Image: George Mendoza
Rejoice always!
Pray without ceasing!
In all circumstance give thanks!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Pray without ceasing!
In all circumstance give thanks!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Good morning, good God!
You ask me to rejoice - in good times and in bad.
You ask me to pray - all the time.
You ask me to be grateful - no matter what.
You ask a lot, Lord, so, in turn,
I'll try to offer a lot this Monday morning...
I'll try to offer a lot this Monday morning...
I offer you my desire
to rejoice even when times are tough...
I ask you to stir up within me:
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 even my deepest grief...
I desire a joy greater than any loss I've known,
deeper than all my wounds
and stronger than all my fears...
Give me a joy that survives
my moods, my feelings,
my ego and my thin skin...
I pray for a joy that lasts,
endures, suffers through
and comes out on the other side
whole, true and intact...
When my heart is dry and my soul cloudy,
plant within me, Lord, seeds of joy
to blossom in seasons when my happiness
depends upon you alone...
I offer you my desire, Lord,
to know, to sense, to respond
to every nudge of your Spirit
prompting me to pray...
When I'm too tired or too busy,
when I'm angry or disappointed,
when I'm forgetful or self-centered,
just plain foolish or too lazy to pray,
send your Spirit to wake me up,
to turn my heart around,
to give me the wisdom to turn to you in prayer...
Help me to pray, Lord,
and help me to trust in my prayer,
to trust that you hear my prayer
even when my words are few or confused
or don't sound "holy" enough for me...
Help me trust that just my desire to pray
is plenty holy enough for you
and that you love to hear my prayer
even when it's silent, without words,
without a sound...
When my heart is dry and my soul cloudy,
plant within me, Lord, seeds of prayer
to blossom in seasons when my serenity
depends on you alone...
I offer you my desire, Lord,
to thank you for all you've given me:
especially when I'm thinking, when I'm feeling
that you haven't given me enough
or haven't given me what I need,
or haven't given me what I want...
Open my eyes, Lord, to all the blessings
I've received from your hand:
the blessing of life and the blessing of freedom;
the blessings of a place to live, water to drink,
food to eat and friends to love;
the blessings of your mercy, your grace,
your Word and even yourself
in the sacrament of the table
where we gather to give you thanks...
Free me of envy, Lord:
make me grateful for what I have
and generous in sharing my bounty
with those who have so much less than I...
When my heart is dry and my soul cloudy,
plant within me, Lord, seeds of gratefulness
to blossom in seasons when all I truly need
comes from you alone...
I offer you my desire, Lord,
to rejoice always,
to pray without ceasing
and to give thanks in all circumstances...
Remind me of all the joy you've given me, Lord:
help me hold those memories in prayer,
and give me a heart grateful
for all you've given and all you promise me...
Hear my prayer this Monday Advent morning, Lord,
this day and all this week...
than even my deepest grief...
I desire a joy greater than any loss I've known,
deeper than all my wounds
and stronger than all my fears...
Give me a joy that survives
my moods, my feelings,
my ego and my thin skin...
I pray for a joy that lasts,
endures, suffers through
and comes out on the other side
whole, true and intact...
When my heart is dry and my soul cloudy,
plant within me, Lord, seeds of joy
to blossom in seasons when my happiness
depends upon you alone...
I offer you my desire, Lord,
to know, to sense, to respond
to every nudge of your Spirit
prompting me to pray...
When I'm too tired or too busy,
when I'm angry or disappointed,
when I'm forgetful or self-centered,
just plain foolish or too lazy to pray,
send your Spirit to wake me up,
to turn my heart around,
to give me the wisdom to turn to you in prayer...
Help me to pray, Lord,
and help me to trust in my prayer,
to trust that you hear my prayer
even when my words are few or confused
or don't sound "holy" enough for me...
Help me trust that just my desire to pray
is plenty holy enough for you
and that you love to hear my prayer
even when it's silent, without words,
without a sound...
When my heart is dry and my soul cloudy,
plant within me, Lord, seeds of prayer
to blossom in seasons when my serenity
depends on you alone...
I offer you my desire, Lord,
to thank you for all you've given me:
especially when I'm thinking, when I'm feeling
that you haven't given me enough
or haven't given me what I need,
or haven't given me what I want...
Open my eyes, Lord, to all the blessings
I've received from your hand:
the blessing of life and the blessing of freedom;
the blessings of a place to live, water to drink,
food to eat and friends to love;
the blessings of your mercy, your grace,
your Word and even yourself
in the sacrament of the table
where we gather to give you thanks...
Free me of envy, Lord:
make me grateful for what I have
and generous in sharing my bounty
with those who have so much less than I...
When my heart is dry and my soul cloudy,
plant within me, Lord, seeds of gratefulness
to blossom in seasons when all I truly need
comes from you alone...
I offer you my desire, Lord,
to rejoice always,
to pray without ceasing
and to give thanks in all circumstances...
Remind me of all the joy you've given me, Lord:
help me hold those memories in prayer,
and give me a heart grateful
for all you've given and all you promise me...
Hear my prayer this Monday Advent morning, Lord,
this day and all this week...
Amen.
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I read this yesterday and it was so what I needed...I will be praying it for many days/weeks to come. I have also shared it with a dear friend whose 18 year old daughter just had a cancer relapse after only a few short months being cancer free. Thank you...
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