NIGHT PRAYER: Monday 10/14

 

As you know, I'm in the hospital for a few days.  A FaceBook friend happened to post these words from Philippians 4:4-7 and they have been part of my prayer while my the medical folks poke me to study my blood. In my heart, these are among the most beautiful, consoling and challenging words in the whole of the scriptures!

I want to rejoice, Lord - always!

I’d so much rather rejoice than weep,

    to be glad in you 

        than sad in my trials and troubles…

Yes, I'd like to rejoice always but my soul's desire for joy

    doesn’t always match what my heart can muster

especially when my soul's chock full

        of anxiety, worry, misgivings and fear... 

But I see, when I read more carefully

    that I’m called to rejoice in you,  

        to find my joy in you,

    especially when I find it hard

        to find any joy within myself...

The joy you promise, Lord, 

    the joy you generously offer,
        lies deep in you, outside my trials;
it's the joy that comes when I let go 
   the troubles I hold and cling to,

the joy of taking a step beyond

    to the peace that rests, alone, in you...

Visit my heart with the joy that’s yours,

   the joy that only you can give,

        the joy that won't be quelled by fear,

the joy whose source runs deeper by far

    than my deepest wound or grief,

the joy that springs and flows from depths 

    my heart has yet to explore...

Find for me a joy, O Lord, 

    greater than any loss I've known,
deeper than all my worries and fears,
    a muscular joy to strengthen me 

        in my weakness, frail and flawed...

Grant me a joy that survives my moods

    and my roller coaster emotions,

my thin skin and stubborn ego

    my pride and my self-pity...

In the quiet of my prayer tonight, Lord,

   help me see the ways I ward off joy

and prefer instead the company

    of the misery I often befriend...

 

Turn my heart around and up-side-down

    'til it opens to every day's simple joy,
the joy you shower from heaven

    and pour down like rain from your hand...

When my heart is cloudy and dry, Lord,
   plant seeds of sweet joy in my soul
to blossom in times when all my joy
    depends upon you alone...

 

When I lose my hope of finding joy 

   let your Spirit fan its embers to flame

warming my heart to trust anew 

   that while weeping may last 

        through the shadows of night,

     with the morning your joy will return...

I pray for a joy that lasts, Lord:
    a joy that suffers, endures and remains,

 a joy that freely survives,

    strong, deep, whole and intact,

       whatever may come my way...

In this quiet time of night prayer, Lord,

   refresh my desire, my thirst for joy;

help me find my joy in being still,

   the joy of knowing you’re my God

        and will be ever more...

 

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.

 

Do Not Be Anxious by Teresa Thomas

 

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Do not be anxious about anything

but in every situation by your prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God. 

And the peace of God

which transcends all understanding

shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ

and the peace of God 

which transcends all understanding

shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ 

Do not be anxious about anything

but in every situation by your prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.

 

 

 

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