A Collection of Prayers

I have written and offered many of the following prayers in worship services throughout my years as Associate Pastor for Cornerstone, the contemporary worship community at Highland Park United Methodist Church.

Some of the prayers below are ones that others have offered at various times and places that have inspired me and said to God what I was unable to put into my own words. I offer all of them now to you and hope that through them you will find comfort, guidance, and, most of all, connection with God.


Wednesday, August 25, 2010

As Christ

Help us, O God, to love as Christ loved:
Sharing in Christ's suffering, may we remember all who suffer.
Held in Christ's love, may we embrace all whom the world denies.
Rejoicing in Christ's forgvieness, may we forgive all who sin against us.
Give us strength to serve you faithfully.

Amen.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Prayer for loyalty

God, you are great and we sing our praise, we open our hearts, to you. For you are our hope…you raise our spirits…you bring us peace.

God, you created us, and love us, and we know that you call us to live in a way that honors our relationship with you. But God so often though we claim to follow Christ, we fail to live like Christ…we fail to live lives of excellence, of virtue. Every day, God, make us more like your Son. Every day, God, dwell in our hearts so that we cannot but love you and honor you more.

As we start back at school, as we go to work, raise our families, as we simply go about our lives, there are so many things that distract, so many worries and fears, so much pain and suffering. Grant us and those around us peace that surpasses all understanding, hope that in all things you work for good, and courage to be loyal to you no matter what.

We love you so much, God and are so thankful for everything we have, and especially for your love. May that guide everything we do.

Amen.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Navaho Prayer

Before us it is blessed, behind us it is blessed, below us it is blessed,
Above us it is blessed, around us it is blessed as we set out with Christ.
Our speech is blessed as we set out for God.
With beauty before us, with beauty behind us, with beauty below us,
With beauty above us, with beauty around us, we set out for a holy place indeed.

Amen.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

A though on prayer from C.S. Lewis

I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless.
I pray because the need flows out of me all the time--waking and sleeping.
It doesn't change God--it changes me.

From Thomas Merton

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. i hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road through I may know nothing about it.

Therefore I will trust you always though i may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Amen.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

In Recognition of God's Glory

God,

You are a God of love and mercy, who created the entire universe and calls it…calls us…to you. And today God, we long to be in your presence, to know you, to feel your arms around us, to feel you lifting us up. God we need healing, we need grace, we need peace, we need forgiveness. Please, God, we need you.

God, we face so many things that seem to work against us, so many things that seem to work against you and your desires for us and all creation. But we know that ultimately it is you before whom all knees will bend, that crying and sorrow will be no more, that you will reign with love and mercy over all creation, and we are grateful for that hope.

Help us to take our place in standing up for your kingdom. Help us to order our lives so that they point us and others to you.

God give us eyes to see you in all your glory. And God give us ears to hear your words of peace and hope.

God, we love you. We thank you for everything we have. Most of all we thank you for your Son, who ensures our victory over sin and death, and for your Holy Spirit, who encourages us and strengthens us to serve you and your people everyday.

Amen.

For Today

Direct us, O God, in all our doings with your gracious favor,
and further us with your continual help,
that in all our works,
begun, continued, and ended in you,
we may always honor your name, and, by your mercy, obtain everlasting life.

Amen.