4/16/13

Praying 10 minutes today: WEDNESDAY 4/17


Find a quiet time and place to pray... take a few deep breaths...
be still... and know that God is near...


A word to reflect on:   
You are indeed my savior,
and in the shadow of your wings
   I shout for joy...
-Psalm 63






(Before moving on to the reflection below,
   spend some quiet time with the scripture verse above...)

(With the tragedy of the Boston Marathon still fresh in our hearts,
   I've reworked an earlier post we might find helpful these days...)
 
There are times when we're lost, Lord,
   somewhere in-between our faith in you
      and all that weighs on our minds and hearts...

We believe in you, in your grace and in your love for us
   but we get lost in our fears and problems,
      praying and waiting for you to rescue us
   and wondering why, sometimes,
      you delay so long in coming to our aid...

Where might we go, what might we do in these in-between times
   while we wait for your peace, for your healing;
      while we wait for you to rescue us and set us free?

You're our savior - the Lord of our in-between-times:
   the times we pray you'll draw us to the shadow of your wings,
      to your outstretched arms,
   to hold us safe and protected,
      in the shelter only you can provide...

You are indeed our savior,
   and in the shadow of your wings
      we shout for joy...

In the shadow of your wings
   bring us close to your heart, Lord,
      to a place of grace where we might survey safely
         the fears that rule our days
            and the burdens our hearts bear...

In the shadow of your wings, Lord,
   give us shade from all that blinds us to your presence:
      let the light that's yours, the light that heals, shine on us
   and brighten with hope's promise
            any sadness in our souls...

In the shadow of your wings, Lord, hold us fast in faith,
      trusting that you don't delay
         but, rather, that in your wisdom, you wait:
            that in your time, not in ours,
               you'll hear and answer us...

In the shadow of your wings, Lord,
   let us find the peace we seek:
      though our problems go unsolved,
      though fears yet chase our steps,
      though our souls are troubled still,
   let us find the peace we seek
      in the shadow of your wings...

In the shadow of your wings, Lord,
   show us the work that's ours to do,
      the work that waits our hands:
show us what we must do to build the peace we long for,
   to make the peace that conquers fear,
      to share the peace that's in our hearts to give...
In the shadow of your wings, Lord,
   let us shout for joy in knowing that we're held
within your love and in your heart,
   that sheltered in your presence
there's a joy that comes to set us free
   of all that holds me bound...

 You are indeed our savior,
   and in the shadow of your wings,
      we sing for joy...

In the shadow of your wings, Lord,
   help us let go the dirge of what we've yet to find,
      of what we wait and pine for;
teach us to sing a song of praise
   for what we've found, for what we have in you,
      for what is ours today...

In the shadow of your wings, Lord,
   let us find the place, the in-between,
      where we can be at peace, where we can sing your song,
   because in all things, in our pain and in our peace,
      you are indeed our savior
         and in the shadow of your wings, your joy is ours...

In the quiet of prayer, Lord,
   help us find the shade, the shadow of your wings,
      sheltering us from all our fears...

In the stillness of time with you, Lord,
   give us faith to sing your praise
for in the midst of all that burdens us
   you are near, you are here,
      you are our refuge and our peace...

You are indeed our savior,
   and in the shadow of your wings
      we shout for joy...

To ponder and pray over...
What fears and problems keep me from finding joy in God?
When and how do I find myself lost, 
   "in between" my problems and my faith in God?
Do I know that there is peace, that there is joy for me
   even before my problems are resolved?
Will I pray for the grace to let go my problems' hold on me
   long enough for me to settle in the shelter of the Lord's wings? 
What's my role, my task, in building peace? in making peace?
   in sharing peace?
What will I ask of the Lord today?
From this prayer time, what word or phrase will I keep with me
   to carry through the rest of my day?

(After you spend some time with these questions,
   pray the reflection above one more time...)

HolyFamilyParish
Here are some tips for praying 10 minutes a day.  If you find these daily prayer reminders helpful, please let me know - and share them with others.  You'll find an archive of these daily posts here.

 
 
   
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