Praying Scripture - Remembering

Let all that I am praise the LORD;
      may I never forget the good things he does for me.
                                           Psalm 103:2

Remembering what God has done is important, and asking the Spirit to plant those memories on your heart will help you when hard times come. 

That's why God told the people of Israel in Deuteronomy 4:9 to "watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren."

Pray into God's goodness, and when times get tough, look for His greater good and remember...

Scripture Prayer I

Talking to God in scripture is a huge blessing and takes you right to the heart of God.

On of my favorite prayers is:

The Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need.  (Psalm 23:1, NLT).

As you say the words, speak them to the Lord - YOU are my shepherd.  In YOU I have everything I need.

Stay with the scripture prayer as long as the Spirit guides.  Let yourself rely on Jesus.

Write down how you feel.

As you go throughout your day, go back to that feeling.

Remember that the Lord is leading you, guiding you, and provides all you need.

You are my Shepherd.
I have everything I need.
Amen

Prayer

Lord...for those who mourn, that they would be comforted.
For those who are sick, that they would be healed.
For those who do not know the way, that they would turn to you.
Amen.

Teenage Prayer

Can't you see a full table of teenage boys who just got home from Saturday morning practice...football, swimming, and cross-country running, and they are starved (or they think they are).  As Mom brings the food to the table arms start flying and the battle is on!  They all have to make sure they get their fair share.  


Just before Mom puts the good plates on the table so reminds them..."grace first.  No food until you say grace."  This is the prayer the oldest quickly says:


Lord,
Bless this bunch
As they munch
Their lunch. Amen.

Mom stands there for a minute while she's trying to decide whether she should reprimand her son or tell him to come up with another prayer that is more suitable.  

After just a second, she gets another idea.  She says to her son, "Great prayer, son.  God is touched that you ask for a blessing for your family.  He is also glad you are grateful for the food you eat and that you give Him the credit for the provision.  Great prayer!"

Her son looked at his Mom and said.  "Gee, Mom, I never though about God being glad about my prayers."

Mom smiled. "God is glad whenever you talk to Him, regardless of how you word it.  God sees your heart.  He knows you're hungry and tired.  God appreciates your time."  

 "Awesome, Now can we eat?"  


With that Mom sat the food on the table. Within seconds the boys were scrambling to eat.  As Mom walked away she thanked God that the boys were healthy and that she had the opportunity today to talk with her sons about God's feelings for them.  The prayer gave her the chance to help them understand how much God wants to talk with them...under any circumstances. 

Adolescent Prayers

As we move through the innocence of a child into adolescence, our prayers change as well.

My sons were all fierce eating men when they were growing up (and when it came to pizza, lasagna, and cinnamon rolls my daughter could certainly keep up with them).  They were hungry all the time.  They had to be reminded from time to time "you are not animals without manners"...to which my mr. science guy son would remind, "well, actually Mother we are".  Alright.  I said without manners.

The point is by the time dinner was ready and I called them to the table they were HUNGRY.  So prayer time was often very short and to the point.

Good food,
Good meat,
Good Lord,
Let's eat. Amen.

At first I was a little concerned they were having a little too much fun with the prayer (silly I know - shouldn't prayer be fun?), but later I relaxed some and understood that was exactly where they were coming from.  They wanted to EAT.  They were grateful the meal was good and that we had meat.

The prayer also recognized that God is Good, and it ended with a hearty appreciation of the desire to eat.

All in all, not a bad prayer.

God smiles every time we talk to Him.  Every time.  No matter what we say, or how we say it, God loves it when we talk to Him. 

Great Prayer

Remember this prayer?

God is Great.

God is Good.

Thank you for our food.

AMEN.

Another version (which you may have learned):

God is Grace.

God is Good.

Thank you for our food.

AMEN.

I used to think this prayer was too simple and it had very little meaning, but then I heard one of my grandsons say it and it took on new meaning.  There’s something incredible about seeing a 3 year old fold his hands and partially close his eyes (peeking a little to watch his dad to make sure dad is praying, too) and saying with all sincerity, “God is Great”.  While he said it I thought of all the times when God has been faithful and has taken very bad times and made something good of it.  I also remembered God’s continuous efforts to bring beauty into our lives.

Then the toddler said, “God is GOOD”.  I mean REALLY good.  Goodness we don’t even know or understand.  God is totally and completely good, pure, and perfect in goodness for us.  Hearing a 3 year old say, “God is Good” comes as close as anything on earth as pure.

Then when he says, “thank you for our food”…that’s when he peeks at the food on his plate and he’s probably a little hungry and wants to take a bite because he really likes macaroni.  He doesn’t know that kids all over the world don’t have enough food like he has food.  He just knows he’s a little hungry.  I’m glad he has macaroni and is thankful for it.  We should be thankful for it.

The last part was my favorite because when he got to the end he opened his eyes, looked at his dad and they both loudly said, “AMEN”.  It wasn’t just any old Amen – it was AAAAA-MEN! I chuckled a little to myself because I knew it had become a family tradition for them to end the prayer with great gusto. 

What a great ending!

What a great prayer!

Great theology. 

Teaching a 3 year old that our God is great, good, and that he should be grateful for his food is a God moment.

The only thing that’s better?

God hearing the toddler speak the words to Him.

Written Prayers

Do you have a favorite written prayer? 

A Light on the Path

Lord, thou hast given us thy Word for a light to shine upon our path;
grant us so to meditate on that Word, and to follow its teaching,
that we may find in it the light that shines more and more until the perfect day;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Jerome, c 342 - 420)

The heart of Jerome’s prayer focused on God’s Word and as Psalm 119 tells us, God’s word is our light on the path.

There are times when I have felt confused and alone, unsure of where to turn.  This prayer reminds me where my answers lie and how to seek.  By meditating on the Word and following that word, we find answers through Jesus. 

If you are wrestling with how God is directing you, look no longer…turn to scripture and spend time meditating on a passage, any passage where God leads.  You will be blessed by God’s faithfulness. 

From Suffering to Significance

We beseech thee, Master, to be our helper and protector.

Save the afflicted among us, have mercy on the lowly;

Raise up the fallen; appear to the needy; heal the ungodly;

Restore the wanderers of thy people;

Feed the hungry; ransom our prisoners;

Raise up the sick; comfort the faint-hearted.

(Clement of Rome, 1^st Century)

I love this prayer, not only for the “meaty” content, but also because it dates back to the 1^st Century at a time when all of life was precarious.  The early Christians had to deal with plague, death, persecution, and daily uncertainty. Yet, in the midst of their pain and persecutions they emerged strong and were known for their great love for those who were suffering.  Not only were they talked about, “they came to pray for me when I was dying” so they were known for “how they love”.  Because of their great love and unending sacrifices for others, word spread about their authentic message of love for all people.  

While they suffered, Christianity grew deep deep roots and word of their love spread “to Samaria, Judea, and even to the ends of the earth” (see Acts 1:8).

Christianity flourished under these harsh conditions.  

Clement of Rome understood what they were faced with daily and his prayer covered the afflicted, the lowly, the needy, the wanderers, the hungry, the sick and faint-hearted and those who had been imprisoned.  Many were imprisoned because they preached the Gospel.  Many because they fed and cared for the dying. 

I noticed that Clement asked God (the Spirit) to APPEAR to the needy.  He was asking that God would go to them, much the same way he appeared to the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus.  APPEAR to the needy, so their need would be fulfilled.  What an incredible gift his prayer gave them! (Have you asked God to APPEAR to the needy? to yourself? to your family members and friends?)

I am deeply also touched that Clement prayed for healing for “the ungodly”.  It was meaningful to me because he knew because they do not know God through Christ, they are not healed.  He prayed that they would be included.  

I love this prayer…it is significant to us today because it reminds us that those who came before suffered incredible hardships and they endured it gladly for Christ.  

With love they endured.

For love they suffered.

To Jesus they came, fully reliant on Him alone. 

Darkness Vanishing in the Light

Look to the LIGHT:

Look upon us, O Lord,
and let all the darkness of our souls
vanish before the beams of thy brightness.
Fill us with holy love,
and open to us the treasures of thy wisdom.
All our desire is known unto thee,
therefore perfect what thou hast begun,
and what thy Spirit has awakened us to ask in prayer.
We seek thy face,
turn thy face unto us and show us thy glory.
Then shall our longing be satisfied,
and our peace shall be perfect.
(Augustine, 354 - 430)

I love this prayer because it made me realize that when we talk to God and God looks on us, all of the darkness goes away (in Him there is no darkness).  Imagine NO DARKNESS. Then, after God dispels the dark, He gives us love and wisdom.  Pure light.


Healing.

God KNOWS us.  He knows our desires and because God is in touch with our desires the Spirit prompts us to talk to God about our desires.  

As we turn to God we are satisfied with His abundance and we experience perfect peace.

No Darkness.

Love and Wisdom.

Knowing.

Peace.

Rest in God.  He’s got it all covered.

Vanishing in the Light

As we stand in the light of God's presence, the darkness fades away.  How can that be?  

In HIM there is no darkness, and as we spend time talking to God His light floods our souls with His love.

This Ancient prayer serves as a reminder that for centuries, a community of saints have been talking to God, standing in His light, seeking God's wisdom and peace:

Look upon us, O Lord,
and let all the darkness of our souls
vanish before the beams of thy brightness.
Fill us with holy love,
and open to us the treasures of thy wisdom.
All our desire is known unto thee,
therefore perfect what thou hast begun,
and what thy Spirit has awakened us to ask in prayer.
We seek thy face,
turn thy face unto us and show us thy glory.
Then shall our longing be satisfied,
and our peace shall be perfect.
(Augustine, 354 - 430)

Ancient Prayer: Just for you.

Pray this.

Paint this prayer.

Journal this ancient Scottish prayer.

Deep peace of the running wave to you,
Deep peace of the flowing air to you,
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,
Deep peace of the shining stars to you,
Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you, for ever.

Talk to God.  Tell Him you want the wave of peace.

Ask for the flowing air of the Spirit.

Experience quiet earth.

Photograph the shining stars...they are for you.

The Son.

He came for you.

and died.

Just for you.

Ancient Prayers: The Presence of God

I remember my daughter having a lot of trouble sleeping when she was about six months old.  It wasn't that she would have trouble going to sleep, but instead she would wake up crying and upset (almost sweating).  At first I thought it was a growth spurt.  (That was a little surprising since all of the women in my family are around 5' tall - I am the only one who didn't quite make 5' and I don't remember ever having a growth spurt!).  I would try to feed her but she didn't want to eat, and I would change her but that didn't make a difference either.  Then I wondered, is she having bad dreams?  Who knows?  It's possible, right?  So I started praying with her at night and I would talk with her about God's constant presence.  After that, she stopped waking up crying.  She would sleep through the night and wake up rested and happy.  That began a long tradition of praying with my kids, especially at bedtime and telling them God is ever present.  I also told them angels guarded them as well. 

Now, I pray for my grand kids at night.  Even though I'm not with them, I pray prayers of protection over them. 

I found this ancient prayer recently that really touched my heart...I hope it touches yours as you pray it:

Alone with none but thee, my God,
I journey on my way.
What need I fear, when thou art near O king of night and day?
More safe am I within thy hand
Than if a host did round me stand.
(Columba, c.521 - 97)

Listening to God's Heart

I love ancient prayers because people have been talking to God through His Spirit for centuries reciting those same words.  I love them as well because of the rich vibrancy of the words as well as the depth of commitment and love behind the words.  

This prayer was written by Ignatius of Loyola in 1534, and I imagine as he spoke it to God he listened to God’s heart and spoke it with fervor and grace.  

Take, Lord, as your right, and receive as my gift, all my freedom, my memory, my mind and my will. Whatever I am and whatever I possess, you have given to me; I give it all back to you. Dispose of me, and the powers you gave me, according to your will. Give me only a love for you, and the gift of your grace; then I am rich enough, and wish for nothing more.

As you talk to God, listen to God’s heart.  My prayer for you is that you will be rich enough in God’s love.  

May the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all, now and always!

Listening

Have you had a conversation with someone when you had the impression they weren’t listening?  Maybe they did most of the talking and when you did speak they didn’t even hear you.  Don’t get me wrong, I like lively conversation and when someone is interesting I like it when they talk. I love listening to others. I also like it when they listen back.

That’s because when you have a conversation with someone, part of the deal is that you need to take time to listen.

Really listen. 

With your heart.  

When you listen with the heart, it’s different than looking like you’re listening.  It means you are paying attention and you are present.  Sometimes that’s really not as easy as it seems.  

If others seem to not be listening, we do need to bear in mind that from time to time they might be preoccupied for a reason…it could be because they’ve had a really bad day, or because they aren’t feeling well.  If you are listening from the heart you will most likely be able to pick up on what’s wrong and you might be able to be a comfort.  

Listening from the heart is a great skill to practice.  It means you’re practicing what Jesus would do, and after all, that’s what transformation is all about.

The Tempest

Sometimes life blows in a storm so strong that it knocks you off your feet and leaves you wondering what just “hit”.  Probably once or twice in our lives, a hurricane comes through.  The biggest difference in this kind of tempest is that we often don’t see it coming and don’t expect it.

I think Peter was hit by a tempest the night he betrayed Jesus.  He had even been told he would betray Jesus by Jesus but still Peter didn’t believe it.  We must remember that Peter never expected that Jesus would be arrested and the disciples would scatter in fear.  Peter never expected one of them to sell Jesus out.  He did not expect the plot leading to his tempest experience.

I think Elijah had a tempest experience he didn’t expect (I Kings 19) and Daniel had a tempest experience (Daniel 6) in the Lion’s Den, and Joseph had a tempest experience when his brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 37). 

The thing about Tempest experiences, when your feet are completely swept out from under you and you don’t know how to get up is that it’s your defining moment. 

It’s the moment you will have to decide whether you will turn to God or turn away from God.  It’s the moment you will have to decide what your life will be like from that point on. 

I’ve been on the planet long enough to realize that everyone has a defining moment.  Everyone.  The choice will be yours.  Will you talk to God, or will you sit in your own sorrow and turn away…it’s up to you to decide.