From the category archives:

prayer

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon all your faithful people your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know my necessities before I ask and my ignorance in asking: Have compassion on my weakness, and mercifully give me those things which for my unworthiness I dare not, and for my blindness I cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

“Lord, make me,” or prayers, desire, effort, and responsibility

June 25, 2008

Okay, I couldn’t not write about this week’s prayer, specifically the first part:

Lord, make me have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name

While I respect the desire expressed in this prayer, I confess that I’m troubled by make me each time I read it. We recently sang a song at church that expressed a similar […]

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“The Prayer Appointed for the Week”

June 10, 2008

One of the things I love about The Divine Hours is that each of the three prayers for the day–morning, midday, and evening–includes “The Prayer Appointed for the Week.” These have been adapted from The Book of Common Prayer, and even after a couple of years of using The Divine Hours, I continue to be […]

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“Keep My Heart”

April 14, 2006

This song has been on my mind for a while this morning; it’s a beautiful prayer:

Keep my heart tender before You, Lord
Able to hear Your voice and follow
Keep my heart yearning to know You more
Eager to hear Your word and obey
Keep my heart flowing in Your direction, Lord
Keep my heart, Holy Light,
So innocent and undefiled
King of Love, Lord Most High
So beautiful and bright, Morning Star
Keep my heart
(Paul Baloche, *God of Wonders*)

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“Refiner’s Fire”

September 30, 2005

Purify my heart let me be as gold
And precious silver
Purify my heart let me be as gold
Pure gold…

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