Thankful for Preserved Prayers

Although written prayers have been a part of church fabric throughout its history, I have never really used many, other than The Lord’s Prayer, until fairly recently. 

But now I find that prayers recorded by those who have experienced much deeper walks and who have preceded me in the faith can do a lot to prepare my own heart for my personal communication with the Father. I am believing that the Holy Spirit can use the preserved prayers of others as a means of translating my “inarticulate groans” into phrases that express the longings of my heart.

I have been using a book compiled by Rueben Job this year in my daily devotions. ( I have referenced him in the past and actually made a gift available of his book LISTEN: PRAYING IN A NOISY WORLD ). The book I am using now is WHEN YOU PRAY.

I have been especially thankful for this prayer, and have found it calming during the recent turbulent times as I prepared for my own study…especially during my alone times early along the beach.

Creator God, author of all that is…

Deepen my awareness of your mighty acts

and your constant presence with me

every moment of my existence.

Invade my mind, senses, and heart

because I want to know you

and remember who you are

with every breath I take.

Amen.

 …from WHEN YOU PRAY  Rueben Job;  page 28.

I do so need reminding that God is present with me every moment. And, I’m not even sure that I can truthfully say that I want to remember who God is with every breath that I take…but I do want to desire that.

WHEN YOU PRAY is a collection of 52 weeks of directed prayer times.  Not trying to sell anything, but I have found it valuable for structuring my quiet times…to remove a lot of distraction…although you probably never struggle with that.  It is near the middle of July and I am still on week 16.  I am a slow processor. 

I also continue to find the words of a prayer song written some years ago by my friend Lance Stafford of Cloverton something that I prayerfully sing along with over and over at the beach. I have gotten some strange looks from beach walkers…due to the dissonant sounds of my vocals. I guess my singing is particularly distressing when all the real music recorded by Cloverton is just going into my ears!

God, help me to be
Closer to You Lord so I am farther from me. 

And may Your kingdom be the only one that I seek, oh God.

And God, help me to see

That everything was good when You created all things. 

Now let me see with those same eyes that created me, oh God.

God, help me believe
When everything around me points to uncertainty,

Remind me of the hope of You that’s living in me, oh God.

And God, help me to shine

Like stars up in the universe that’s Yours and not mine.

And fill me with Your light so that the darkness will hide, oh God.

God, help me to give
Everything to You that I’m unable to give.

And make my life the life I’ve been created to live, oh God.

And God, help me to go. And follow where You lead me so all nations will know

The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of this world Oh God, my God.

Hallelujah. Amen.

GOD, HELP ME TO BE  Lance Stafford; Cloverton

You may or may not find written prayers helpful in your daily communication with our Father.  I just wanted to share … I have found that, although my exact circumstances are unique and deserve my unique expression, the prayers of others help to silence my mind and prepare my soul to accept God’s words for me in the stillness.

I think I have published the link to this song before. Forgive me, but it is high on my playlist and goes especially well with the sound of waves breaking on the shore in the early morning hours.

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