29th. January. 2022. Daily Devotion.
1 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Psalm 139:1-6
An old abba was asked what was necessary to do to be saved. He was sitting making rope. Without glancing up, he said, “You’re looking at it.” James Finley, a member of our Living School faculty, puts it this way: “This dance of infinite love is rhythmically playing itself out in the rhythms of our life standing up and sitting down, waking up and falling asleep. The rhythms of the day by day are the rhythms of love given to us as this inherently sacred nature of life itself.” Just as so many of the mystics have taught, doing what you’re doing with care, presence, and intention is a form of prayer, the very way to transformation and wholeness. There is no trick, no magic formula to becoming one with Reality. There is only living and, as you know, this is much harder than it first seems. Quoted by Fr Richard Rohr.
Father, teach me to live with an awareness of your presence and of the sacredness of this life which you have given to me. Amen
Good Morning Heavenly Father
Good Morning Heavenly Father, and thank You for the glory of the sun
And thank You for the health I have to get my duty done. I shall devote the hours of this golden day to You, by honouring Your Holy Name in everything I do.
I will pursue my daily art without complaint or fear and spend my every effort to be friendly and sincere. I know there have been many days that I have whiled away.
But this is one that I will try, to make Your special day.
And so once more, Good Morning Heavenly Father. And please depend on me
because I want to honour You for all eternity. Amen.
Defend us, O Lord, with your heavenly grace, that we may continue yours for ever and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more, until we come to your everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Book of Common Prayer (1552)
Prayer for a Worried Heart
Dear God, I come before You to lay my panic and anxiety at Your feet. When I’m crushed by my fears and worries, remind me of Your power and Your grace. Fill me with Your peace as I trust in You, and You alone. I know I can’t beat this on my own, but I also know that I have You, Lord, and You have already paid the ultimate price to carry my burdens. For this I thank you, Amen.
A Prayer for Grace to Lay Down Arms
Heavenly Father, there are people in this world who live to see others suffer. They take up arms to rattle the foundations of the earth. They seek to destroy and kill. Lord, faithfully change the hearts of the aggressive and bloodthirsty.
Make them lay down their arms, so that peace may prosper in all lands. Let Your grace become paramount. In Your mercy, hear this prayer. Amen.