A Prayer for Renewal {In the Word Wednesday}

A few mornings a week I bring my son and neighbors to school, we typically leave here at 7ish am, I drop them off and then on the return trip, I turn on my 89.3 WGNB talk radio (yup, I love Christian talk radio).  Normally I get to turn it on right as they are about to do the giveaway.  I've tried calling a few times to win, but no luck.  Until one lucky morning.  I called and got through.  They were looking for caller four.  I was caller one.  We all know chances are slim that I would get through again, much less be the fourth caller.  So, the next time I called and the line rang and rang and rang, I almost hung up.  Almost.  Glad I didn't!  I was lucky number four.  God had this all worked out though, you see.  He knew. 

I have always struggled with prayer.  How to pray.  I have a prayer "journal" of sorts with lists of people to pray for, but beyond that list, I don't know what to say.  I get stuck. 

Well, what do you suppose I won?  Let me tell you.  It's a book called "Prayers for Today, a yearlong journey of contemplative prayer" by Kurt Bjorklund.  I've only glanced through it a little bit, but this morning I used it as a part of my devotions and let the prayers lead me in thought.  There are prayers of: thanksgiving, confession, affirmation, petition, renewal, praise/adoration, christlike charecter, wisdom/guidance, intercession and surrender.  And, not just "say these words", it starts with verses (scripture prayers), next there are written prayers from various sources, some very very old, some more recent, some songs, poems or prayers, and finally there is a section called "A Prayer for Today".  This section is a prompting to pray, giving you a place to reflect on where God is leading your thoughts.

So anyway... they gave me the book.  They did not ask me to promote it in any way.  i just think it's a good book, with a good purpose, and it is what I needed. 

I wanted to share one of the selections from Day 35 (no, I'm not on day 35 already, I'm jumping around, looking through it and though this was appropriate for a new year), Prayers for Renewal:

Lord, when I have nothing;
Help me to give even what I do not have.
Lord, when I feel nothing,
Help me not to be jealous, that You may use me to touch others' hearts.
Lord, when I am weary;
help me to remember that You have been weary, too.
Lord, when i need refreshing,
Help me to refresh others and to forget about my own needs.
Lord, when I can't see the way ahead,
Help me not to get in the way of those who can.
Lord, when I am disappointed,
Help me not to bring disappointment to others.
Lord, when I have no one to help me,
Help me to trust in You.
Lord, when I can't see You, yet You see me -
Help me to remember that.
Lord, though I am not worthy to receive You,
[Only] say the word and I shall be healed.
Hugh Barney, Celtic monk (unknown era)

Plan to wear your comfy clothes on Friday to our first meeting of the year!  Heather Winea will be joining us again and doing some fun fitness stuff with us.  The kids will be joining us for the last 10 minutes to do some fitness stuff with mom!  Meeting starts at 9:30 with K-LIFE drop off and breakfast, God Moment at 9:45 and Heather will begin at 10!