On Sundays, Night Prayer will take it's lead from some element of the day's liturgy. Tonight we pray from today's Psalm refrain: If today you hear his voice, harden not your heart...
If tonight I hear your voice, Lord,
let me harden not my heart...
I do listen, Lord.
Especially when I stop to pray:
I listen for your voice...
I strain to hear your voice,
to hear a word of your wisdom and counsel,
your consolation and compassion…
If tonight I hear your voice, Lord,
let me harden not my heart...I trust that you speak to me in the stillness,
that you call me by name,
and though my ears may not hear you,
I pray my heart does,
in this quiet place and time...
In my prayer I find a respite
from the noise that fills my day
and I believe I may hear more
in the silence of the night
than in a thousand words by day...
If tonight I hear your voice, Lord,
let me harden not my heart... Could it be, Lord,
that the first word you speak to me is
- the silence?
And if it is,
give me patience to take more time
to ponder, to wonder, to listen to
what I hear in the silence,
what I hear from you,
what echoes in my mind and heart...
If tonight I hear your voice, Lord,
let me harden not my heart...
The silence breathes your presence, Lord,
like an old friend whose quiet company
speaks volumes more than any conversation…
But there are days and nights, Lord,
when I need a word,
when I need to hear a word from you,
when I need to hear the sound of your voice...
If tonight I hear your voice, Lord,
let me harden not my heart...
Speak to me, Lord,
and when you speak to me
open my heart
to hear you,
open my soul
and let your word echo within me,
open my mind
to your wisdom and counsel,
open wide whatever closes me off
to your whispering voice
and the word you speak to me...
If tonight I hear your voice, Lord,
let me harden not my heart...
And when I hear a word from you,
help me test its truth, and even more,
help me trust it comes from you
and not from me...
When I listen for your voice in scripture
help me find a verse, a phrase, a word
that hits home, touches my soul, lights up my mind
- as though you spoke it just for me...
Help me listen for your voice, your message
in what I hear from those around me,
in what I hear in the church's prayer,
in what I hear from those who truly care for me...
Help me listen for your word
in what I read and study,
in how the seasons change and turn
and in any thing of beauty
that appears along my path...
If tonight I hear your voice, Lord,
let me harden not my heart...
Help me listen for the word of challenge
you might speak:
a word to stand me up, hold me to account,
and draw me closer to you
and to my neighbors and their needs...
Whether I hear your voice or not
I know you speak peace, Lord:
surely peace is on your lips each time
you break the silence with your voice
and bless my ears with its sweet sound...
If tonight I hear your voice, Lord,
let me harden not my heart...
Your voice speaks peace and courage;
pardon and forgiveness;
hope and healing:
your words are layered in mercy,
linked from your lips to my heart by love
calling me by my own name...
Let me hear your voice, Lord,
if only in the silence,
let my waiting for your word
not be in vain...
In this moment of prayer let my heart be quiet:
quiet enough to hear the silence speak,
still enough to hear your voice, O Lord...
If tonight I hear your voice, Lord,
let me harden not my heart...Speak, Lord, I love to listen to your voice.
See, Lord: here I am...
If tonight I hear your voice, Lord,
let me harden not my heart...
Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake
and watch over me while I sleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace...
Amen.
Speak, O Lord by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
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You are always a very special gift to us all!! Sincere thanks for ALL that you ALWAYS give of yourself in your very meaningful homilies! Ina
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