A Concord Pastor Comments: Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 2/19

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Still not sure what you're going to do or give up for Lent?
How about working on a bad habit or two?
Let's pause and pray about that...

We've all got bad habits, Lord,
and once they're habits,
they're no longer things we think about or plan:
we do the wrong things,
again and again,
not by choice or design but
- out of habit...

This Lent, Lord, I pray for your help
in breaking a bad habit or two that I have...

What I'm asking for
is just a ten second warning
before I do something, again,
that I so often do
- out of habit...

Give me a 10 second warning
when one of my habits
(the bad kind, not the good kind)
is about to be triggered...

Give me a 10 second warning, Lord,
just enough time to reconsider,
begin again,
go another route,
try another way,
make a different plan
and stop before I speak or act:
give me just enough time
to make a change
in my bad habits' ways...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I use your name in vain
or that foul "expletive deleted..."

Give me a 10 second warning
before I gossip, spread a rumor
or ruin someone's reputation...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I loose my cool
and misdirect my anger once again...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I say Yes
when I should say No...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I say No
when I should say Yes...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I choose or judge
based on prejudice and bias...

Give me a 10 second warning
when I'm about to give up hope
out of anger and self-pity...

Give me a 10 second warning
when I'm about to cheat
on a test, a trust, a relationship...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I tell that kind of joke
or laugh when someone else does...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I start to take for granted
all my blessings and my gifts...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I put myself ahead of family
and others who count on my love...

Give me a 10 second warning
when I'm about to take what isn't mine
because I think it's owed to me...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I'm tempted to be silent
when I know that I should speak...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I'm tempted to speak
when I know I should be silent...

Give me a 10 second warning
when I'm about to veg out
rather than do what I really need to do...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I judge someone
on the basis of rumor, envy and jealousy...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I bend the truth and tell a lie
- to make myself look better...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I cheat my spouse, my job, my friend,
- before I cheat myself...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I use the Internet
to feed my lusty urge...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I eat or drink much more
than what I need, than what is healthy...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I indulge myself again
while others live in want and need...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I nurse a grudge
and fuel my jealousy and envy...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I tell myself again,
"I don't really need Confession..."

Give me a 10 second warning
before I entertain myself in ways
that waste my time, my days, my nights...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I tell myself,
"This habit's not that bad..."

Give me a 10 second warning
before I con myself and start to think
that my way's always right...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I put off prayer again
just like I did the day before...

Give me a 10 second warning
before I turn my mind, my heart, my face
away from you, my Lord, my God...

Give me a 10 second warning, Lord,
just enough time to reconsider,
begin again,
go another route,
try another way,
make a different plan
and stop before I speak or act:
give me just enough time
to make a change
in my bad habits' ways...