One of my earliest memories is my mother tucking me into bed and reciting with me the classic children’s prayer:Now I lay me down to sleep,I pray the Lord my soul to keep.If I should die before I wake,I pray the Lord my soul to take.The origins of this prayer are unknown. However, the first printed edition was in Boston in 1737.I know there are several versions of this including a humorous one for single women:Now I lay me down to sleepI pray for a man who is not a creep…But I digress…As an adult I have a different bedtime prayer ritual, the Daily Examen.The Daily Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence and discern his direction for us. The Examen is an ancient practice in the Church that can help us see God’s hand at work in our whole experience. It originates with St. Ignatius. The simple steps of this prayer are:1. Quiet yourself. And allow yourself to relax into God’s loving arms. Some people imagine sitting on … [Read more...]
Praying with Scissors
Our moms told us, “Don’t run with scissors.” Teachers warned us, “Be careful playing with scissors.” But have you ever thought of praying with scissors?I held a pair of scissors in my hands while I prayed the other day.Lord, You invited me to tenderly think and pray with scissors. What are your lessons?I smile as I drift back to kindergarten. Written on my report card are these words: “Jean Anne needs more work with scissors.”HA! I flunked ‘scissors” in that grade. Funny, Lord, you grace me with a humorous memory to begin our prayer time with some joy. I guess I still "need more work with scissors."My fingers slowly traced the blades. The sharp edges reminded me of my harsh and prickly retorts to my family. Ouch that hurt them.Lord, what do you want me to cut out? What strings do I cling to that block me giving my full heart to You. Help me sever those ties with Your sacred snip.Even up my jagged edges, Lord. Trim the useless fat that clogs my life.Scissors can be wonderfully … [Read more...]
A Prayer by Joyce Rupp – Quote of the week
A Prayer to Be Free From Tizzies*Dear God,you who did not invent tizzies,be with me when I get caughtin the wild worrying of my mind,and the needless scurrying aroundin my fearful heart.Trip me up when I fret and stewso I can see the trap of tizzies,with their schemes to keep mebunched up in stress and strain.Let me fall headfirst into the truthof your never-ending presence,wrap your kind arms around meand calm my doubts and fears.Shout loudly in my spiritual earwhen my nerves get knotted,my mind feels cramped,and my stomach screams.It may be difficult,but do try to get my full attention,because tizzies are not healthy,and they definitely chase peaceout the front door of my heart.Dear God, you did not invent tizzies,I did,and only I can send them on their way,and I will,if you strengthen meto let go of my anxious holdon what is nonessential.---Joyce Rupp from The Out of the Ordinary*A tizzy is a "state of frenzied excitement or distraction, especially over some trivial matter" … [Read more...]
Breath Prayers
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the LORD. Psalm 150:6 Have you heard of “Breath Prayers?” Breath prayers are short prayers said in one breath. Simple, repetitive and surprisingly ancient. The breath prayer generally involves quietly repeating a chosen phrase for several minutes, allowing the prayer to take on the shape of one's breathing so that the words accompany every breath. Examples of common breath prayers are “In you, Lord, I put my trust,” “Help me understand your ways, Lord,” “Lord I am yours,” and “My Lord and my God.” The idea is to pick a meaningful phrase and repeat it until it becomes a part of your being. Perhaps the most famous breath prayer is the Jesus Prayer. This prayer goes like this: "Lord Jesus Christ" (while breathing in), "have mercy on me, a sinner" (while breathing out). This is done repeatedly until all is stilled within your heart. In the 19th century, an unknown Russian peasant told the story of his … [Read more...]
Autumn Feast
Lord, I enjoyed our meal together this morning.My eyes feasted on the seasonal smorgasbord surrounding me – Light bouncing through the crevices of the clouds, Patches of trees blazing with brilliant oranges, burnt browns, and deepening reds, Fog drifting gently across earthen sea.I drank in the beauty of geese rising in formation, Deer gleaning the harvested fields, Leaves dancing with the wind.Lord of the harvest, You express exquisite creativity in nature. This annual autumn feast reveals Your glory I am amazed and grateful that You prepare this fall feast for our enjoyment. And I think You, Lord, must take delight in this time of year also.****************************************************************************Fall is NOT my favorite time of year, but the morning I wrote this prayer I was overwhelmed by its beauty. Autumn reminds me of the cycle of life and that even as things appear to be dying, they are also becoming new again.What does fall show … [Read more...]
A Listening God – Lectio Divina
"I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray." Psalm 17:6 (NLT)Listen as I pray.Listen.I shake my head in disbelief that the God of the Universe, the One who created all things, controls all circumstances and is Above All – listens to little ol’ me.Important people, Lord, much more significant, speak to you. Why the Pope, the Bishops, and many walking a purer spiritual life need You to hear them.Yet You listen to me.Aren’t my prayers drowned out in the ocean of chatter from the world? Yet You listen to me.When I whine and complain, You listen with love.When I praise and burst with thankfulness, You listen with joy.When I shout in anger and frustration, You listen with patience.When I can’t find the words, You listen to my heart.Thank for listening Lord. May I be a better listener to You. … [Read more...]
Pondering Prayer
Jane Vennard wrote a paper, “Exploring a Life of Prayer” in December 1990. I reread this article the other day and still continue to unearth treasures from her writing. One of my deepest desires to is live a life of prayer and Vennard’s words helped me grow deeper. Vennard describes various types of prayers, including thought provoking questions. Her final questions lingered with me this week:* What is the easiest and most natural form of prayer for you?* What would be a realistic rhythm of prayer for you? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Would it be possible to schedule a yearly retreat?* Remember times you have wandered from your practice of prayer. What was the experience of being lost and then finding your way again?The easiest and most natural form of prayer for me is simple talking with God. I chat with Him all day – yes naturally I do all the talking and have had to intentionally work on the listening side. Paying attention to what God is saying to me is a lifelong lesson.I have … [Read more...]
When you don’t have the words to pray – Quote of the Week
“A grandfather was walking through his yard when he heard his granddaughter repeating the alphabet in a tone of voice that sounded like a prayer.He asked her what she was doing.The little girl explained, ‘I am praying, but I can’t think of exactly the right words, so I ‘m just saying all the letters and God will put them together for me, because He know what I’m thinking.’”Charles B. Vaughan … [Read more...]