Living God, guide my walking. Let me take each step with careful intention that I might follow in your pathways. Deepen my discipleship in each new day and down each road that lies ahead. Renew the energy in my movements that engage your love. Through the Resurrected Body of Christ, Amen.
Permission granted to share with family and friends. Copyrighted 2017, Walt Lichtenberger
Living God, in the waters of baptism you have claimed my life. When life sidetracks and becomes weary, focus my attention on my identity as your child. Renew my spirit in the waters whence your grace, love, and care emerge. Dripping wet, support each step as I walk in your ways. Through the Resurrected Body of Christ, Amen.
Permission granted to share with family and friends. Copyrighted 2017, Walt Lichtenberger
Living God, plant your cross in my heart so that I might be open to the work of your love. Tear apart my short sightedness, prejudice, self-centered nature so that there might be a place for new growth and life. Through the Resurrected Body of Christ, Amen.
Permission granted to share with family and friends. Copyrighted 2017, Walt Lichtenberger
Living God, give us the courage to resist those things in our lives and our world that work against life. Move us to move in the direction of cooperation and community. Help us to repent, and turn away, from the consumptive destruction of your planet and your people. Inspire us to work for the sake of life. Through the Resurrected Body of Christ, Amen.
Permission granted to share with family and friends. Copyrighted 2018, Walt Lichtenberger
Living God, from trees that reach hundreds of feet into the air to the small ant that carries a leaf on the forest floor, the size and scope of your creation amaze. Open a deep appreciation and respect for life in our hearts so that we might become caretakers and stewards of creation. Through the Resurrected Body of Christ, Amen.
Permission granted to share with family and friends. Copyrighted 2018, Walt Lichtenberger
Living God, give me the wisdom to understand and the vision to see glimpses of resurrection so that I might not give in to despair. Plant within my heart the seed of hope so that I might give witness to your power to generate anew. Move me from a place of feeling powerless and overwhelmed complacency so that I might walk in the direction of life. Through the Resurrected Body of Christ, Amen.
Permission granted to share with family and friends. Copyrighted 2018, Walt Lichtenberger
Living God, our life stories are full of ups and downs, moments of glory and despair. On any given day we might be tempted to live in the clouds or crawl under the earth. Save us from these extremes by grounding us in your love. Nurture within our hearts an acceptance that extends to following Jesus along the path of life. When we find that we are simply too weary to walk, we ask that you would carry us along. Through the Resurrected Body of Christ, Amen.
Permission granted to share with family and friends. Copyrighted 2018, Walt Lichtenberger
Living God, you are the source of all blessings. Allow me the strength to recall forgotten blessings and bring joyful memories into this day. Let me get caught up in delight and smile with vigor. Praise to you from whom such wonders flow. Through the Resurrected Body of Christ, Amen.
Permission granted to share with family and friends. Copyrighted 2018, Walt Lichtenberger
Living God, we live in a time of technology and comforts previously unknown. We also live in a time of disturbing realities and disparities. We know that our technology can’t save us from all that troubles life. We also know that giving in to the chaos and randomness is not constructive. Center our lives in your cross. Let us find in the midst of life’s contradictions your presence which alone brings us hope. Through the Resurrected Body of Christ, Amen.
Permission granted to share with family and friends. Copyrighted 2018, Walt Lichtenberger
Living God, we cry out to you. From time to time we find ourselves in a pit whence, it seems that we will never emerge. Help us to cry out in the sure and certain hope that you hear our cries. Strengthen our faith so that we might trust in your redemption and restoration. Give us the courage to wait for you. Through the Resurrected Body of Christ, Amen.
Permission granted to share with family and friends. Copyrighted 2018, Walt Lichtenberger
Living God, along the path of our lives, we encounter contradictions. We can find ourselves torn between truth on opposing poles. Messy complications all too often replace simplicity. Instead of seeking partial solutions and settling for illusions and half-truths, help us to enter into the paradoxes of life itself. Give us your wisdom that allows us to remain in the tension and rest in the truth that is found in your cross. Through the Resurrected Body of Christ, Amen.
Permission granted to share with family and friends. Copyrighted 2018, Walt Lichtenberger
Living God, give us the strength to watch and wait. When life becomes messy and confusing, let us rest in your presence. Calm our fears and comfort our tired souls. Empower us to awareness of your grace and love. Through the Resurrected Body of Christ, Amen.
Permission granted to share with family and friends. Copyrighted 2018, Walt Lichtenberger
Living God, you already know what I need before I ask. You know what is in my heart as well. Allow me the strength of faith to trust in you without words. Help me to rest in your presence and peace.
Through the Resurrected Body of Christ, Amen.
Permission granted to share with family and friends. Copyrighted 2018, Walt Lichtenberger
O Come Perpetual Light and shine on those who live in darkness.
Illumine the dark and scary places of this world with the brightness of your love. As a single candle flickers in the night and casts light that pushes back the night, come to us. Push back the sorrow and despair of our shadowed existence with your great light.
Through the Resurrected Body of Christ, Amen.
O Come Light Divine and shine into the darkness,
Death. Night.
Neglect. Abandonment.
Fear intrudes,
Loneliness descends,
Threats creep in, and insecurity resides in a shadowed existence.
Christ dies once again.
Life. Day.
The Creator shines light into weary days.
Hope kindles.
Assurance emerges.
Forgiveness open new possibilities.
Love lifts.
The community forms.
Christ rises once again.
Through the Resurrected Body of Christ, Amen.
O Come Healing Light and shine into our broken bodies.
Shadows hide and conceal. Night time deepens, and we fear what we cannot see. We peer into the hidden darkness of our souls, our health, and our bodies and we fear. In our disease and illness, we feel alone; insecure; powerless. Shine your presence into these rough places and forsaken feelings. Give us the hope and strength that comes when sensing our connection to you. Help us to trust in your abiding love today so that we might enter your peace that passes all understanding.
Through the Resurrected Body of Christ, Amen.
Spirit of Renewal,
you were present at the beginning of creation, moving over the waters, as life was given shape and form. Be present in me today. Give new shape and life to my life. Create in me an openness to your Diving Love and Mercy so that I might remain in your Resurrected Body of Christ as a new creation and as a renewed person. Remain, Spirit of Reformation in my struggles, triumphs, challenges, and opportunities so that I might be empowered anew to follow where you lead.
Amen.
This week's prayer comes from Anselm who lived from 1033-1109. I came across it as I was looking for a prayerful voice that went beyond the inside of our churches and sought engagement with the larger world. That such an ancient prayer could be so relevant points to the need for the church in every age to engage Jesus' ethic of love toward neighbor.
We bring before you, O Lord; the troubles and perils of people and nations, the sighing of prisoners and captives, the sorrows of the bereaved, the necessitities of strangers, the helplessness of the weak, the despondency of the weary, the failing powers of the aged. O Lord, draw near to each; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessed are you O God, Creator and Mother of us all.
Thank you for those special people in my life that have reflected your love to me. Your saints have cared for me when I've been hurt, loved me when I've been unlovable, nurtured me when I needed to grow, challenged me when I grew complacent, and walked with me when I was feeling alone. Though not perfect, your saints have been real to me and that has made such a difference. Strengthen me in my own saintly walk. Give me the courage, wisdom, forgiveness, humility, and vision to live a saintly life until that day when you share the invitation to your heavenly feast that is already in progress with the saints who have gone before.
Through the Resurrected Body of Christ, Amen.
This week in my devotions/prayer time, I came across this prayer by Henri Nouwen (from his book, "With Open Hands"). I share it with the hope that it might lift your spirit and help you on the path of seeking peace and eucharistic joy:
Dear God,
Speak gently in my silence. When the loud outer noises of my surroundings and the loud inner noises of my fears keep pulling me away from you, help me to trust that you are still there even when I am unable to hear you. Give me ears to listen to your small, soft voice saying: "Come to me, you who are overburdened, and I will give you rest... for I am gentle and humble of heart." Let that loving voice be my guide.
Amen.