Category: Prayer

Below is the “Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition.” I try to pray this prayer every day, but I think it’s especially appropriate at the start of a new year.

“I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by you or laid aside for you,
exalted for you or brought low for you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things 
to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 
you are mine, and I am yours. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”

Note: I don’t take the phrase “put me to suffering” to mean that God wants us to suffer or that God will force us to suffer. Instead, I see it as our affirmation that we are willing to suffer for the work of the kingdom. E.g., in the 1960s the civil rights movement involved a lot of suffering for a lot of faithful Christians. As Christians, we don’t seek suffering out, but we are willing to bear the suffering that falls on us as we seek to live out our faith.

To update the language of the prayer for modern usage, I have substituted “yours” for “thine,” “you” for “thou,” etc. from the version of this prayer found in the United Methodist Hymnal (607). 

From Teri McDowell Ott at The Presbyterian Outlook.

“God of all nations, on this Election Day, we pray for our diverse and divided nation. 

Like a downed power line, we are charged with anger, anxiety and fear. We wait, thrashing and threatening, as results come in … vote by vote, state by state, seat by seat. God, we fear rioting and violence. God, we pray for justice and peace.

God, be with us. Be with the poll workers, the politicians, the clerks and the deputies. On this long and exhausting day, may our polls be places of courtesy, the dignity of each voter respected. May our polls be places of safety, free of undue influence or intimidation. May our polls be places of freedom, a fair election for all.

God, who can do far more than we can ask or imagine, as the results of this election become clear, turn our country to the hard work of truth-seeking and healing. The sin of enmity looms large among us. May the results of this election bear good, spiritual fruit, opening us to your help and hope. May we seek your wisdom, love your truth and promote your peace this day and every day.

Amen.”

Hat Tip: Gary Beach

Link: https://bit.ly/3ADYcYN

I’m going to Cavanaugh Eye Center today for a checkup to monitor the progression of my keratoconus. Prayers for a good checkup would be appreciated.

Update: My eyes are holding steady—which is the best one can ask for with keratoconus—and Dr. Cavanaugh says I don’t need to have them checked for another two or three years.

This Independence Day, I wanted to share a prayer written by Andy Langford, found in The United Methodist Book of Worship:

“Almighty God, you rule all the peoples of the earth.

Inspire the minds of all [those] to whom you have committed
the responsibility of government and leadership
in the nations of the world.

Give to them the vision of truth and justice,
that by their counsel all nations and peoples may work together.

Give to the people of our country
zeal for justice and strength of forbearance,
that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will.

Forgive our shortcomings as a nation;
purify our hearts to see and love the truth.

We pray all these things through Jesus Christ. Amen.”

A friendly reminder that the church office is closed today.

This is a friendly reminder that the church office is closed today in observance of Memorial Day. It’s a good day to remember those who died in service to their country and those who have gone before us in general. It’s a good day to pray God’s presence and peace upon all those who grieve and mourn this day. I also echo Scot McKnight’s call to “pray for the end of all war and the establishment of deep justice and an enduring peace.”

If you take time to pause and remember 9/11 today, I would again commend to you this prayer from Rev. Jeremy Pridgeon. In over a decade I haven’t found a better one.

Link: http://bit.ly/2eYITAb

Today, I’m praying these verses from Albert Midlane for College Avenue United Methodist Church, for the UMC in general and for the church universal:

1 Revive thy work, O Lord,
thy mighty arm make bare;
speak with the voice that wakes the dead,
and make thy people hear.

2 Revive thy work, O Lord,
disturb this sleep of death;
quicken the smould’ring embers now
by thine almighty breath. [1]

---

[1] Albert Midlane, “Revive Thy Work, O Lord,” 1858, Hymnary.org, accessed September 19, 2022, https://bit.ly/3BRJqeQ.

Below is the “Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition” that we’ll be using in worship tomorrow (Sunday, January 2, 2022). I try to pray this prayer every day, but I think it’s especially appropriate at the start of a new year.

I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by you or laid aside for you,
exalted for you or brought low for you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things 
to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 
you are mine, and I am yours. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

Note: I don’t take the phrase “put me to suffering” to mean that God wants us to suffer or that God will force us to suffer. Instead, I see it as our affirmation that we are willing to suffer for the work of the kingdom. E.g., in the 1960s the civil rights movement involved a lot of suffering for a lot of faithful Christians. As Christians, we don’t seek suffering out, but we are willing to bear the suffering that falls on us as we seek to live out our faith.

To update the language to modern usage, I have substituted “yours” for “thine,” “you” for “thou,” etc. from the version of this prayer found in the United Methodist Hymnal (607). 

The Bible is deeply concerned about justice for those who labor. This Labor Day, I would invite you to remember in your prayers both those who strove and those who still strive for justice for all who labor. The world more closely resembles God’s original intent and eventual promise because of their efforts.

Photo Credit: Lewis Hine/Library of Congress via PINGnews. Additional photo information: TITLE: 488 Macon, Ga. Lewis W. Hine 1-19-1909. Bibb Mill No. 1 Many youngsters here. Some boys were so small they had to climb up on the spinning frame to mend the broken threads and put back the empty bobbins. Location: Macon, Georgia. More.

Please note that a version of this post originally appeared in 2011.