A beautiful practice of many Christians is the use of written prayers. The church tradition in which I grew up did not encourage the use of written prayers or prayer books, insisting that their use would be the kind of "vain repetitions" of which Jesus speaks in Matthew 6:7. As I've grown older, though, I've learned that the use of written prayers is a great help to my walk of faith.
These praying hands were given to me by my grandmother.
She had a pair of praying hands, and she gave me this child's version when I was a tiny girl. Actually, she gave me more than one set of them--I broke the first pair!
I recently compiled a daily prayer guide for my local church family. We're currently in a study of Genesis, and our pastor has impressed us with the importance of the first four words in our English translation of the scriptures: "In the beginning, God." I was inspired by those words to put these thoughts together, and I'm using this as part of my prayers each day. I thought you might like to use them, too.
PrayerS for the day
Morning Prayer
In the beginning, God
O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
In the morning I plead my case to you, and watch. Psalm 5:3, NRSV
In the morning I plead my case to you, and watch. Psalm 5:3, NRSV
Breathe on me, breath of God;
Fill me with life anew.
That I may love what thou dost love
And do what thou wouldst do.
Heavenly Father, I know that you are my Creator. Help me today to understand how much you love me and guide me to love others as you do.
I will sing of your might;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. Psalm 59:16, NRSV
Midday Prayer
In the middle, God
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:7-10, NIV
Breathe on me, breath of God, until my heart is pure;
Until with thee I will one will to do and to endure.
Breathe on me, breath of God, ‘til I am wholly thine,
‘Til all this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine.
Lord Jesus, I know that you are my Redeemer. Help me today to understand how much you love me and show me how to love others as you do.
Show me your ways, Lord; teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5, NIV
Evening prayer
In the end, God
By day the Lord directs his love; at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:8
a prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:8
Breathe on me, breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with thee the perfect life
Of thine eternity. (Edwin Hatch)
Holy Spirit, I know that you are my Sustainer. Help me tonight to understand how much you love me and teach me to love others as you do.
I will lie down and sleep in peace,
For you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8
Final petition: Now guide me waking, O Lord, and guard me sleeping; that awake I may watch with Christ, and asleep, I may rest in peace. Amen. (from Compline, Book of Common Prayer)
For a printable copy of these prayers for the day, click here.
What helps you to pray? Do you ever use written prayers or prayer guides?
Richella,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful, beautiful offering! Those are beautiful written prayers. It is funny how each "religion" has their own idea of what is the "proper way" to pray. This is a wonderful post today. xo Diana
Dear Richella, I think those little praying hands are precious! What a sweet memory! I do write out scripture and I pray those as my prayers. But I will print these ones you made out and I put them in a notebook with clear plastic covers! I love to study the Word...
ReplyDeleteI hope you are doing well and I hope your Spring comes soon!
Thanks for sharing these!
Do you realize how long we have been blogging as friends together! So glad to have met you!
Hugs, Roxy
Richella, thank you so much for sharing these. I have printed them and will definitely use. I sometimes feel I'm repeating myself when I pray and I think the idea of writing some down is a wonderful idea. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI think my grandmother may have had these hands or someone in my family did.
ReplyDeleteAll I know is it brought back a happy memory.
Thank you.
These are absolutely beautiful prayers/reflections, Richella. I'm printing these out to use through Lent. Thank you, dear friend!
ReplyDeleteThese are lovely Richella! I try to keep a prayer in my heart during the day -- please help Logan on his test, a family who is struggling with a loss, Landon to find nice friends to play with at recess, etc. God is my best friend and gets an earful :)
ReplyDelete