have freed us from bondage to sin and death. Help us see that following your commandments leads to true life, and that obedience to your will leads to real freedom.

We ask not that you would free us from all burdens and responsibilities, but that you would enable us to see them as gifts from you, given to us so that we may be drawn closer to you.

In pain and pleasure, in difficulty and ease, help us walk more faithfully with you each day. Lead us to the life you wish for us, and to the joy of intimate fellowship with you.  

We pray in Jesus name.  Amen.

(William Willimon, adapted)

 

Posted on March 8, 2012 at 9:28 am in Prayer for Daily Use.

Week of March 4-10

 

Gracious and merciful God, be with me now as I open my heart to you in prayer. Cast out my fear, and open the doors to your Realm, that I may come to you with an open heart and open arms, receiving the fullness of blessing from your generous hands, and offering all I think, say and do for your service.

Help me show love for my neighbors near and far – neighbors across the room, down the street, and around the world. Help me look for ways to make that love real and specific. Do not let me make excuses for ignoring hard-to-like neighbors wherever they are, for they are beloved in your eyes, just as I am.

In all things, move me toward that gracious, outgoing, and self-giving love which is exemplified in the cross of Jesus Christ.  I pray in Christ’s name.  Amen.

 

Posted on March 1, 2012 at 1:02 pm in Prayer for Daily Use.

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