To whom shall we go, and where?
You have the words of life,
Our portion and our share;
Your flesh and blood, our fare.
Though all turn back and leave,
We stay to follow and serve;
It’s not that we’re naive,
But truly we believe.
—JRM
Lord, we believe
Lord, we believe that you created the heavens and the earth and that you infuse both with your presence, working in every place to fulfill your will.
Nowhere can man go in the universe away from your presence. This is to us a great comfort and reassurance.
We place our lives in your hands, our future in your care, our faith in your promise.
We trust in you. Our faith is in the faithfulness of Christ. Take us to the end. Amen.
Every faculty: Believing Prayer
Lord, let every faculty of the mind and heart serve your sacred project to impart life, freedom, and peace to every person, in Jesus Christ.
The Lot of Us Is Afraid
God of all gods, for whom all men were made,
In our heart of hearts, the lot of us is afraid
When far we wander, and hard is our carnal hearing,
Calling for rocks to hide us on Christ’s appearing,
When all the while we loathed to call your name.
To make us thus for you, it’s you we blame!
A prayer for the world
Almighty God, we praise you for your creation and all you richly provide. Enable us to live in such a way that your majesty and mercy are seen by all.
All governments rule under your authority. May they work for the good of their citizens, seeking your justice and peace in every law and action, allowing people to exercise social and religious freedom, and inhibiting the actions of those who would cause harm.
Enable those who are engaged in industry and commerce, the media and education, sport and the arts, to fulfill their responsibilities with integrity and an attitude of service.
Comfort and strengthen those who are gripped by poverty, weakened by illness, or oppressed by cruelty. May they know your love and experience your care.
Empower your church here on earth to proclaim the gospel of your truth and love, by the death and resurrection of your Son. May all people hear the call to trust and obey you for salvation.
Instill in your people your compassion toward all those in need. May the poor and the lost of this world find in you their true wealth and sure identity.
Refresh and equip us, O God, to be your faithful and obedient people, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Adapted from “Prayers of Intercession“
To Harness Your Power
Lord, my prayer word for today is “harness,” which means “to get control of something in order to use it for a particular purpose.”
Give me presence of mind and wisdom to harness your power, by your Holy Spirit, that my Lord Jesus Christ may be evident in me and may be proclaimed to many.
You have put in my possession your presence, your blessing, and your power. Make these effective in me, to do your will, to express your holiness, to speak the word of salvation.
Bridle my mouth, urge me forward, control my every movement, that I might enjoy true freedom and be released for genuine fellowship with you and loving community with your people.
All this, God of mercy and grace, that your glory might be evident among men. Amen.
Prayer of Confession: Dark Recesses
Our lives, O Lord, are open to you—
All our sins in dark recesses,
All we say and think and do,
Our virtues, plans, and wild excesses.
We lay our sins before the Cross,
We glory not in our successes;
Pleasure is vain, and liberty, loss:
Each penitent saint mourns and confesses.
Give Me Voice, Almighty
inspired by a prayer by Hans Denck inThe One Year Book of Personal Prayer, Mar. 12
O God, by what contorted turn of fate
That in this world your Name is high and great,
Impoverished world! Materialistic mind!
Creation sings your glory, but man is blind,
And though you loudly call, none can hear,
Nor can an earthling feel you, though you are near;
You give yourself to all, by none are you known,
Man flees, and turns, and runs, remains alone.
Give me voice, Almighty, and swifter feet,
That by the gospel might man his Maker meet.
Evening Prayer: Sol
Done for the day, it slides downward,
Tired of climbing, tense arching;
Together with the gilded chariot,
Our energies sink, our eyes waver,
Our bodies enter the boat of rest;
Give us sleep, O God who ceased
Your work of creation, but wakeful, ever
Watching over our weary world.
Tired of climbing, tense arching;
Together with the gilded chariot,
Our energies sink, our eyes waver,
Our bodies enter the boat of rest;
Give us sleep, O God who ceased
Your work of creation, but wakeful, ever
Watching over our weary world.
—JRM
This Wakening Day
God of faithful covenants, this wakening day
holds forth a promise of blessing and spiritual fruit,
Let me not hinder your patient work of love,
to rescue souls from the torment of isolation.
I would be a maker of holy peace,
restoring wandering man to wells of grace,
your vessel always at hand for thirsty souls.
So sing I the suffering Servant's song:
Here am I, O Lord, here am I.
(—JRM)