Archive for the ‘Tuesday Prayer’ Category

Tuesday Prayer: Wrestling with the Call of God

September 9th, 2008

Here’s a prayer from the Celtic Prayer Book that I just keep coming back to lately:

Take me often from the tumult of things
into Thy presence.
There show me what I am,
and what Thou hast purposed me to be,
Then hide me from Thy tears.

O King and Savior,
what is Thy gift to me?
And do I use it to Thy pleasing?

Now we must praise the guardian of heaven,
the might of the Lord
and His purpose of mind,
the glorious all Father,
for He, God eternal, is kind.

…

Christ, You are the Truth;
You are the light.

You are the Keeper of the treasure
we seek so blindly.

…

Dear Lord, You alone know
what my soul truly desires,
and You alone
can satisfy those desires.

I have prepared a place for you,
says the Lord, a place that is for you,
and only you, to fill.
Approach My table,
asking first that you might serve.
Look even for the lowest tasks.
Then, the work of service done,
you may look for your own place at table.
But do not seek the most important seat
which may be reserved for someone else.
In the place of My appointing will be your joy.

Lord, show me the right seat;
find me the fitting task;
give me the willing heart.

May I be equal to Your hope of me.
If I am weak,
I ask that You send only what I can bear.
If I am strong,
may I shrink from no testing
that shall yield increase of strength
or win security for my spirit.

I trust in Thee, O Lord.
I say, ‘Thou art my God.
My times are in Thy hand,
my times are in Thy hand.’

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

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Tuesday Prayer: Just ask…

August 12th, 2008

So, to be honest I don’t listen to Christian music all that often but today I just felt like I needed to worship for a while, so I put on the Chris Tomlin CD, See the Morning, and just walked around and prayed and sang along. It was really a powerful experience.

Here are the lyrics from one of the songs that struck me:

 

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

 

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won’t grow weary

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won’t grow weary

You’re the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:7-11

Lord, so often I don’t really believe that – I don’t really believe that you want to give good gifts to your children. Forgive me, Lord. Today I believe. I believe that if I ask I will receive. I believe that you desire to give good gifts to me and to all your children. I believe that you are the defender of the weak. I believe that you will comfort those in need. I believe that you are the Everlasting God who reigns forever. I believe that you are powerful and that you can do great things in this world and in my life. I will wait for you. Glory, Glory, Glory, to the Lord God Almighty who is and who was and who is to come!! Amen!

 

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

Photograph by Beth Stedman

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Tuesday Prayer: A Prayer from the Anglican Prayer Book

August 5th, 2008

Almighty and most merciful Father,
I have erred and strayed from thy ways like a lost sheep,
I have followed too much the devices and desires of my own heart,
I have offended against thy holy laws,
I have felt undone those things which I ought to have done,
and I have done those things which I ought not to have done.
But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon me,
spare thou those who congess their faults,
restore thou those who are penitent,
according to thy promise declared unto mankind
in Christ Jesus our Lord;
and grant, O most merciful Father, for His sake,
that I may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life,
to the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.

Amen.
Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

Photograph by Beth Stedman

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Tuesday Prayer: A prayer from the Celtic Daily Prayer Book

July 29th, 2008

Take me often from the tumult of things
into Thy presence.
There show me what I am,
and what Thou hast purposed me to be.
Then hide me from Thy tears.

O King and Savior,
what is Thy gift to me?
And do I use it to Thy pleasing?

Now we must praise the guardian of heaven,
the might of the Lord
and His purpose of mind,
the glorious all Father,
for He, God eternal, is kind.

Christ, You are the Truth;
You are the light.

You are the Keeper of the treasure
we seek so blindly.

Dear Lord, You alone know
what my soul truly desires,
and You along
can satisfy those desires.

I have prepared a place for you,
says the Lord, a place that is for you,
and only you, to fill.
Approach My table,
asking first that you might serve.
Look even for the lowest tasks.
Then, the work of service done,
you may look for your own place at table.
But do not seek the most important seat
which may be reserved for someone else.
In the place of My appointing will be your joy.

Lord, show me the right seat;
find me the fitting task;
give me the willing heart.

May I be equal to Your hope of me.
If I am weak,
I ask that You send only what I can bear.
If I am strong,
may I shrink from no testing
that shall yield increase of strength
or win security for my spirit.

I trust in Thee, O Lord.
I say, ‘Thou art my God.
My times are in Thy hand,
my times are in Thy hand.’

Amen.

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

Photograph by Beth Stedman

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Tuesday Prayer: “What do you want me to do for you?”

July 22nd, 2008

“46Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

 48Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

 49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

 51“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
      The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

 52“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.” – Mark 10:46-52

 

“Save me, Oh, God, for the waters have come up to my neck
I am sinking to the bottom where I cannot stand
I am calling to You can You hear my cry?
Save me, Oh, God, I have wandered and I cannot find your hand
I am looking for you Father, buy my eyes fail
I am calling to you, can you hear my cry?”

 

Me: Lord, Jesus, I need you… I need you… I need you…

God: Bethany, I’m here…I am with you always… I’m calling to you…“What do you want me to do for you?”

Me: “Rabbi, I want to see.”

“Oh, Mercy, fall on me like a warm blanket…on my cold, cold heart.
Clean me with Your blood that turns me white on the inside
I’m on my knees again ‘cause I’m breaking Your heart
Put in me… what I cannot buy with gold
Put in me, oh God… come restore my broken soul
Put in me… what I cannot give myself
Put in me… a clean heart.
I know all my broken places like the back of my hand
That slapped your face again
Wash me in your love and hold me tight like a baby
Till I have no memory of ever breaking Your heart
Put in me… what I cannot buy with gold
Put in me, oh God… come restore my broken soul
Put in me… what I cannot give myself
Put in me… a clean heart…. A clean heart…”

The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want…

 

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

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