Prayer 06: Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Today, let us join St. Francis of Assisi in prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair,  hope;where  there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.  Amen!

(St. Francis was born at Assisi in 1182. . Having  turned his back on inherited wealth, he committed himself to God.   He lived a very simple life of poverty, and  had a reputation of being the friend of animals.  He established the Rule of St Francis, which exists today as the Order of St. Francis, or the Franciscans. He died in 1226, at the age of  44.)

Prayer 05: I Love You, Father!

My True Father,

I love You!  It brings tears to my eyes just to say it!  I love You, Father. 

I know I could say I love You only because You have loved me first! You have demonstrated Your amazing love through Christ Jesus, my Redeemer and Friend!  I love You, Lord Jesus, my Saviour,  the Holy Lamb of God,  the Lion of Judah, the King of kings and the Lord of Lords!

I love You, Holy Spirit of God!  My Comforter, my Counselor, my Guide and  my Teacher!  How amazingly patient You are with me!  You have never given me up even after so many many failures!  You are awesome, You are  wonderful!!  I am so sorry that I have grieved You  many times in my life.  I am sorry!  Here am I today, do unto me as You will!  You are the Potter, I am just a clay in Your loving hands. 

I love You, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit!

I love You! 

Prayer 04: Nothing to say today

Abba, 

Today I  have no word in my mouth,
My heart is quiet and calm;
I seem to be standing still,
A moment within eternity,
Just waiting...

Meanwhile I'll just lay down by Your side,
Reassured by the embrace of Your love;
I feel so secure in the shadow of Your wings,
I know when I awake  in the morning,
You would still be there, holding my hands.

Prayer 03: Prayer For Direction

My Father,

I am  right now at the crossroads of my life. I have to make a decision soon that will impact the whole future course of my life and that of my family. I feel so comfortable here and I would love to stay on longer. But You seem to be urging me to move on, but I am afraid.  I am still unsure and apprehensive, not knowing what will happen if I let go of my apparent security and comfort here. I am afraid of the unknown.

However, I promise You one thing: If You make Your direction clear, I will obey no matter what! But Father, please let me know for sure, without any shadow of doubt this was Your will! 

Cleanse my heart from double-mindedness and self interest.  Let no sin prevent me from hearing You. Help me listen, and listen with my whole being in full attention to Your voice.  Now Lord, here am I, listening....

Amen.

Prayer 2: Prayer On An Ordinary Day

Father,

Give me strength to face this ordinary day with its ordinary challenges!

I am often prepared and ready to face extraordinary days and difficult circumstances because I would have prayed hard and long out of fear and doubt. But on ordinary days like this when I feel nothing special,  when heaven seems quiet and earth  indifferent, I often took things for granted, expecting nothing out of ordinary and thus forgot to pray.  The next thing I knew, I already fell...flat on my face! 

Therefore O Lord,  empower me with Your Spirit as I go through this silent and dangerous day  - an ordinary day!

Amen.

Prayer 01 : Prayer For The New Year

My Father,


'You have been our dwelling place in all generations.  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God'!

Here I am!  On the first day of a new year!  Being a finite being, I find it to be an owesome honour  and the highest privilege to call You my Father, and leave all my affairs of this year to You, the Infinite Being, who not only knows but holds all my future secure in Your almighty hands!

May each day of this year be Your signature of love, and let each of them be stamped with a clear mark of obedience to You on my part.  Let me touch, feel, hear and live Your love each day!

I do not ask for riches nor an easy life. I do not ask for fame nor honour of men. Come what may, I will be satisfied as long as I know You are with me and at the end of the day You will take me home with You.

Amen.