Prayer

Praying the Psalms ~ Psalm 3

/ The Pastor

READ: Psalm 3. Now read it again. One more time. Alright, we’re ready. Let’s pray…

Father God,
My foes are many; those who would oppose Your ways.
They celebrate and flaunt their success; scoffing at me and saying that I have no hope.
They claim victory; boasting of their strength. They think they are in control; that they hold the upper hand.
My foes arrogantly go on their way; secure in their positions of power; strutting in confidence; smug in their ways.
Oh Lord, my God, my foes are many.
Their numbers overwhelm me.
But You, oh God, are a shield about me.
You are my fortress.
You are my army of myriads that goes before me.
You have lifted me up and secured my life.
You have never ceased to hear and answer my cry for help.
Therefore, I will never fear the hordes that oppose me.
Day and night You are my guard.
I am at peace.
Oh Lord, my God, my foes are many but You overwhelm them.
Your enemies have been defeated and thus I am victorious.
They claim salvation is theirs.
They are wrong.
Salvation is Yours and Yours alone.
Through Jesus Christ You have saved me thus may Your blessings sustain me now and forevermore.
Through Jesus Christ my Lord I pray,
Amen.

Praying the Psalms ~ Psalm 2

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

I see so many people today aligning themselves with politicians in an effort to gain peace through their flawed agendas. I see leaders trying to lead but without God as their moral guide. Governments try to silence the voice of the Church. All of this and I imagine God with a smirk on His face, like I father who is fending off a four-year-old as they wrestle with him. We must remember, God is in control so therefore do not fear.

READ: Psalm 2 and then let us pray…

There is no question, oh God, that You are sovereign over all creation.
You are the Creator.
You are in control.
You are Lord of all
Yet, the nations rage, plot and scheme. They think that they are in control.
How silly that is.
They try to break free from Your rule; to cast the Church away; to be a moral lighthouse and the truth makers and keepers. Oh God, I roll my eyes with You and laugh. No one and no entity can set themselves up over You.
Why can’t they see that?
Oh Lord, my God, may Your glory be revealed among the nations.
As for me, oh Lord, sustain me as the nations rage, plot and scheme.
Place me firm upon the Rock of Jesus.
May I not be broken with those who turn away from You.
It’s You, oh God that I serve.
Help me
Keep me
Preserve me
That I may not fall away and throw my lot in with the wicked.
In Your divine grace, protect me and hold me close for Your wrath is poured out onto sinners.
Don’t pour Your wrath out on me but in the name of Jesus have mercy on me.
Oh God, my Lord, You are my refuge.
In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.

Peace in Following Jesus

/ The Pastor

Continuing with the theme of following Jesus, based on Luke 9:57-62, I wrote this communion liturgy for the Great Thanksgiving. One of the things that hit me as I wrote this is the reason that many hesitate in answering the call to follow Jesus: Peace. We try to create, secure and maintain our peace when all the while, Jesus himself is our peace. How quickly we forget.

It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to You, oh God, Creator and Father. Through Jesus Christ You call us to follow, but yet we often find ourselves timid or skeptical or too careful or worrisome about the path You have called us to walk. We often find ourselves over-analyzing in order to secure a sense of peace about making our decision. But how foolish we are for doing such a thing, for through Jesus Christ You have cleared the path and secured our future through his death and resurrection. You have defeated Your foes and have surrounded us with Your holy angels. You have redeemed our lives and thus You and You alone are our peace. May we leap when You call us to follow for through Jesus we have much about which to be excited and thankful. And so with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven we join in singing Your unending praise…

Praying the Psalms ~ Psalm 1

/ The Pastor

READ: Psalm 1

Holy God,
To walk in Your ways is to be sustained by an ever-flowing stream;
A tree that grows and blossoms and produces fruit with no end;
One, upon whom people look, and see Your glory.
To walk in Your ways is to
Wither no more.
Pant for water no more.
Die no more.
For You are the River of Life.
And so I fall to my knees to ask, plead and beg:
May I not be lured by the counsel of the wicked.
May I not take my stance with those who oppose You.
May I not find security with those who would spit and despise You or Your Church.
May I find my joy in Your Word; meditating on it and learning it.
May I be watered by You.
May I blossom and produce fruit for You.
May I live in and with You.
Oh Lord, my God, through Jesus Christ may I be blessed.
Amen.

Not Shaken but Stirred

/ The Pastor

“I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” [Psalms 16:7‭-‬8 ESV]

Oh Lord my God,
You are holy and mighty,
Gracious and merciful,
Omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent.
Counsel me.
Instruct me in the way I should go.
Be my defender when opposition arises.
Hold me firm when forces try to topple me.
Be my guard,
Day and night.
May my heart be at peace.
May I not be shaken.
Oh Lord my God, I believe, help my unbelief.
You have shown your faithfulness.
You have defeated Your foes.
You have secured my Life.
You hold me close.
Counsel me.
Guide me.
Help me.
As Solomon asked for wisdom to lead Your people rightly, so I pray.
May the words of the psalmist be mine.
May I not be shaken but stirred to action.
To You be the glory as I live each and everyday.
Through Jesus Christ my Lord I pray,
Amen.

A Prayer for a Discerning Church

/ The Pastor

Oh God, raise up a prophet in this congregation; one who clearly hears Your voice, and command them to faithfully proclaim that word to Your church. May we then have ears to hear and the faith to obey and follow wherever You lead. May we boldly go when You call and may we not look back; keeping our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. This church does not belong to us. Oh God, to You be the glory in all that we do. In Jesus name, Amen.

Thy Will Praying

/ The Pastor

Your Word is truth.
Your Word is life.
Your Word is powerful.
Your Word is right.

Your Word illumines.
Your Word reveals.
Your Word convicts.
Your Word heals.

Your Word teaches.
Your Word guides.
Your Word is wisdom.
Therein Your will resides.

And yet…

I am often repetitious in praying according to MY will and not Yours. Teach me to pray rightly, oh God. Show me by Your Word how to pray according to Your will. Guide my heart in seeking Your will continually.
Teach me, oh God, teach me.
I know that Your Word is perfect; without flaw.
I know that Your Word is eternal.
Forgive me for when I seek my flawed will.
Forgive me for I am selfish.
Help me, Oh God, help me.
Help me to know Your will.
Your Word is THE excellent starting point;
The very Word I profess to hold high.
So open my heart and send Your Spirit,
That I may engage Your Word.
May I hear Your will and pray thus.
May I know Your will and seek thus.
May my selfish ways fall away.
Oh God, THY will be done.
Amen.

Peace-Filled Sleep

/ The Pastor

As You stand watch over me,
I can rest in peace this night.
I can close my eyes and sleep,
And Know that I’ll be alright.

For Satan will not distress,
Nor demons ever annoy.
Evil will not disturb me,
Nor devils ever destroy.

So,

I rest secure,
And You ensure,
That my life is surely Thine.
I sleep in peace,
Your love won’t cease,
Thus Satan should just resign.

Oh Jesus died for my sins.
My life is most surely His.
I will not fret,
And won’t forget,
Through him I certainly win.

So if death comes near to me,
Looking for this life to take.
I still won’t fear,
For You are near,
And with You I’ll always be.

So yes I will close my eyes.
In peace I will surely sleep.
My life is claimed,
In Jesus’ name,
Thus my life has no demise.

Help Me Father

/ The Pastor

Father God,
You have called me to the holy calling of being a daddy.
I am happy.
I am thankful.
I am overwhelmed,
Overwhelmed at what this calling means.
Help me, Father, help me.
Help me be the daddy my kids need me to be.
May they see in me what it means to love You.
May they see in me what it means to obey You.
May they see in me what it means to serve You.
I want to be an example to them of what a godly life looks like; one that honors and glorifies You.
Help me, Father, help me.
Sometimes I feel like I am messing this daddy thing up.
Sometimes I feel like such a failure.
Sometimes I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing.
Help me, Father, help me.
Grant me wisdom and strength.
Grant me compassion and boldness.
Grant me mercy and empathy.
Grant me gentleness and tenderness.
I want to be the daddy my kids need me to be.
I want to honor You.
Help me, Father, help me.

Holy Trinity Prayer

/ The Pastor

On this Holy Trinity Sunday, I offer this prayer that I wrote for the Great Thanksgiving in the service of Holy Communion. To God be the glory…

It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, oh God. As our heavenly Father, You have shown a love that has secured our salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. You have sent Your Holy Spirit to guide and inflame our lives that You would be glorified. You have kept us from the evil one and have promised us a place at Your table where we can feast in peace; worshiping You forever without hindrance. You are our awesome God and thus are worthy of all glory. For that reason, we join with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven in singing Your unending praise…