A Concord Pastor Comments: Praying 10 Minutes a Day: Third Week/Friday

Be still and know that I am God...

Lent is a time, in the quiet, in the stillness,
to review my life with its all its failings and blessings:
a time to take a personal inventory of how I have loved
or failed to love those whose paths cross my mine...

Sometimes I forget that the people along my path
are as fragile or even more fragile than, often, I am...

If I look to my past
I remember those whose hearts I've hurt,
saddened, even betrayed,
by my haste, my selfishness, my carelessness...

More often than not, I hadn’t intended any harm
but my neglect and self-interest bruised and burdened others...

If there are ways for me to make amends here, Lord, show me how
and give me the courage to do what I need to do…

If the time or circumstances for amends have passed me by,
hear my prayer for those whom I have hurt…

Open my eyes and ears, my mind and heart
to those around me now, Lord...

Wake me to their presence and their needs:
keep gentle the ways in which my life touches theirs...

Nudge me to take the first step towards making peace
in my family, my neighborhood, at work and at school...

Give me a sensitive and forgiving heart...

Help me remember how much, how often,
how fully and how freely you have forgiven me...

In my 10 minutes of prayer today, I'll ask the Lord for help
in reviewing my life and remembering those who've been hurt
by words and deeds, by what I've done
and what I've failed to do...

In the stillness, when I know that God is with me,
I'll ask for mercy
and for the courage and will to make peace
in any way I can...

Be sill... and know that I am God...

Are you new to "Praying 10 Minutes a Day in Lent" - or are you having trouble getting started? The first installment offers some thoughts on getting started, as do the subsequent posts in the series. So take a look and join us!