Prayer Note #27 — Lord of All

Lord of heaven, Lord of earth, Lord of all time, Lord of this moment, Lord of all things living and Lord of my own beating heart, I want you to be my Lord.  I want my fleeting thoughts to be from you and for you.  I want you to be the head waters of my … Continue reading Prayer Note #27 — Lord of All

Prayer Note #26 — A Pastor’s Sunday Morning Prayer

Lord, my emotions are squirming around in me in a very uncomfortable way.  I know that that is caused by a wide range of pressures, stressors, foolish thoughts, genuine problems, and a real sense of overload, of having more things in my mind than I can keep track of.  Important matters are slipping through my … Continue reading Prayer Note #26 — A Pastor’s Sunday Morning Prayer

Prayer Note #25 — A Pastor’s Prayer for Sunday Morning Worship

Father, we gather today to worship you.  That is our identity not merely an action that we take.  We are the people who worship you, O blessed and singular Trinity.  Nurture that identity in us.  Enter our being as a people and as persons and by your Holy Spirit infuse that true identity deep within … Continue reading Prayer Note #25 — A Pastor’s Prayer for Sunday Morning Worship

Prayer Note #23 — A Bible Study on Prayer, Psalm 84:1-12

The Bible has a lot to say about prayer.  Some of the places where we find wisdom and instruction on prayer don't actually use the word much or even at all.  In Psalm 84, the word, "prayer," appears once, yet the entire psalm is about communing with God.  And communing with God is certainly the … Continue reading Prayer Note #23 — A Bible Study on Prayer, Psalm 84:1-12

Prayer Note #19 — A Christian’s Prayer at the Turning of the Year

A Christian’s Prayer at the Turning of the Year   Lord Jesus, you are the Word through whom all things were spoken into existence.  You are the eternal Word who was present before the beginning of time itself.  And you are the Word who became flesh to live in this world of days and nights, … Continue reading Prayer Note #19 — A Christian’s Prayer at the Turning of the Year

Prayer Note #18 — Holy Pleasures

You, O Lord, give blessings and fullness of pleasures.  Your pleasures surpass all the little, passing pleasures of sin and self-service.  Serving you is the richest form of pleasure, though my worldly eyes have trouble recognizing that.   Correct my vision today and always, so that I will be able to see, recognize, and hunger after … Continue reading Prayer Note #18 — Holy Pleasures

Prayer Note #16 — A Pastor’s Sunday Morning Prayer

    Lord, I know less than usual what to expect during worship today.  Help me to trust you more than usual.  Pour your Spirit out in fullness on our worship.  Quiet the fears the people may have at your Spirit's coming upon us, and instead open us to receive him in all power, grace, … Continue reading Prayer Note #16 — A Pastor’s Sunday Morning Prayer

Prayer Note #15 — A Pastor’s Prayer before Worship

I look to you, my Lord and my God.  I look to you.  The worship of your people and my part in it all hangs on the working of your Spirit.  Be gracious and patient with us, because we do come here full of sin and self-centeredness.  We are idolatrous people, because much of our … Continue reading Prayer Note #15 — A Pastor’s Prayer before Worship

Bible Note #6 — The Bible and Worship

The Bible is a very obliging book in at least one particular respect, and that is that the Bible explains in fairly straightforward terms what it is.  That fact hasn’t caused scholars and others to refrain from arguing about the matter.  That argument has been going on for centuries, off and on.  But especially in … Continue reading Bible Note #6 — The Bible and Worship

Prayer Notes #8

The following is an excerpt from much longer piece that I edited and updated from a classic manual of piety from  early seventeenth century England.  Feel free to make use of this in any way that will be helpful to the body of Christ.  Two requests:  mention where your got it and don't make money … Continue reading Prayer Notes #8