Nurturing God,

You knew us before we were, you know us better than we know ourselves, you know how our obedience or disobedience will affect the world forever onward. Your creation is beautiful and magnificent, but it is only a reflection of your beauty and greatness. The relationships you have brought into my life are edifying and fulfilling, but they are only a reflection of the relationship that exists within you. I will never fully know you God, but that which I do know makes me stop in wonder and awe.

Thank you for the gifts you have given.  Help me to continue to recognize them as gifts.  Remind me that everything I have is from you;  I am your steward protecting and building up your kingdom for a time.  Nourish my soul and the souls of my family.  Feed us sustaining spiritual foods that will build up our faith.  Help us to become closer disciples of Jesus throughout our lives.  Keep our hearts, our minds, our words, our actions, and our attitudes focused on you.

Jesus,

You are the one who can speak to my need. You are the one who can free me from myself. You are the one who I hear calling. Help me to turn toward you. Enableme to live in your freedom. Replace my wants with your wants. Keep my heart focused on your will. Open my ears to hear your leading. You are wise and perfect. Make your will obvious to me, because I am a dense man.

I am impatient and do not want to wait. But I stay at rest, and I meditate on the knowledge that it will be far better to follow you than to race ahead of you. To often I look to the future and pay little attention to the present. Open my eyes to the ministry you have laid before me where I am. Remind me to share your glory in all I say and in all I do.

Great Counselor,

You are a wonderful Father to your children; providing guidance in the times we will listen, allowing us to fail in the times we will not hear. You far surpass the the wisest sage, and are more powerful than the greatest warrior. Too often I ignore your guidance; keep me within your will. Too often your people do not listen; open our ears in spite of ourselves. Thank you for the blessings you have given: new life, new hearts, new minds, new eyes, new ears, new spirits. Refresh these gifts with the constant presence of your cleansing wind. Energize our hands, our feet, and our wills; energize us with your power and desires. Counsel us as to your ways and may we follow your wise direction for as long as the breath of life remains.

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
thy justice like mountains high soaring above
thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all, life thou givest, to both great and small;
in all life thou livest, the true life of all;
we blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
and wither and perish, but naught changeth thee.

Great Father of glory; pure Father of light,
thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all laud we would render; O help us to see
’tis only the splendor of light hideth thee!

Thank you God. Amen.

God of new beginnings,

Thank you for this new season of life. Thank you for not leaving us in the cold and the dark forever. Thank you for the turning of the seasons and the wondrous beauty I take for granted because I expect it. Thank you for working in normal ordinary ways to bring about normal ordinary events; thank you for not waiting until we notice we need you to be here with us.

Keep my eyes open to the amazing work you are doing in my life and the life of those around me. Keep my ears open to listen to your leading. Keep my hands ready to heal and comfort and forgive. Keep my feet moving toward you day after day. Make my mouth an instrument for you to use and play a beautiful song.

Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness.
Opened my eyes, let me see.
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days
oh, so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came
To the earth You created
All for love’s sake became poor

Here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me

Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness.
Opened my eyes, let me see.

Thank you God, Amen.

Forgiving God,

Forgive us the sins we have committed against you this week. Show us who we need to forgive and of whom we need to ask for forgiveness. Thank you for sending Christ Jesus into the world so that we could be reconciled to you. Thank you for sending your spirit into my life so that I could commune with you. Thank you for continuing to discipline me. Help me to be patient and to focus on the things you are calling me to do. Continue to lead the lives of my wife and I toward your will.

“Forgive our sins as we forgive,”
You taught us, Lord, to pray;
But You alone can grant us grace
To live the words we say.

How can Your pardon reach and bless
The unforgiving heart
That broods on wrongs and will not let
Old bitterness depart?

In blazing light Your cross reveals
The truth we dimly knew:
How trifling others’ debts to us;
How great our debt to You!

Lord, cleanse the depths within our souls
And bid resentment cease;
Then, by Your mercy reconciled,
Our lives will spread Your peace.

Thank you God, Amen.

God of Strength,

Grant us the power, strength, and energy to do that which you are calling us to do. Keep our spirits energized so that we might carry out our ministry and accomplish all that is in your will for us. Help us to organize the time you have blessed us with and not waste it in useless activities. Help us to rest well so that we might be enabled to see the world around us as you would have us see it. Open our eyes and ears to your calling every day. Make us aware of our friends and neighbors. Help us know when to speak and when to remain silent. In all things may your will be done; help us and those around us to know your good, pleasing, and perfect will.

Like the woman at the well I was seeking
For things that could not satisfy;
And then I heard my Savior speaking:
“Draw from My well that never shall run dry.”

Fill my cup, Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, feed me ’til I want no more-
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!

There are millions in this world who are craving
The pleasure earthly things afford;
But none can match the wondrous treasure
That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.

Fill my cup, Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, feed me ’til I want no more-
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!

So, my brother, if the things this world gave you
Leave hungers that won’t pass away,
My blessed Lord will come and save you,
If you kneel to Him and humbly pray:

Fill my cup, Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, feed me ’til I want no more-
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!

Thank you God, Amen.

Protector God,

Be with all of us this week as we are separated. Keep us safe in our travels and as we stay at home. Defend us from injury and harm. Put a hedge of protection around this family and drive evil away. Thank you for being the focal point of our lives. Please give us direction as to our future. As we go out this week open our eyes to the needs of those around us. Help us to see the needs that we can meet and work to be your servant in those times.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Thank you God, Amen. 

Faithful God,

O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you. The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead. So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.

Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

We are trav’lers on a journey,
Fellow pilgrims on the road;
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ-light for you
In the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
Speak the peace you long to hear.

Sister, let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to
Let you be my servant, too.
Brother, let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to
Let you be my servant, too.

I will weep when you are weeping,
When you laugh, I’ll laugh with you;
I will share your joy and sorrow,
Till we’ve seen this journey thro’.
When we sing to God in heaven,
We shall find such harmony,
Born of all we’ve known together
Of Christ’s love and agony.

Thank you God, Amen.

Healer God,

Be with my family this week as we struggle with sickness. Help us to take the time to heal. Be with Owen and keep him safe as he struggles with being sick as an infant. Give us the wisdom to know when to seek help. Keep all those with whom we have been in contact healthy. Heal us this week, oh God.

Healer of our every ill,
Light of each tomorrow,
give us peace beyond our fear,
and hope beyond our sorrow.

You who know our fears and sadness,
grace us with your peace and gladness.
Spirit of all comfort, fill our hearts

Healer of our every ill,
Light of each tomorrow,
give us peace beyond our fear,
and hope beyond our sorrow.

You who know each thought and feeling,
teach us all your way of healing.
Spirit of compassion, fill each heart.

Healer of our every ill,
Light of each tomorrow,
give us peace beyond our fear,
and hope beyond our sorrow.

Thank you God, Amen.

Creator God,

Fill me with the love you have for all of your creation. Fill me with the same desire you have to see all the world restored to fellowship with you. Fill me with your compassion for those who are in conflict with me. Fill me with your joy at seeing the world turn toward you.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for all the blessings you have given me. Thank you for the health and safety of my wife and children. Thank you for your constant presence in my life and my home. Thank you for the spiritual friendships you have built and continue to build around me. Be with me this week in my words and deeds; may everything I do be a witness that draws others toward you. Keep me from being a discouragement to others. Continue to work in my life and make me more like yourself; let my desires be your desires and may I more quickly place my selfish whims aside.

Help me to be faithful to the call you have placed over my life, and help me to trust that you have put me in the place which you most want me. Focus my mind on what you want me to do and learn while I am here. Forgive me for being self-centered and open my eyes to the needs of the community I am a part of every day. Help me to be a worthy representative of you to my children.

Your ways are wonderful Lord, but I fail to tread them. Your words are fulfilling Lord but I fail to consume them. Your promises are comforting Lord, but I fail to hear them. Your gifts are magnificent Lord, but I fail to delight in them. Let me walk in your ways, be filled with your words, listen to your promises, and delight in your gifts. For you are God. You are creator. You are maker of heaven and earth and man and me. I am your child. Make me into your man.

Thank you God,

Amen