NIGHT PRAYER: Ash Wednesday

Whatcha' got in mind, Lord?

What's your plan?

What are you going to do in my life this Lent?

Got some changes in store for me?

Some growing you want me to do?

Some unfinished business I need to wrap up?

Something new I need to begin?

 

I know I'm a work in progress, Lord,

and I know I'm your work in progress

so there's always more to do,

more to learn,

more to change,

more to give

and more to receive...

And I know that Lent has a way

of opening up my mind and my heart

and that you'll take advantage of every chance

to move me, lead me, guide me always closer

to becoming the person 

you made and call me to be...

 

I don't know where you're leading me,

I'm not sure where we're going, Lord,

but I trust you know the path

and desire nothing but my peace:

    so I place my hand in yours this Lent

    and say, "Show me the way!"

And I pray for the grace

to follow where you lead me...

Protect me as I walk your path

and watch over me while I sleep, Lord,

that awake, I might keep watch with you

and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

(I can't think of a better song for us to pray as we set out on our Lenten journey. These lyrics are a marvelous mixture of the psalms and a prayer of Thomas Merton (see below the lyrics) - all leading us to trust in  the Lord and his plan for us in these holy 40 days...

 

I Will Lift Up My Eyes by Tony Alonso

 

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It is time for me to move from my shelter of safety

to sail as a pilgrim over the waves of the sea

It is time to be still and to seek the son of Mary

time to rest, time to leave behind my fears

 

And I will not fear the storm though it rages around me

for slowly I am learning to place my trust in you,

to forgive every hurt and to loosen every burden

to let go and to follow where you lead

 

I will lift my eyes to the mountains

from where shall come my help

My help shall come from the Lord

so I'll walk in the light of the path set before me

for I know your love will show me the way

 

Though I know you have prepared a path for me to follow

I'll never know for certain that I follow where you lead

Still I trust that my desire to please you will guide me

and I trust that you will keep me from harm

 

I may stumble, I may fall and get lost on the journey

and my path will surely lead me 

through the shadow of death

Yet I will not fear the storm for you are ever with me

never leaving me to face my fears alone

 

Prayer of Thomas Merton

 

My Lord God,

    I have no idea where I am going. 

    I do not see the road ahead of me. 

    I cannot know for certain where it will end.

 

Nor do I really know myself 

    and the fact that I think I am following your will 

    does not mean that I am actually doing so.

 

But I believe that the desire to please you 

    does in fact please you.

 

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. 

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

 

And I know that if I do this 

    you will lead me by the right road, 

    though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore I will trust you always

    though I may seem to be lost

    and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear 

    for you are ever with me

    and you will not leave me to face my perils alone.

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