Monday Morning Offering - 219

Image: George Mendoza

Good morning, good God!

You ask me to rejoice, Lord,

in good times and in bad…

You ask me to pray - all the time

and to be grateful - no matter what…

You ask a lot, Lord

and sometimes it seems you ask

for more than I can give –

so I need some help…

When times are tough, Lord,

and joy seems past my reach,

help me at least want to rejoice,

to find, even in suffering,

the gift of peace your presence brings…

I ask you to stir up within me

a desire for the joy that's yours to give;

the joy that only you can give;

the joy that can't be quelled by fear;

the joy whose source is deeper
than any wound my heart has known…

I pray for a joy to mend my brokenness,
to give me strength when I’m afraid

and trust when I’ve lost hope…

 
Lord, give me a joy that survives
my moods, my feelings,

my bruised pride, my ego,

my jealousy and my thin skin...

I pray for a joy that lasts,
endures, suffers through the pain
and comes out the other side
whole, true and intact...

I offer you my desire, Lord,
to sense, to recognize, to know

and respond to every hint of joy

your Spirit sparks within my soul…

Let no moment of your grace

escape my notice, my attention,

my heart’s gratitude

for the joy and peace you offer me…

When joy invites me in

let me not hesitate to accept the invitation

to lay my burdens down and to rejoice

that once again your gift of peace rests

securely in my heart…

When times are tough, Lord,

and joy seems past my reach,

help me desire to rejoice,

to find, in suffering and in pain,

the gift of peace your presence brings…

Remind me, Lord, of all the joy you’ve given me

and help me hold those memories in my prayer:
give me a grateful heart to trust

that joy is what you want for me

and what you promise me in faith…

Help me bring joy in any way I might

to those whose paths cross mine this week

and open me to joy that’s theirs to give

when my heart is in need…

Hear my prayer this Monday Advent morning, Lord,
this day and all this week...

Amen.

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