Today's Prayer

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To Do What Needs to Be Done

Lord, here's my to-do list this morning. Some items are important and need attention, some less so. Help me to do what needs to be done today. And help me to see what opportunities may present themselves that aren't on...

For Summer Safety

Today's Prayer invites you to pray with us during the next week for protection for the US and other target countries during the summer, which US government officials see as an appealing time to terrorists.

Christmas Holidays

Lord, thank you for the Christmas holiday, as a time of joy and feasting with friends and family. We ask especially that you provide peace to those stranded in their travels to be with family, cheer those in harm's way...

Halfway Through the Year

Lord, we're halfway through the year. Thank you for the days, months, and seasons to mark time. Forgive me the time I've wasted. Help me to make use of today for your glory, to make plans for tomorrow for your...

Consistent

Lord of constancy, your hand upholds the universe without fail, your eyes continually roam the earth to care for your creation. I, too, am consistent. I do it every day. I may not observe the best times nor make the...

Checks and Balances

Eternal God who knows the right time for everything, it's end of the month, end of the year. Our budget is blown, seems like the paychecks never bring the account back into balance. I want to provide for my family,...

Separating self from work

O God, you are the Eternal One, Yahweh, Jehovah, the only Four-Letter Word, however it may be written or pronounced, but we get the idea! You were, and are, and ever will be. You are the God who Is. The...

A Message

Lord, I have a message today. Good news and bad news. The bad news is what we have done. The good, what you did in Christ and do in your Holy Spirit. Visitor's Day. Put a visitor with an open...

Rented Space

Lord, our houses are so full, we're renting space to store our extra stuff. And that's what it is -- stuff! Every room overflowing with clothing, accessories, trophies, bric-a-brac, gadgets, stuffed animals, bats and balls. We're the packrats of the...

To be a man

Lord, the politically correct world wants to feminize us all. Get in touch with our feelings, acknowledge our effeminate side. (I grant that I don't always properly deal with the emotions swept under the surface.) And then there are those...

Out of pocket

Lord, I have to move this week. My office space is being renovated, so I have to pack up everything and remove my books and equipment so the people can work. And in a couple weeks, I have to move...

Residency

Lord, I want, more than anything else in this world, for you to live in my life. In this midst of all the requests, of all the activities, I want this one to be a "sticky," staying right up there...

Under My Nose

Heavenly Father, you are the surround-abound God! You circle us with so many wonderful things. Our cup runs over, and it seems our cup gets bigger every year! But you keep the free refills coming. And how many times am...

The Needy

Lord, surrounded by abundance I don't often think of poverty. My eyes glide past the needy, and when I see the down-and-out I usually cop out by thinking, "Get a job!" Make me stop and extend a hand, help in...

I Want

God of all desire, I want what I want, but I discover it doesn't satisfy. I want what 'they' want, and learn they change their desires by the time it gets around to me. I want what the image shows...

I'll Fix It

Lord God who keeps the universe in place, you spoke and the worlds were created. By your attention, the earth continues to serve as our training ground for eternity. All maintains its place under your watchful eye. From childhood, Lord,...

Giving up the grouch

Father, you saved the best for your children. Sometimes we come home from work and, having given our best at the office or plant, drop our guard and release the gripes and grouchiness that built up during the day. We...

Marriage on the rocks

God of faithfulness, so many people's marriages are power struggles, cat-and-dog fights, the butting of rams' heads, a constant frustration and embarassment. Many have given up on their vows, either abandoning the relationship officially or by sleeping in different beds...

Certainty

Lord who never fails, some people "know" only that they can know nothing. Others think they know one moral absolute: impose no restrictions on others. The skeptic reigns, the doubter, cheered. The world is awash in a tsunami of doubt....

It's a lie!

God who cannot lie, the world tells us the carnal lifestyle is fun, with no regrets, no pain, no bad side effects. Pure pleasure, intense enjoyment, immediate gratification, prolonged euforia. It's a lie, lie, lie, O Lord! May we see...

Fearing you

Holy and majestic Lord, who can disregard you and live? Who can despise the power of your word and survive? Men have approached you carelessly and discovered your wrath. Priests, prophets, and saints let down their guard in observing your...

Feeling sorry

Lord, you never felt sorry for a single soul. You showed compassion, as also our Lord Jesus Christ was moved to help the needy. But we often let our feeling sorry for others replace mercy, for passive pity is easier...

To know and be known

God of the Word, how little we know of you! Our finite minds, so limited by our senses, are poorly equipped to comprehend you. Or so we think. In every way, you give testimony to yourself, to your existence, to...

Tired of business as usual

Lord of the universe, the daily grind, the business rush, the push for profits -- there's no end in sight. The slow get shoved aside; the old, retired; the unproductive, let go. Everyone is looking over his shoulder. We confess,...

No spiritual express lane

Lord, I hate waiting in lines at banks, stores, and government offices. I want to get my business done and go on to my next task. It seems such a waste of precious time having to stand in line, with...

Sovereignty

Lord God eternal, you are supreme over all. In our free will, which you gave us in love, we forget that you have all authority and power. We think we can decide, do, plan, determine, resolve. We are so limited,...

Going through the motions

Lord, you want people who worship and serve in spirit and in truth. Keep me from just going through the motions, from being mechanical in my devotion, from obeying without the heart. I want to obey from the heart, with...

Today's prayer: Going through the motions

Lord, you want people who worship and serve in spirit and in truth. Keep me from just going through the motions, from being mechanical in my devotion, from obeying without the heart. I want to obey from the heart, with...

Pleasure in forgiveness

Loving God, you take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but delight in forgiving and showing love to those few who abandon sin. While the world thinks of pleasure in terms of personal satisfaction, your concept of pleasure...

Today's prayer: God's party

Lord of all joy, the world thinks it has a corner on partying and happy times. Revelers pull out the stops to enjoy life to its ultimate. But the next day, or the next week, the party's over, and reality...

No reason to complain

Lord of all goodness and generosity, how often I open my mouth to complain of what I don't like! Before your faithfulness, heavenly Father, I repent of my irritability, childishness, and selfishness. Make every word of mine a word of...

I hate shaving

Lord God who is spirit, you know how much I hate to shave every morning. Scraping off the stubble from my face irritates more than my skin! Yet, and yet, how many handicapped would enjoy doing those simple movements! And...