PRAYERS OF A LIFE WITHOUT LACK

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OPENING PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, 
We are so thankful to you that you have said, 
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

We are thankful for the ease with which you walked upon this earth, the generosity and kindness you showed to people, the devotion with which you cared for those who were out of the way and in trouble, the extent to which you even loved your enemies and laid your life down for them. 

We are so thankful to believe that this is a life for us, a life without lack, a life of sufficiency. 
It’s so clear in you, the sufficiency of the Father and the fullness of life that was poured through you, and we’re so thankful that you have promised that same love, that same life, that same joy, that same power for us. 

Lord, slip up on us today.
Get past our defenses, our worries, our concerns.
Gently open our souls, and speak your Word into them.
We believe you want to do it, and we wait for you to do it now.

In your name, amen.

PSALM 23 PRAYER

The Lord is my Shepherd, I have life without lack.
In his green pastures I’ve eaten my fill so I lie down.

At his still waters my thirst is satisfied.
He heals and reintegrates my broken depths in his eternal life
so I can walk in paths of righteousness on his behalf.

Even though I go through loss, hunger, disease, aging, and death
I will fear no evil because you Jesus are with me.
Your strong rod and protective staff put me at liberty.

Your abundant provision is a feast for me so I’m happy to share with my enemies.
You give me hot showers and warm fluffy towels, joyful experiences and deep relationships,
to make me feel clean, special, and powerful.
My cup runs over so I can be generous without ever running out. 

Surely this world is a perfectly safe place for me to be
Because I dwell and abide with God in the fullness of his life in the Kingdom of the Heavens forever. 

CLOSING PRAYER

Gracious Lord, 
Help us to see and understand – with the eyes of faith and the mind you have given us – your magnificent, glorious, self-sufficient being, and the greatness of your kingdom into which we are invited. 
May we grasp the deep significance of the words, “in Him we live and move and have our being,” and know that in that safest of places – in you – there is simply no lack. 

Open our eyes to the high privilege of being created in your image. 
Convince us that nothing makes you happier than seeing those you redeemed by your grace devoting their days to the good of other people and your creation. 
Win over our timid and doubting hearts with the conviction that we are your greatest treasure in all creation. 

Give us sober yet fearless awareness of Satan’s ploys and deceits.
Strengthen our hearts in the knowledge that we have nothing to fear, for you have defeated him. 
We are so glad to know that greater are you who are in us that he that is in the world. 
May our hearts carry that message as we contemplate the awesome reality of the spiritual battle around us.  

Tender Father, you have taught us so clearly that faith – trust – is essential to life without lack. 
We confess that we while we believe in you, we need to believe more fully, more deeply, more constantly. 
In his life, death, and resurrection Jesus showed us that you are completely and utterly trustworthy, and even in the shadow of death there is nothing to fear, for you are with us.  

Bring us to the place of peace where we no longer feel a need to defend ourselves, or to worry about who’s going to take care of us, or to be recognized, or to get our way, or to make sure things turn out right. 
Lord, free us through the knowledge that because you are with us, working in our lives, we have everything we need.

And now, with the truth of who you are deeply engraved in our hearts, give us the confidence and power to love all who are in our lives just as we are being loved by you – freely, fully, joyfully.
Let your Spirit move in our minds and hearts so we believe ever more fully that because you are our all-sufficient Shepherd, we shall never want. 

We ask all this because we would have it no other way.
Amen.

PRAYER OF EXAMEN

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1.     Acknowledge God’s presence.
Ask for grace to review your day. 

2.     Review your day with a posture of gratitude. 
Ask for God's view on the events of your day. 

3.     Recognize the moments of consolation or desolation. 
Ask for help to see either a moment or an overall tone to my day. 

A consolation may be an experience in which you feel close God. 
A desolation may be an experience in which you feel far away from God.

4.     Reflect deeper on the consolation or desolation. 
Ask for insight, understanding, forgiveness, or gratitude.

5.     Look forward to tomorrow with hope.
Ask for grace to live fully into the present and an awareness to be present to your life. 

PRAYER OF ST. PATRICK

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May you arise today,
God's strength to pilot you,
God's might to uphold you,
God's wisdom to guide you,
God's eye to look before you,
God's ear to hear you,
God's word to speak for you,
God's hand to guard you,
God's shield to protect you,

Christ before you,
Christ behind you,
Christ beneath you,
Christ above you,

Christ within you,
Christ on your right,
Christ on your left,
Christ when you lie down,
Christ when you sit down,
Christ when you rise up,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of you,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of you,
Christ in every eye that sees you,
Christ in every ear that hears you.

Amen.

LENT PRAYERS

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DAILY

You alone bring order to the unruly wills and affections of sinners: may we love what You command, and desire what You promise, so that, among the swift and varied changes of this world, our hearts may be fixed where true joy is to be found.

MORNING

Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep Your ways: grant that having cheerfully done Your will this day, we may, when night comes, rejoice and give You thanks; through the One Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.

EVENING

You made this day for the works of the light, and this night for the refreshment of our minds and bodies: keep us now in Christ; grant us a peaceful evening, and a night free from sin, and bring us at last to eternal life; through the One Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and for ever. Amen.

ADVENT PRAYERS

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PRAYER FOR WEEK 1: HOPE

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
We are easily distracted by the darkness that comes with unease and anxiety.
Source of light, shine in our lives and in your world with your renewing hope.

PRAYER FOR WEEK 2: PEACE

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
We are easily distracted by the darkness of force and power and we often choose strife and turmoil.
Source of light, shine in our lives and in your world with your everlasting peace.

PRAYER FOR WEEK 3: JOY

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
We are easily distracted by the darkness of doubt and despair.
Source of light, shine in our lives and in your world with your light and life giving joy.

PRAYER FOR WEEK 4: LOVE

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
We are easily distracted by the darkness of isolation and fear.
Source of light, shine in our lives and in your world with your unending love.

PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS DAY

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. 
We are easily distracted by our old lives and with history and by what has been.
Christ is born among us and our hope is made new.
Source of light, shine in our lives and in your world with your transforming power.

A BEGINNING OF A NEW DAY

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This is the beginning of a new day.
God has given me this day to use as I will.
I can waste it or use it for good.

What I do today is important,
because I’m exchanging a day of my life for it.

When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever,
leaving something I have traded for it.

I want it to be gain, not loss;
good, not evil;
success, not failure;
in order that I shall not regret
the price I paid for it.

Heartsill Wilson
Paul “Bear” Bryant famously carried this prayer in his wallet.

WORDS OF JESUS

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What are you looking for?
Come and you will see.

This is the work of God.
That you trust in the one He sent.

If you are thirsty come to me.
Out of you will flow rivers of living water.

If you follow me you will not be in the dark.
You will have the light of life.

Make my word your home.

Unless I wash you,
You have nothing in common with me.

Whoever receives the one I send, receives me.
Whoever receives me, receives the one who sent me.

Don’t let your heart be troubled.
Trust in God. Trust also in me.

Peace I leave you.
My peace I give you.

The world will not see me.
You will see me.

I am the vine, you are the branches.
Remain in me and you will bear much fruit.
Apart from me you can do nothing.

As the Father loves me, I love you.
Live in my love.

I want you to have my joy to the full.

This is my command,
Love one another.

You will have trouble, but take courage.
I have overcome the world.

Receive my Holy Breath.

Blessed are those who do not see,
But trust.

Do you love me?
Feed my sheep.

Don’t worry about him.
You follow me.

The words of Jesus found in the Gospel of John.
Initial version from Fr. Vince Hovley, S.J. at Sacred Heart Retreat Center

BLESSING AT BIRTH

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May you come to know the Christian faith as everyday language, where grace is a tangible reality, and where love is known as the beginning and the end.

May you come to know the story of God’s love through the stories of Scripture and the lives of your parents, family, and faith community.

May you come to know the value of prayer as you listen for God’s voice and look for His lead.

May you come to have a foundation of the faith that allows you to discover and develop your own deeply held belief and relationship with God.

May you always know that you as a child of God; that you are His child before anyone else.

May your parents care for you, love you, guide you, and walk beside you through your journey of life and faith from this day until their last.

May you live a life of blessing in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.