PRAYERS

GOOD MORNING, JESUS

         Good morning, Jesus. The alarm just went off and I woke up. The lights are on, and the light of a new day is dawning. I know I need to get up and get moving. Move to wash, move to breakfast, move to work. I've got to move fast, Lord. Sometimes moving faster and faster is all I do.

        Jesus, I have to admit there are days when I just do not feel like moving at all. Sometimes all I want to do is to stay in bed, pull the covers over my head and sleep. I know I can't.

        Jesus, you know where I am going today. So do I. I have work to do, people to see and responsibilities to take care of. You know what I am doing, Lord, and it is a great comfort to me to know your Spirit is with me in everything I do. Your love is here and everywhere, and that helps me to face life all the time.

        So, Lord, I am up, and I am moving, and I am taking care of business. Thank you, Jesus, for hearing this prayer. Thank you for being with me. Amen.

A TABLE GRACE

        Everyday many of us are blessed with the opportunity to receive food to eat. As we do so we want to pause to give proper thanks to God. In order to express such gratitude the following prayer is written to be spoken as a table grace.

        Gracious and loving God, we praise you for the lives we enjoy. We thank you for this meal and for the loving hands which prepared this food. Use what we eat to strengthen our bodies and let the love of your Spirit inspire our lives. Help us in his name to grow in strength, peace and faith now and always. Amen.

A PRAYER OF DISCOVERY

        Sometimes, Lord, I feel alone. Sometimes I feel that everything I was ever familiar with is gone. In its place there is nothing I know, and when I feel like this I wonder who I am, who I can turn to and what I can do.

        Lord, in such a moment, just when I feel most lost, I also discover I am most found by you. This message seems like a great contradiction, but you know it compliments itself. I feel lost, and then you find me, you call me, and once more I hear your word of love and faith.

        In such quiet moments of discovery, Lord, I come to know you are with me. I feel your presence in my soul and hear your voice in my heart. Thank you, Jesus, for being with me and for letting me know you do love me. Amen.

THE PRAYER OF PSALM ONE

        Lord, you promised to bless us and give us strength. You promised to bless us when we do not follow the plans of those who would hurt others. You promised to bless us when we do not follow the plans of those who would hurt themselves. You promised to bless us most when we do not ridicule life and make fun of your ways.

        You have promised your blessing which is your good desire for our health and growth, our strength and faith. In your blessings now we delight in your ways, we accept your grace and we meditate on the joy which you bring to life.

        In the Spirit of your True Christ we look to love. We seek to be strong - like a tree planted by a river of water. We live to bring forth the fruit of love. We reach out to share faith, joy, patience and goodwill. Be with us, Lord. Help us to do your will and to make your kingdom on earth grow in every way. Amen.


A NIGHT PRAYER

        Lord, the day is over, and the darkness of night now covers the earth. In this quiet moment of gratitude I wonder where the day is gone. As I do I think of all which happened in the past hours of my life.

        I remember this morning getting up, going forth to share with people, and I remember being involved with others in ways which I now hope were helpful and good. Lord, I tried to express your love by my actions. I pray in the hope that I was successful.

        Now the day is over, and the darkness of night covers the earth. As I am ready to sleep, I thank you. I thank you for being with me, for giving me this day and for all the good which was in it. In the name of Jesus I also ask you to watch over me while I sleep. Keep me safe and let this night of rest make me strong to greet the new day of tomorrow. Amen.