NIGHT PRAYER: Wednesday 8/10

There's so much cruelty in the world all around me, Lord:

    so many cruel people doing cruel and vicious deeds

    with not a thought or a care for the victims

    of their inhumane brutality...

But tonight, Lord, I'm thinking about 

    cruelty by omission,

    cruelty by default,

the cruelty of simply failing to care for others,

    failing to care about others,

failing to care for

    my family, my friends and total strangers,

    for neighbors and enemies alike, both near and far...

This cruelty of failing to care is no venial sin, Lord,

    for when I fail to care, I fail to love

    and when I fail to love I sin against you

        and your word, your command, your wisdom

        and your love for us all... 

 

I don't think of myself as a cruel person, Lord:

    I don't set out to be cruel to others

    I don't harbor cruel thoughts or scheme cruel plans

but I do fail in caring for others, and as I've already noted,

    failing to care for my brother or sister is no venial sin...

 

I fail to care for others, Lord,

    when I'm too busy, so busy

        that I fail to see my neighbor's need...

 

I fail to care about others when I'm preoccupied

    with resentments and grudges I bear against them...

 

When I fail to care for others, Lord, 

    through my laziness and indifference,

    my self-satisfaction and sense of entitlement,

    my prejudice, bigotry and bias, 

    my elitism, my sense of entitlement,

    my judgmental thoughts and my intolerance,

when I fail in these and other ways

    to generously care for others' needs

it's then I'm cruel, Lord,

    by omission, default and temperament...

You never default on your care for me, Lord,

    you never fail to be there with me and for me

        and to provide for what I truly need...

 

Give me a heart to repent, Lord,

    for the times I've failed to care

        and thus the times when I've been cruel...

 

 Give me a caring heart, Lord,

    filled with loving thoughts and plans

    filled with generous words and deeds,

    filled with peace to share with those 

        for whom I've often failed to care...

Help me care for others, Lord,

    as you always care for me...

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.

 

I love this song - just found it this afternoon!

It delivers a truth we all need SO much to know,

that Jesus cares for each of us...

Whatever your burdens tonight, 

bring them to this song

and tomorrow, let's all reach out

to care for those around us... 

 

Jesus Cares by Luther Barnes

 

If a widget doesn't appear below, click here!

 

 

 

Jesus cares when I'm burdened
Yes He cares when I'm all alone
Yes He cares when I'm in misery
Oh, He cares, He cares for me
And He cares when I'm discouraged
He's concerned, so earnestly
Yes I know, I know Jesus cares
He cares for me, oh yes He does

 

Jesus cares when I'm in sorrow
When my pain is so hard to bear
And He cares about my situation
It's so good to know He's always there
When my days are dark as night
He'll be there to make it alright
Yes I know, I know Jesus cares
He cares for me

 

Oh, yes I know (I know He cares)
That He cares (I know He cares)
For me cares (He cares for me)
Yes He does (He cares for me)
Said I know (I know He cares)
That He cares (I know He cares)
For me (cares for me)
Oh yes He does (cares for me)

 
Sometimes I'm up
Sometimes I'm down
I'm almost level
To the ground
But I know (I know He cares)
That He cares (I know He cares)
For me (I know He cares for me)

 

Oh I know (I know He cares)
That He cares (I know He cares)
For me (cares for me)
Thank you Jesus (cares for me)
I know (I know He cares)
That Jesus cares (I know He cares)
For me (cares for me)
Oh yes He does (cares for me)

 
When my friends
Don't understand
After I've done
The best I can
Said I know (I know He cares)
Jesus cares (I know He cares)
For me (I know He cares for me)

 

Jesus cares when I'm in sorrow
When my pain is so hard to bear
And He cares about my situation
It's good to know He's always there
When my days are dark as night
He'll be there to make it all right
I'm glad to know Jesus cares
For me

 

Oh I know (I know He cares)
That He cares (I know He cares)
For me (cares for me)
And I'm glad about it (cares for me)
I know (I know He cares)
I know that Jesus cares (I know He cares)
For me (cares for me)
Yes, yeah, yes (cares for me)

 
When I'm down
To my last dime
He'll step in
Right on time
Because I know (I know He cares)
That He cares (I know He cares)
I know (I know He cares)
That He cares (I know He cares)
I'm not worried (I know He cares)
About one thing (I know He cares)
Because I know (I know He cares)
He holds my hand (I know He cares)
I know (I know He cares)
That He cares (I know He cares)
Yes I know (I know He cares)
Jesus cares (I know He cares)\

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