More Prayers for the Journey

This week has been a very active one on the Light for the Journey Facebook page. I hope you enjoy these prayers.

As we enter a new day – we take time to prepare our hearts for all that lies before us.

Prayer to greet the day!

O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace,
help me in all things to rely upon your holy will.
In every hour of the day reveal your will to me.
Bless my dealings with all who surround me.
Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day with peace of soul and with firm conviction that your will governs all.
In all my deeds and words, guide my thoughts and feelings.
In unforeseen events, let me not forget that all are sent by you.
Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others.
Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring.
Direct my will, teach me to pray. And you, yourself, pray in me. Amen.

Eastern Orthodox Prayer,

Posted by Contemplative network

God may our eyes be opened 

to see the threads of your glory
intertwined in our lives.
God may our ears be unstopped
to hear the whisper of your grace
comforting those we meet.
God may our hands be liberated
to share the generosity of your blessings
full measure pressed down
overflowing into the world we love.

Christine Sine 

Let everything within me cry holy,
Let everything around me cry holy,
Let everything above and below cry me holy.
God the maker of heaven and earth is worthy,
Of praise and worship and honour,
Let all that is, all that was and all that will be cry holy.

Christine Sine

May the God of grace
lift you from where you are
and raise you onto higher ground.
May the God of peace
still the anguish of your soul
and bring you to a quiet place.
May the God of love
who warms our fragile hearts
be the strength you find today.

(http://www.facebook.com/faithandworship)

God interrupts
inviting us to pause
and notice.
God interrupts
inviting us to listen
whispers quieting our hearts
bells ringing in our souls
God interrupts
inviting us to pause.
Use it as you will
but remember always
God interrupts
inviting us to life.

Christine Sine https://godspace.wordpress.com/

From Parker Palmer’s Facebook page

 

Creator God,
on windswept beaches
your saints of old
held their hands up to you
in wonder and amazement,
felt your power through the roar
of wind and surf and,
exposed to the elements
felt a oneness
with the One
who had created all things.
This world does not often allow us
such intimacy with you, Father,
we are crowded out
by circumstances of our own choosing,
seeking fellowship with each other
rather than with you.
Forgive our unwillingness
to follow in the footsteps of your saints,
to meet you in the solitude of your creation.
Forgive our unwillingness
to get our feet wet

© John Birch – http://www.facebook.com/faithandworship

Lord may I take time today
to be alone with you.
May I create the discipline of presence,
Knowing that inner retreat,
regardless of outer circumstances
is a gift worth pursuing.
May I remember that in the midst of storms
you slept in perfect confidence
rocked to sleep by your faith.
May I take courage when the waves swamp me
Knowing that to our cries of terror
you respond
be not afraid.

Christine Sine

Seize God,
the weaver of heaven and earth.
Bring your past,
Bring the present day,
Bring the promise of the future,
before the Eternal One.
Seize God,
choose love,
seek the holy presence,
Let the Lord,
make your life extraordinary.

Christine Sine

Bless to us, O Lord,
the earth on which we walk,
each mountain top,
sunlit sky.

Bless to us, O Lord,
the beauty that we see,
soaring eagle,
butterfly.

Bless to us, O Lord,
the peace within our heart
when filled with joy
or sorrow.

Bless to us, O Lord,
the journey that we make,
the footsteps that
we follow.

©John Birch: http://www.facebook.com/faithandworship

 

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Prayers for the Journey

The weekly round up of prayers from Light for the Journey includes two that I posted as separate posts during the week. However as these have been extremely popular prayers I thought that I would include them here for those that missed them.

A blessing

John O’Donohue,

May the nourishment of the earth be yours, may the clarity of light be yours, may the fluency of the ocean be yours, may the protection of the ancestors be yours. And so may a slow wind work these words of love around you, an invisible cloak to mind your life..

Posted by Contemplative Network 

This prayer inspired by reading the various views about food stamps and who is responsible to help the poor.

God you call us your friends,
Not just one but all.
Not just the rich but the poor,
Not just the powerful but the marginalized,
Not just the vocal but the voiceless.
Befriended, made family together,
One in you, responsible to care for each other.
God we all live in the light of your goodness,
We all rely on the light of your love,
Renewed as we share the mind of Christ,
Renewed together with the abandoned and abused,
Welcomed, cherished, restored,
With transformed minds and renewed hearts.
One in you, made family together.

Christine Sine 

I love to start the day with a breathing prayer – reminding myself that I am created by the breath of God. Here is one I wrote at the beginning of this week:

Breathe in the love of God,
Let if fill you will grace and mercy.
Breathe in the life of God,
Let it empower you with truth and justice.
Breathe in the peace of God,
Let it sustain you with faith and hope.

Christine Sine

For the many who battle with dementia and feel isolated, frightened and alone, a prayer written by one who suffers with them. Let’s be the church that prays because we care and cares because we pray.

Oh dear Lord, hear my prayer,
And show me that you really care,
Trouble is I can’t remember,
All my prayers for you to tender,
Will this matter, on the day,
When we meet, what will you say?
If I didn’t have dementia
I would recall my holy Venture,
If I don’t pray, from time to time,
Remember that my minds not mine,
Please forgive me, as you know,
No matter what, I love you so.

Norman Mc Namara

Posted by The Contemplative Network 

I feel the older I get that life requires tremendous courage on behalf of every person. I came across this lovely Lutheran prayer for courage, and having prayed it myself I offer it as a prayer for each one of us.

Lord God,
you have called your servants
to ventures of which we cannot see the ending,
by paths as yet untrodden,
through perils unknown.
Give us faith to go out with good courage,
not knowing where we go,
but only that your hand is leading us
and your love supporting us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Posted by The Contemplative Network 

God you only will I serve,
Through faithfulness and righteousness.
God you only will I follow,
Through justice and in truth.
God you only will I exalt,
Through praise and worship.
For you alone are worthy,
You alone are holy,
You alone are eternal.

Christine Sine

Be still and know that I am God
Be still and know that I am
Be still and know
Be still
Be

Posted by The Contemplative Network 

God may we look to eternity,
With hope and not with fear,
With expectation and not with dread.
May we see the tree of death
on which our Saviour died ,
As a tree of life connecting heaven and earth.
May we see the wind
that whispers through the trees,
As your life giving Spirit
Breathing your life through all the earth.
Amen

Christine Sine 

Last but not least I wanted to make you aware of a resource available from John Birch, one of the regular contributors to Light for the Journey. His new book God of Compassion is currently available for download for £1 (about $1.60 U.S.) I love his prayers and have thoroughly enjoyed his previous books Heart2Heart and Prayers for the Journey

 

Prayers for the Journey

The heavens declare your glory,

the seas and everything beneath

speak of your majesty.

From the beauty of a butterfly’s wing

to the roar of a hurricane’s wind

we see through these to the power within.

The heavens declare your glory,

and we your people, gathered here

below, join in their everlasting song.

This world, gifted in love

so we might recognize the hand

that placed it here.

This world, given breath

that we might understand this life

and in love, share.

Posted by John Birch of Faithandworship

May the love of the good God hold us,

May the life of the compassionate Christ fill us,

May the joy of the counselling Spirit guide us,

This day and evermore,

Amen

Christine Sine

I sit in quiet to absorb the wonder of God’s presence.

Forgive me Lord,

For my mind so easily strays.

Have mercy Lord,

For my thoughts are often in chaos.

Grant me peace O Lord,

For distractions call me away.

Cleanse my heart,

Calm my soul,

Free my spirit,

That I may hear and see and know you,

Every moment of the day.

Christine Sine

Father, in your will is our peace.

We accept this new day as your gift, Lord;

grant that we may live in newness of life.

Father, in your will is our peace.

You made all things, and keep all things in being;

give us the insight to see your hand at work in them all.

Father, in your will is our peace.

Posted by Micha Jazz of the Contemplative network

A prayer for Syria  from the jesuit Post

————————————————————

I thank you Lord

For the wonder of your love,

for the patience of your guidance,

For the glory of your presence.

I thank you Lord

For the many blessings you bestow,

For the lavish provision your provide,

For the unexpected beauty you reveal.

I thank you Lord

You are the God who holds me close,

You are the Christ who renews my life,

You are the Spirit who strengthens my faith,

I thank you Lord

For giving thanks honors you,

It opens the path,

That reveals the salvation of God.

Christine Sine 

In this new morning, fill us with your love;

we shall exult and rejoice all our days.

Give us joy to balance our affliction

Let the favour of the Lord be upon us:

give success to the work of our hands,

give success to the work of our hands.

————–

Let us open our ears to listen,

so that we can hear God’s heartbeat.

Let us open our eyes to watch,

so that we can see God’s presence.

Let us open our minds to believe,

so that we can embrace God’s ways

Let open our hearts to trust,

so that we can share God’s salvation.

Christine Sine 

This prayer inspired by Psalm 51:

Have mercy on me O God,

Because of your unfailing love.

O eternal God, O holy One

O God above the heavens and beyond the earth,

Because of your great compassion,

Blot out the stain of my sins.

O merciful God , O incorruptible One,

O wondrous God, creator of the elements,

Wash me clean from my guilt,

Purify me from my sins

O God of the rushing air,

O God of the flowing waves,

O God of all bright stars,

O God of the flaming fire,

Create in me a clean heart

Restore to me the joy of your salvation.

Christine Sine 

Creator God,

Who formed me in my mother’s womb

Have mercy on me.

Redeemer Christ

Who walks beside me as a friend,

Have mercy on me.

Transformer spirit,

Who leads me into the paths of life,

Have mercy on my.

Triune God,

Creator, redeemer, transformer,

The One who is making all things new,

Have mercy on me.

Christine Sine 

 

 

Prayers for the Journey

Many of my prayers this week have focused on my mother and her fight with cancer. I have already posted several of these prayers, but did not want to detract from the other beautiful prayers and sayings posted on the Light for the Journey Facebook page this week.

‘Life is a walk to remember. Our tomorrows are determined by the steps we take each day. Every sunset gives us one day less to live but every sunrise gives us one day more to hope. So savor every step and live it well.’

Posted by Micha Jazz 

Seven Deadly Sins.

Wealth without work
Pleasure without conscience
Science without humanity
Knowledge without character
Politics without principle
Commerce without morality
Worship without sacrifice

Mahatma Gandhi

As I sit beside my mother in her last illness I often read Celtic prayers like this one to be a great comfort.

Death comes silently –
slowly for some
with sudden swiftness for others,
yet unavoidable – certain.
However long or short
our span of life,
the last great enemy,
yet conquered by your Resurrection.
Lord, teach us to number our days
and so apply our hearts to wisdom.

———————————-

We have a promise,
a God-given promise
that will not fail,
a new heaven
and a new earth,
where love
and righteousness
reside.
May our lives reflect
that promise
and be found
spotless
on that glorious day.
God of love
and mercy,
pour your living water
into these hearts,
cleanse and refresh them,
that they might
overflow in praise.(www.faithandworship.com)

This world is yours, planned in eternity
created in a moment of sheer exuberance
permeated with love
well madeThis place is yours, in its simplicity,
blue sky and countryside, pure creativity,
painted with care
well made

This day is yours, pure generosity,
given for moments of gentle reflection,
in the bustle of a day
well made

This moment is yours in its entirety,
a drop of time in an ocean of history,
gifted with joy
well made

(http://www.facebook.com/faithandworship)

We are often poor servants
in your kingdom, Lord,
forgive our reluctance
to share your load.
May our hearts always be ready
to be troubled by injustice.
May our hands always be ready
to share the burden of a stranger.
May our feet always be ready
if asked to go that extra mile.
May our pride always be ready
to be humbled before we fall.
May our love always be ready
to be shared with those in need.
May our lives always be ready
to be a lamp in this dark world.
We are often poor servants
in your kingdom, Lord,
forgive our reluctance,
inspire us, we pray.(www.faithandworship.com)

Today’s prayer is from Esther De Waal’s wonderful book
The Celtic Way of PrayerGod with me lying down,
God with me rising up,
God with me in each ray of light,
Nor I a ray of joy without Him
Nor One ray without Him.

Christ with me sleeping,
Christ with me waking,
Christ with me watching,
Every day and night,
Every day and night.

God with me protecting,
The Lord with me directing,
The Spirit with me strengthening,For ever and for evermore,
Ever and evermore,
Amen

As I headed out to Australia to see my Mum I came across this prayer by David Adams which gives great comfort as I travel and wait

Where does the journey end?
Beyond where you can see
Where do the years end?
That’s unknown to you or me
Where does life end?
In love and eternity.

David Adams

Prayers for the Journey

This post consists of prayers posted each day on the Light for the Journey Facebook page – enjoy

Today’s prayer inspired by this quote from Jan Johnson’s book When the Soul Listens:
“Contemplative prayer and the contemplative lifestyle it will create, is really for those who are ready to quit the small, self-absorbed confines of the old man… and be made new. And nothing is newer in this world than a man or a woman who is alive with God’s love”

God almighty, lover of my soul
May we seek you for yourself alone,
May we know the wonder of you love,
Above, below, before, behind,
May it fill, surround and hold us.
Amen

© Christine Sine

May our ears be attuned
to the whisper of God,
our hearts open
to the love of God,
our voices raised
in the worship of God
and our lives transformed
by the power of God.

(faithandworship.com)

Give wings to our prayers O Lord,
Let our desire for justice fly to you.
Let our hearts of compassion be filled by you,
Let our passion for righteousness be guided by you.
Give wings to our prayers O Lord,
Let the rise as incense before you.
Let them find favour in your sight,
Let them show us the wonder of your love.
Give wings to our prayers O Lord,
Let them lead us to unity,
Let them free us to serve you,
Let them guide us to eternal life.

© Christine Sine

A beautiful litany from The Celtic Way of Prayer by Esther de Waal – one of my favourite Celtic books

O true Priest, O true Physician, O true Prophet, O true Friend,
Forgive.
O only Sustainer of the Threefold mansion,
O only life of all created things,
O only Light of the seven heavens,
Forgive.
O Subject of the Scriptures meditation.
O Object o the chief prophets search,
O Marrow of true wisdom,
O Father of life,
O Voice of the people.
Forgive.

(Note: the threefold mansion is earth, heaven and hell.

© Christine Sine

God of the past,
accept the people we have been
and the baggage we drag behind us.

God of the present,
accept the people we are now
and the potential that lies within us.

God of the future,
accept the people we could be
and by your Spirit transform us.

© http://www.facebook.com/faithandworship

God before me

God beside me

God behind me

God is with me

God to lead me

God to accompany me

God to provoke me

God is with me

God my light

God my companion

God my shield

God is with me

God the Father

God the Son

God the Spirit

The Three in One

Amen

Amen

Amen

Amen

Micha Jazz http://stcuthbertsoratory.wordpress.com/prayer-cell/

Give Wings to Our Prayers O Lord

A prayer for the day.

Prayers for the Journey

This week’s prayers from the Light for the Journey Facebook page

Pastor Dave Hodson reshaped one of this week’s prayers, to be a “Trinity Prayer”, ala Celtic traditions…
I love it

Heavenly Father,
God of seed and growth and harvest,
Creator of all that grows and all that sustains,
give us we pray our daily bread,
enough for our own needs
and an abundance for all good works.
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
You broke the bread for the multitudes,
and broke bread with your disciples.
Give us also we pray, the bread of life,
that we shall have a care to feed the hungry,
and to seek for peace and justice in the world.
Guiding and Empowering Spirit,
You bring to mind all that Jesus taught,
and you give us strength to walk in his steps.
Help us to remember and to know in our hearts,
that you are our life today and every day;
Holy God; Holy One; Holy Three…
Our hearts are restless, until we rest in you.
You are the food we need, now and for ever.
Amen

And here is the prayer which inspired him which was in itself inspired by the New Zealand Prayer Book

God of seed and growth and harvest,
Creator of all that grows and all that sustains,
give us we pray our daily bread,
enough for our own needs
and an abundance for all good works.
Give us also we pray, the bread of life,
that we shall have a care to feed the hungry,
and to seek for peace and justice in the world.
Help us Lord to remember and to know in our hearts,
that you are our life today and every day;
you are the food we need, now and for ever.
Amen

Christine Sine https://godspace.wordpress.com/

To know you, Lord
what more could we desire?
To know your love,
hear your call,
feel your touch,
understand your suffering,
follow where you have walked
into resurrection life.

To know you, Lord
what more could we desire?
To run the race,
eyes focused,
spirit filled,
stumbling but rising up,
heading toward the glorious sight
of resurrection life.

© www.faithandworship.com

God shine your light today
In places blanketed with darkness.
God unfold your love today,
In places where hate destroys.
God show your life today,
In places where death holds sway.
God reveal yourself
Overcome evil with good,
Conquer death wit life,
Dispel hate with love.
Through Jesus Christ
Bring renewal, restoration and peace.

Christine Sine https://godspace.wordpress.com/

Lord Jesus Christ grant us this day ,
Such delight in following you,
That we may know
the wonder of your love,
the beauty of your holiness,
the joy of your presence.

Christine Sine https://godspace.wordpress.com/

Prayers for the Journey

Each week, as many of you know I blog the prayers that have been contributed to the Light for the Journey Facebook page. If you have not already seen it, you may also like to check out the special prayer posted for July 4th – A Prayer for America on Independence Day. 

labyrinth in the St Servaas Basilica at Maastricht in the Netherlands via https://www.facebook.com/LabyrinthosUK

Read this in the New Zealand Prayer Book this morning:
God our creator,
yours is the morning and yours is the evening.
Let Christ the sun of righteousness
shine for ever in our hearts
and draw us to that light
where you live in radiant glory.
We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ our Redeemer.

—————————————-

Breathe in peace,
Let it fill every fibre of your being.
Breathe in love,
Let it fill your heart and soothe your soul.
Breathe in life,
Let if fil your spirit and bring you wholeness.
Breathe in all that is of God,
Let it encircle you.
Behind, before, above, beneath, on right and left,
Let God’s embrace fill you and keep you,
This day and through all eternity.
Amen

Christine Sine https://godspace.wordpress.com/

Lord your redemption overflows.
Like streams in a sun scorched land,
It soaks into our souls.
Like water that cascades in the mountains,
It quenches our thirst.
It blesses our lives,
with your unfailing love and righteousness,
and stirs our passion for justice and mercy.
May we bathe in its never ending flow.
And be washed clean by its holiness.

Christine Sine https://godspace.wordpress.com/

Creator God, who loves us
more than we can know,
who has chosen us
to be family,
we praise your holy name.

Jesus Christ, Son of God,
Word become flesh
dwelling among us,
sacrificed for us,
we praise your holy name.

Holy Spirit, breath of Life,
power within us
from the moment
we first believed,
we praise your holy name.

(http://www.facebook.com/faithandworship?

God you have called us into freedom,
May we use it to follow you with our whole hearts,
May we use it to serve one another in love,
May we use it to grow your eternal world of peace and wholeness for all.

Christine Sine https://godspace.wordpress.com/

Lord Jesus Christ
our joy and our salvation,
our strength and our song,
lead us into your ways.
Let your words bubble up from within us,
Let them overflow in praise and worship,
Let them reach out to touch our neighbours.
Fill us with grace,
Fill us with mercy,
Fill us with justice.
Amen

Christine Sine https://godspace.wordpress.com/

 

Prayers for the Journey

The light of God shines through

Most of this week’s prayers on Light for the Journey have been borrowed from other inspirational writers. It seemed very appropriate considering the discussion said prayers are dead prayers this week.

A Weekend Reflective Prayer

A Reflective Prayer for this weekend.

You are our shelter, O Lord,
A shield in the battle
A protection from the evil one.

You are our shelter, O Lord,
A haven from the high wave,
a harbour in the storm.

You are our shelter, O Lord,
A cover from the heat,
A guard against the icy blast.

You are our shelter, O Lord,
A light upon our path,
A presence in our darkness.

You are our shelter, O Lord,
A companion in our travels,
There at the journey’s end.

You ARE our shelter, O Lord.

David Adam, ‘A Sure Shelter’.

Posted by The Contemplative network

Glory to God who gives us life,
Glory to God who shows us love,
Glory to God who transforms death into life,
Glory to God who makes all things new.

Christine Sine http://godspace.wordpress/,com

Another beautiful prayer by Micahel Leunig
Dear God,

We pray for another way of being:
another way of knowing.

Across the difficult terrain of our existence
we have attempted to build a highway
and in so doing have lost our footpath.
God lead us to our footpath:
Lead us there where in simplicity
we made move at the speed of natural creatures
and feel the earth’s love beneath our feet.
Lead us there where step-by-step we may feel
the movement of creation in our hearts.
And lead us there where side-by-side
we may feel the embrace of the common soul.
Nothing can be loved at speed.

God lead us to the slow path; to the joyous insights
of the pilgrim; another way of knowing: another way of being.

Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ
Let us see your love,
Let us know your life,
Let us trust your faithfulness.
Hold us close and never let us go.
Amen

Christine Sine https://godspace.wordpress.com/

Your love,
flowing within us,
living water
purifying
in that cleansing flow;
and our worship,
in sweet harmony
echoing
through the air as birdsong
at the dawning of this day.
Stream meets stream
and river flows,
emptying into Ocean’s store.

Your grace,
offering to us
forgiveness,
liberty
from all that binds us;
and our prayers,
joining together,
rising
as a fragrant offering
to the heart of the divine.
Stream meets stream
and river flows,
emptying into Ocean’s store.

Your call,
whispering to us,
offering
encouragement
on our journeying;
and our service,
the only response
we can give,
a willing sacrifice
to the Godhead, Three in One.
Stream meets stream
and river flows,
emptying into Ocean’s store.

(www.faithandworship.com)

Occupy my heart with your tremendous Life.

Let my eyes see nothing in the world but Your glory, and let my hands touch nothing that is not for your service.

Let my tongue taste no bread that does not strengthen me to praise Your great mercy.

I will hear Your voice and I will hear all harmonies You have created, singing Your hymns.

Sheep’s wool and cotton from the field shall warm me enough that I may live in your service; I will give the rest to Your poor.

Let me use all things for one sole reason: to find my joy in giving You glory.

-Thomas Merton

Prayers for the Journey

This week’s collection of prayers on the Light for the Journey Facebook page.

God my heart has heard you say:
Come and talk with me.
And my heart responds: Lord I am coming.
Be my light for the journey,
Lead me along the right path,
Show me your love,
Teach how to live.

(inspired by Psalm 27).
Christine Sine https://godspace.wordpress.com/

Breathe in all that is of God,
Love, joy peace, compassion.
Breathe out all that is not of God,
Fear, anxiety, worry, greed.
Breathe in all that is of God,
Mercy, justice, righteousness,humility,
Breathe out all that is not of God,
Selfishness, injustice, indifference, acquisitiveness.
Sit quietly before your God and breathe in life.

Christine Sine https://godspace.wordpress.com/

May I love what you love O Lord,
And wrap my heart around your purposes.
May I turn my work towards justice,
And practice mercy in all I do.
May I set free those I have bound,
And seek to heal those who are broken.
May my spirit ache with compassion,
And soul desire your righteousness.
May your glory shine through all I am and do,
That others may see and respond to the God who is love.

Christine Sine https://godspace.wordpress.com/

The blesséd in your eyes
are not those who have everything
but those who consider
without you
they have nothing.
Not the rich in earning,
but the rich in spending
who give their lives for you.
Your ordinary saints,
being your hands
and words
in their ordinary lives,
doing extraordinary things
with all that you have given them.
The blesséd in your eyes
are not those who desire honour,
but those who seek to serve.
Thank you for the servants in your kingdom.

(www.faithandworship.com)