Prayer for Providence from Psalm 147

O, God...

May my praise be beautiful, pleasant.

Build me up, O God.

Gather together the outcast parts of me,

the parts I sometimes forget to treat like Your temple.

Heal my broken heart, and bind my wounds.

You number the stars

and call them by name.

I do the same with my limitations.

You, in Your infinite understanding

Lift me up when I feel so very humble.

I will watch and sing

As You cover the heavens with clouds,

As You prepare the ground year after year for growing.

As You feed the beasts and birds that live

Outside my stewardship.

Now more than ever, I long to be still in the knowledge

That it is not my strength

That is Your delight.

No,

You are touched by my hope for mercy.

And I certainly have plenty of that!

Help me remember in this time--

When snow comes like wool

and I wonder who can stand before such cold--

Help me remember that snow is but a promised watering,

For You will send Your word,

Your wind to blow and melt it;

and waters will flow.

Help me be hopeful in the season of waiting.

Thanksgiving Prayer on Psalm 97

O, that my spirit would see how You reign, Lord! O, that the whole world would be glad of it! Clouds and darkness surround you, and I do not understand You; But I believe righteousness and justice are ever at Your very throne!
Others may say You do nothing, But I believe your lightnings enlighten the world, and make the very earth tremble.
Others may claim all is formed by random chance, But I believe the ancient hills would melt like wax at the fullness of Your presence. I look up and see the heavens themselves declaring Your righteousness. Your glory is visible to those not confounded by idols. You have a city whose daughters, even now, rejoice because they know the judgments that belong to You.
They know what it means to serve a God exalted above all created things.
I know You are the one I love, and that You hate evil. This is my peace. I know You preserve the souls of Your saints and deliver them out of the hands of the wicked. This is my rest. In a dark place, I see Your light, sown for the righteous. In a grief-stricken place, I see Your gladness sown for the upright in heart. This is my hope. I rejoice in You and thank You... ...for helping me remember Your holiness in an unholy place.

Song of Remembered Promises, from Psalm 92

What goodness swells my heart

when I give thanks to You, Lord,

when I sing praises to You, O Most High.

With joy I proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,

your faithfulness in the evening.

Even better, I praise when accompanied by instruments,

and the harmony of them.

You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me!

I sing for joy because of what you have done.

O Lord, what great miracles you do!

Grant me solitude that I might meditate and remember how deep are Your thoughts.

Only an ignorant person would not know this!

Only a fool would not understand it...or one too busy to consider it.

Although the wicked flourish like weeds,

and evildoers blossom with success,

there is only eternal destruction ahead of them. May I ever remember this, and find my hope ever still in Thee.

Give my spirit's eye a vision of You exalted in the heavens,

a vision of You, O Lord, continuing forever.

Your enemies, Lord, will surely perish;

all evildoers will be scattered. May I remember their power

is not eternal.

Then I will see how you have made me as strong as a wild bull.

May I be refreshed by your power!

With my own eyes may I see the downfall of my enemies;

with my own ears may I hear the defeat of my wicked opponents.

Let my eyes see the godly flourishing like palm trees

and growing strong like the cedars of Lebanon.

May these be even they who are transplanted into Your own house.

May they flourish in Your courts, O God.

Even in old age may we still produce fruit, according to Your promises;

we will remain vital and green.

We will declare, "The Lord is just!

He is my rock!

There is nothing but goodness in him!"

A Christmas Prayer-Statement of Praise--Psalm 111

I will praise the LORD with my whole heart,

In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.

2 The works of the LORD are great,

Studied by all who have pleasure in them.

3 His work is honorable and glorious,

And His righteousness endures forever.

4 He has made His wonderful works to be remembered;

The LORD is gracious and full of compassion.

5 He has given food to those who fear Him;

He will ever be mindful of His covenant.

6 He has declared to His people the power of His works,

In giving them the heritage of the nations.

7 The works of His hands are verity and justice;

All His precepts are sure.

8 They stand fast forever and ever,

And are done in truth and uprightness.

9 He has sent redemption to His people;

He has commanded His covenant forever:

Holy and awesome is His name.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;

A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.

His praise endures forever.

Prayer for Restoration from Psalm 85

LORD,

You have been favorable to us and this land;

You have forgiven our sins, the sins of Your people, covering all of them.

You have taken away all Your wrath, and turned from Your fierce anger.

Help us to see the grace You have extended toward us.

Restore us to see that You are the God of our salvation,

Make us to know how You cause Your anger toward us to cease.

Will You be angry with us forever?

May we humbly know it is a just anger.

Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?

May we tell our children You are a just God.

But...

Will You not revive us again,

That Your people may rejoice in You?

Show us Your mercy, LORD,

And grant us Your salvation.

May we hear what You speak,

May we know Your speak peace

To His people and to His saints;

But let us not turn back to folly.

Surely Your salvation is near if we but look upon You

With the awe and wonder due.

O, that glory might dwell in our land!

Make our hearts to see mercy and truth meet together;

Make our hearts to sing when righteousness and peace have kissed.

You have said truth shall spring out of the earth,

And righteousness shall look down from heaven.

Help us to hope in these promises.

Yes, You will give what is good;

And our land will yield its increase.

Righteousness will go before Him,

And shall make His footsteps our pathway.

Amen.

Advent Supplication on Psalm 80

Please listen, O Holy Shepherd,

You who led Joseph like a flock,

You who dwell between cherubims,

Shine forth!

Stir up Your strength and come and save us.

Turn us again, O God.

Cause Your face to shine,

for only then will we be saved!

O Lord God Almighty,

how long will you be angry and reject our prayers?

You have fed us with sorrow

and made us drink tears by the bucketful.

You have made us the scorn of other nations.

Our enemies treat us as a joke.

.

Turn us again to Yourself, Almighty God,

Display Your radiant face of glory,

and we shall be saved.

Come back, we beseech You,

Strengthen the man You love,

the son of Your choice.

Then we will never forsake You again.

Revive us so that we can call upon Your name once more.

Turn us again to Yourself, Almighty God,

Display Your radiant face of glory,

and we shall be saved.

Advent Prayer on Psalm 24

Dear Lord,

Help me so order my life

that I ever walk in the knowledge that this earth is Yours.

My heart's desire is to stand in Your holy place, so I ask

that You guide my hands and heart to purity.

Show me where I am inclined to worship idols;

Remind me of the beauty of truth when I am tempted to tell lies.

5

I desire Your blessing

so keep me in right standing with You, my Savior.

6

Grant me entrance into Your presence

that I may worship You there.

Interlude

There are ancient gates,

My heart can see them.

There are ancient doors

Where the King of glory seeks to enter.

Who is the King of glory?

You, strong and mighty;

You, invincible in battle.

Open up, ancient gates!

Open up, ancient doors,

and let the King of glory enter.

1

I will remember it is the season for Your glory to enter.