A Veterans Prayer

[ajusmc]

Walking in the Way of Jesus

Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

[ajusmc]

Father into your hands I commend my spirit. (Ps 31)

Lord Jesus, we remember how you suffered for us on the cross. The day that you walked your journey to Calvary. At times, our crosses seem so heavy and we feel that we will not be able to continue the journey. Yet, you witness for us the faithfulness in carrying our crosses and give us the strength to continue our journey in life. May we never forget what you have done for us. Amen.

[ajusmc]

Defend me, Lord, from all my foes; take up your arms and come swiftly to my aid for you have the power to save me. (Ps. 34)

Lord Jesus, we come before you this day mindful of your presence in our lives. We are in need of your loving and gentle guidance to help us live more faithfully what we are called to live. May we take time this week to reflect on the precious gift of our faith and to give you thanks for the many ways you have touched our lives. Amen.

[ajusmc]

Easter Prayer for Renewal

Lord, send me a surprise.
One that catches me off guard
and makes me wonder.
Like Easter.

Send me a resurrection
when everything looks dead and buried.
Send me light
when the night seems too long.

Send me spring
when the cold and frozen season
seems endless.

Send me an idea
when my mind is empty.
Send me a thing to do
when I am just waiting around.

Send me a new friend
when I am alone.
Send me peace
when I'm afraid.

Send me a future
when it looks hopeless.
Send me Your resurrection
when I die, Jesus.


- Rev. Dr. Herbert Brokering

[ajusmc]

Lord, be my rock of safety, the stronghold that saves me. For the honor of your name lead me and save me.

Lord, help us to live in your presence. May we be guided by your examples of faith and trust so that we may live more freely in your loving presence. Amen

[ajusmc]

For ever I will sing of the goodness of the Lord. Ps. 89

Lord Jesus, as we reflect on the power of your resurrection, may we grow in faith to receive your goodness in life. May we always open our hearts and minds to feel and hear the goodness in our lives and take time each day to give you praise . Amen.

[ajusmc]

Lord send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth. (Ps 104)

Lord Jesus, we rejoice in the gift of the Spirit that you have given to us in our lives. We come before you asking you to send us your Spirit and to renew the face of the earth. May we feel your Spirit in our lives and may your Spirit guide and direct us in our journey to the Father. Amen.

[ajusmc]

Prayer for Those Searching for God

O Lord my God,
Teach my heart this day where and how to see you,
Where and how to find you.
You have made me and remade me,
And you have bestowed on me
All the good things I possess,
And still I do not know you.
I have not yet done that
For which I was made.
Teach me to seek you,
For I cannot seek you
Unless you teach me,
Or find you
Unless you show yourself to me.
Let me seek you in my desire,
Let me desire you in my seeking.
Let me find you by loving you,
Let me love you when I find you.

- St. Anselm

[ajusmc]

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you. (Ps 33)

Lord Jesus, we are so aware of your mercy in our lives. Yet there are times, when we struggle to trust in the plans that you have for us. We strive to grow in this trust and to place our lives into your hands. Help us, this day, to turn towards you and place our lives truly into your hands and trust in your will for us. Amen.

[ajusmc]

God, come to my help. Lord, quickly give me assistance. You are the one who helps me and sets me free: Lord, do not be long in coming. (Ps 69)

God our Father, we bring before you our life which is blessed with the giftedness that flows from you. May we continue to share our giftedness with those whom we encounter in our journey in life and may we always remember that without you we are nothing. Amen.

[ajusmc]

In my justice I shall see your face, O Lord; when your glory appears, my joy will be full. (Ps 16)

Lord Jesus, we hear in the psalm that in your justice we shall see your face. Help us this day to see you in those whom we meet in our work, our friends and our family members. Help us to respond to them with love especially when we feel betrayed, when there is a lack of trust present and when we sense there is little hope in getting an honest response from them. Help us to generate a more welcoming atmosphere so all of us can grow in our love for you and be able to see you more clearly in those whom we encounter this day. Amen.

[ajusmc]

Prayer for Those Seeking Meaning

Eternal Wisdom,
source of life and grace,
bless all who are seeking
the meaning of life.
Endow them with courage
to risk the unknown.
Bless them with wonder
to be still and rejoice.
Anoint them with wisdom
to understand the potential
of their dreams.
Blessed is your name,
now and evermore. Amen.

- Vienna Cobb Anderson

[ajusmc]

Christ now raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has power over him. Alleluia! (Rom 6)

Lord Jesus, you were obedient, even to death on a cross. We pray for the courage and strength to follow in your footsteps and to come to you when in need of your healing presence. We hunger for the joy that you give us in this Easter Season. Amen.

[ajusmc]

The Lord is my light and my salvation. (Ps 27)

God our Father, by the waters of baptism you give new life to the faithful. We come before you in awe of your presence in our life and in the beauty of life that surrounds us. May we look at our lives as precious gifts and may we grow in our respect for all of life that is around us. Amen.

[ajusmc]

Prayer for Spring

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in midair stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
The which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.

- Robert Frost

[ajusmc]

Thank You for My Life


Dear God, thank you for my life on this earth, however challenging or not.

Thank you for giving me free will to love and be loved, to make my own decisions, to learn from my mistakes, to laugh when I am happy, to cry when I am sad.

Thank you for my family, my friends, my pets, my colleagues, and for every other living creature I meet along my journey.

Thank you for giving me strength to overcome adversity, to do what's right for the benefit of the greater good, to rise above negativity.

Thank you for giving me hope for an end to world suffering, pain, and war, for a beginning of a world filled with light and everlasting love.

- Debbie Gisonni

[ajusmc]

My soul is longing and pining for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. (Ps 84)

Lord Jesus, as the words in the psalm reveal, we are longing and pining to be in the courts of the Lord. Through your grace flowing through our lives, may we be ready to enter your courts singing for joy and thanksgiving for your presence. Amen.

[ajusmc]

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy; praise the glory of his name; proclaim his glorious praise, alleluia! (Ps 65)

God our Father, may we look forward with hope to our resurrection, for you have made us your sons and daughters, and have restored the joy of our youth. May we bear witness to this resurrection in all that we do and in who we are. Amen.

[ajusmc]

The Blessing of Unanswered Prayers

I asked for strength that I might achieve;
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy;
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I had asked for,
but eveything that I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered;
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

- Unknown Confederate soldier

[ajusmc]

Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is despair, hope,
Where there is darkness, light,
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much
seek to be consoled as to console,
not so much to be understood as to understand,
not so much to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we awake to eternal life.

- St. Francis of Assisi

[ajusmc]

Make Me Strong in Spirit

Make me strong in spirit,
Courageous in action,
Gentle of heart,

Let me act in wisdom,
Conquer my fear and doubt,
Discover my own hidden gifts,

Meet others with compassion,
Be a source of healing energies,
And face each day with hope and joy.

- Abby Willowroot

[ajusmc]

The Lord has been my strength; he has led me into freedom. He saved me because he loves me. (Ps 17)

Lord, at this time in our lives we are in such need of your guidance to remain faithful to following you in this journey that we walk. The world events and church situations have been very painful for us. We are in need of your peace and your mercy so that we may continue to respond with hope to the events and situations that we face. Amen.

[ajusmc]

Lord, you rescue me from raging enemies, you lift me up above my attackers, you deliver me from violent men. (Ps 17)

God of mercy, we call on you to hear our prayers this day. We ask that you enlighten our minds and give peace to our hearts, as we strive to follow you in doing good deeds. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

[ajusmc]

Prayer of Thanks


Throughout all generations we will render thanks unto Thee
And declare Thy praise,
Evening, morning, and noon,
For our lives which are in Thy care,
For our souls which are in Thy keeping
For thy miracles which we witness daily,
And for Thy wondrous deeds and blessings toward us at all times.

[ajusmc]

Think on These Things

Whatsoever things are true,
Whatsoever things are honorable,
Whatsoever things are just,
Whatsoever things are pure,
Whatsoever things are lovely,
Whatsoever things are of good report;
If there be any virtue,
And if there be any praise,
Think on these things.

- Philippians 4