THOUGHTFUL MOMENTS TO ENRICH YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE
DAILY FAITH PRACTICES
DAILY FAITH PRACTICES
THOUGHTFUL MOMENTS TO ENRICH YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE
A LITURGY FOR MORNING COFFEE
From "Every Moment Holy" by Doug Mckelvey
Meet me, O Christ
in this stillness of morning.
Move me, O Spirit,
to quiet my heart.
Mend me, O Father,
from yesterday’s harms.
From the discords of yesterday,
resurrect my peace.
From the discouragement of yesterday,
resurrect my hope.
From the weariness of yesterday,
resurrect my strength.
From the doubts of yesterday,
resurrect my faith.
From the wounds of yesterday,
resurrect my love.
Let me enter this new day,
aware of my need and awake to your grace,
O Lord.
Amen
threshold prayer
Each time you cross your threshold, say a prayer of gratitude for 3 things inside your home and 3 things out in the world.
Five Senses Meditation
Here is a way to calm a busy mind - it also works great to calm a busy child! - and focus your thoughts on the beauty of God's creation. Go outside, get still, and focus on what you're sensing.
Notice five things you can see.
Then four that you can feel.
Three that you can hear.
Two you can smell.
One you can taste.
Say a prayer of gratitude to our Creator.
JOHN WESLEY'S COVENENTAL PRAYER
John Wesley adapted this prayer from the Puritan tradition that was important to his parents, and it informed his theology and preaching. He expected the people called "Methodists" to pray this prayer at the beginning of each new year as a way of remembering and renewing their baptismal covenant. The language has been updated to a modern vernacular.
I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, place me with whom you will.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be put to work for you or set aside for you,
Praised for you or criticized for you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and fully surrender all things to your glory and service.
And now, O wonderful and holy God,
Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer,
you are mine, and I am yours.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it also be made in heaven. Amen.
MERTOn's DISCERNMENT PRAYER
Thomas Merton, an American Trappist Monk, writer, theologian, mystic, and social activist, wrote this prayer for discernment and guidance in the face of uncertainty.
O Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going,
I do not see the road ahead of me,
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
And that fact that I think
I am following Your will
Does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe
That the desire to please You
Does in fact please You.
And I hope I have that desire
In all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything
Apart from that desire to please You.
And I know that if I do this
You will lead me by the right road,
Though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore I will trust You always
Though I may seem to be lost
And in the shadow of death.
I will not fear,
For You are ever with me,
And You will never leave me
To make my journey alone.