Some of my favorite prayers, especially this time of year, come from a collection of Puritan prayers portraying the coming year as an ocean. In that context, I am a ship ready to launch into unknown waters with Jesus at the helm, the Spirit as the wind in my sails and the Father as the safe harbor waiting to receive me at year’s end—or before.
Is Jesus at the helm? I pray for His captaincy, for Him to choose and steer where He wants me to go. I submit to His leadership and remind myself that as much as I may plan and prepare, I want Him to guide the ship of my life through the year ahead.
Invite the Spirit’s momentum. I pray, adapting the Lord’s instruction to Ezekiel (37:9), “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into the sails of my life in 2022, filling me with Divine energy, purpose and power.”
Pray for the work ahead. I know that no sailor can stay idle for long, as there is no limit to the tasks on board an ocean-going vessel. So, I pray for steady hands, strong arms and sea legs to get me through the coming voyage.
Pray for calm seas while keeping a “weather eye.” I pray and hope for sunshine and fair winds, but I know there are likely to be challenges and trials ahead. Most of all, I pray that whatever storms may arise, I will keep “holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck” (1 Timothy 1:19 NIV).
Pray for others on the journey. I know I’m not alone on the sea. There are many who must brave the same—or even more challenging—waters. I pray for their journeys too.
Keep your gaze on the Captain. I remember Simon Peter’s lapse as he walked on the sea; he turned his gaze from Jesus and “began to sink” (Matthew 14:30). I pray that I’ll be able to keep my eyes on Jesus, whatever winds may blow and whatever waves may crash.
Pray to arrive safely. My destination may mean ending the year in health and happiness or being guided into the safe harbor of the Heavenly Father’s presence.
However your 2021 may conclude, I wish you bon voyage in 2022.
“Summer’s lease hath all too short a date,” said William Shakespeare in his famous Sonnet 18 (“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”). Boy, does it ever.
Another summer will soon be gone, seemingly before it even got started. Where did it go? As short as summer’s lease is, the change of seasons gives us the opportunity to mark and measure ourselves and our lives in prayer. To that end, here are five prayers that may be appropriate as your summer comes closer to an end:
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1) A Prayer of Thanks
Thank you, God, for the pleasures of summer,
the bright sunny days and perfect moonlit evenings,
the smells of mowed grass and air thick with rain.
Thank you for days at the lake
and evenings chasing fireflies,
for vacations and festivals,
picnics and cookouts,
baseball and concerts and swimsuits and popsicles.
Thank you for the fireworks of thunderstorms,
for watermelon sweetness,
for summer’s pace and summer’s grace,
for all your beauty and power, faithfulness and fecundity
displayed in summer,
Amen.
2) A Confession
God of grace,
forgive my frantic pace,
my failure to find
a “summer place”
amid the traffic of my days,
the stubbornness of settled ways,
and too-cluttered mind,
I let this summer get away.
3) A Prayer of Praise Praise to You, God, for long warm days,
for buzzing bees and chirping crickets,
for shade trees and gentle breezes.
Praise to You for the earth’s rotation,
for our cycle around the sun,
for “sun, moon, and stars in their courses above.”
Praise to You for the order of the universe,
the variety of the seasons,
and the gift of another summer.
4) A Prayer of Abandonment
O Lord, my God,
how can another summer have passed so quickly?
How can vacations be ending,
and children be heading off to school,
and store displays already leaping into the next season?
How can so many good intentions I had
at the beginning of this summer
have been mowed down like so much grass?
What happened?
It is a disappointment, Lord.
It is a grief. I feel a sense of frustration and loss
that so many of my plans are unfulfilled.
So one by one, I will name them—
pleasures I planned to enjoy,
chores I intended to accomplish,
places I wanted to see,
so much I had hoped to do—
and leave each and every one of them with you.
I give you my hopes and my disappointments.
Please cleanse me from regret,
heal my discouragement,
and turn me toward the next season
free from the burden of all my didn’t-get-dones.
Amen.
5) A Prayer of Petition
“As Summer into Autumn slips,”
O give me grace today
To rise and turn as Summer’s leaves
Draw life and strength from heavenly rays.
These days, however, farmers are facing even more challenges, especially from rising costs as well as the heat and drought surging across the country. Is this a unique moment we’re living through? I don’t know, but it is a moment when prayer seems appropriate for farmers and their families, farms and communities. I hope you’ll join me in a litany for farmers—and perhaps even recommend it to your pastor and church:
Gracious God, Gentle Shepherd, Garden Planter, we come to You on behalf of those who toil in farm and field, producing food for Your children and feed for creatures around the world…
Lord, hear our prayer.
Lord, give crops and livestock the break they need from days and nights of stifling heat, that they may recover and flourish…
Lord, hear our prayer.
Steer the rainclouds in the right direction and send rain in the right amounts, for some have too much, and some too little…
Lord, hear our prayer.
Protect farm workers from heat, exhaustion and injury…
Lord, hear our prayer.
Protect livestock too—every chick and calf, every shoat and sheep, every bird and beast in the barn…
Lord, hear our prayer.
Deliver farmers from the debt accrued from costly machinery and shifting markets…
Lord, hear our prayer.
Save land and buildings, plants and animals from wildfire, erosion and blight…
Lord, hear our prayer.
Save farmers from the twin perils of low yield and depressed sale prices that plunder their profits…
Lord, hear our prayer.
Chase from them the worry and panic that so easily besets and send peace that passes understanding to their hearts and minds …
Lord, hear our prayer.
Protect, preserve and prosper their family relationships amid long hours and stressful times…
Lord, hear our prayer.
Give them strength for their difficult task. Hear their prayers. Supply their needs. Lift their heads and bring them to the end of each day’s work with faith to keep on and hope for the future…
Lord, hear our prayer.
Did you pray as you read this? I hope so. And I hope you’ll pray it again, whether in private or in corporate worship. Remember those who add so much to our way of life and ask so little.
Special thanks to my farming friends J. D. Wininger and Caitlin Henderson for their help with this post.
As a former sportswriter, diehard Indiana Hoosiers basketball fan and lifelong cheerleader, I pretty much live for March Madness. I’ll be cheering on my beloved Hoosiers when they take on Wichita State in the NCAA Tournament this Friday in Omaha, Nebraska.
While basketball fans across the United States make travel arrangements and prepare to cheer on their favorite teams in the Big Dance, the coaches and teams fortunate enough to make it into the tourney are also in full-out preparation mode.
You can bet that as soon as those teams found out who their opponents would be in the first round, they had their players in the practice rooms watching game film.
Why?
So they can see the other team’s weaknesses, strengths, go-to plays, as well as individual player’s strengths, weaknesses and patterns. The coach studies the other team’s game footage to notice the screens, the cuts, the movement before the shot, as well as how the team gets its best players into position to make the best plays
Alan Stein, owner of the basketball training resource Stronger Team, and the strength and conditioning coach for the nationally renowned Nike elite DeMatha Catholic High School basketball program, had this to say about the importance of watching game film: “Great players are students of the game. They watch film. They study opponents…”
In other words, a coach and his players watch the opposing team’s game film in order to gain an advantage in the upcoming faceoff. If you know what to expect out of your opponent, you’ll be better prepared to outmaneuver him and come away with a win.
That same principle is true when dealing with the enemy in our spiritual lives. It’s good to know details about our enemy–the devil–so that we can be aware of his tricks and trademark moves.
We know from the Word of God that Satan is the father of all lies. Knowing that, when he comes to you and whispers in your ear, “You’re not worthy; You’ll never succeed in life; God doesn’t care about you;” you can say, “Those things aren’t true because they are coming from the father of all lies. In fact, if Satan is telling me those things, the exact opposite must be true: I am worthy! I will succeed in life! God does care about me!”
Conversely, you better be aware that the devil is also studying you and watching your “game film.” He sees what play worked on you in the past, and he will run it over and over again in order to try and trip you up and stop your victory.
If he knows you’re a worrier, he will give you lots of things to worry about until you take the bait. So, don’t fall for his tricks.
First Peter 5:8 says, “Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up.” (MES).
Just like in basketball, we must keep our guard up in our spiritual lives. We have to stay in the Word of God. We have to spend time in prayer. And, we need to take time each day to meditate on the scriptures that pertain to whatever battle we happen to be encountering at that particular time in our lives.
For example, if you’re in the middle of a financial crisis right now, you should be reading and confessing scriptures about your Heavenly Father being your provider.
Say: “My Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills, according to Psalm 50:10, and He will provide for me!” Speak: “According to John 10:10, my God has come that I might have life and have it more abundantly.”
Furthermore, in order to defeat the enemy, we should put on the full armor of God every single day (Ephesians 6:10-18). Think of it as your mandatory uniform. Just like a basketball player needs his team uniform, his socks, and his basketball shoes; you need every single piece of the armor of God to be prepared for battle.
Here’s the best news. Though these basketball teams heading into the NCAA tourney have no idea if they will win that next game, we have a different situation. See, no matter how much they prepare and practice, somebody still has to lose. There can only be one national champion.
But, as Christians, we are guaranteed a win in the game of life. First Corinthians 15:57 says, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
We are victors!
Say “I am a victor through Christ Jesus!” right now, wherever you are, and say it throughout the day to remind yourself–and your enemy–that you’ve already won the battle.
That doesn’t mean our opponent is going to throw in the towel and give up. He will still try to aggravate us every chance he gets, but we will still win! You’re a winner, so live with victory in your heart and mind today!
It’s called “Holy Week,” because for Christians, the journey from Palm Sunday to Easter commemorates the world-changing events that also change the life of anyone who identifies with Jesus Christ in His sacrificial suffering, death, burial and resurrection. For many, the week is characterized by much thought, worship and prayer. So here are eight prayers that can be prayed at any time, but may be helpful in driving home to your heart the profound meaning and blessing of this coming weekend:
Four Good Friday Prayers
1) Lord Jesus, as you were crucified between two thieves, one who ridiculed and one who repented, so let any sacrifice and suffering I may offer be a testimony both to skeptics and seekers (see Luke 23:33).
2) Since my old self was crucified with Jesus, so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, grant that I may no longer be a slave to sin, because anyone who has died has been set free from sin (Romans 6:6-7, NIV).
3) God, Your Word says that those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires; show it to be so in my life today (Galatians 5:24, NIV).
4) Father, in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world; remind me of that truth today (Galatians 6:14, NIV).
Four Resurrection Sunday Prayers
1) Lord God, thank you that I was buried with Jesus through baptism into death in order that, just as He was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, I too may live a new life. For if I have been united with Him in a death like his, I will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His (Romans 6:4-5, NIV).
2) God, I died to the law through the body of Christ, that I might belong to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that I might bear fruit for You. Please let me fulfill Your purpose today (Romans 7:4, NIV).
3) Thank you, Lord Jesus, that because You were crucified in weakness but raised to life by God’s power, let me, though weak, live by God’s resurrection power in all I do (2 Corinthians 13:4, NIV).
4) God, thank you that I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, and the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
These are just eight simple (and biblical) suggestions, of course, and there are many ways to incorporate these prayers into your worship this week. You may walk “The Calvary Road” by praying one a day for the next eight days. Or pray the first four at intervals on Good Friday and the other four at intervals on Easter. Or you may print them and have family members read the prayers before a meal. However you use them, these prayers are offered in the hope that they will enrich not only your Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday celebrations, but that they will also find permanent lodging and exert transforming power in your heart and life from this day on.
Autumn could be my favorite season, the leaves turning copper and gold, shimmering in the breeze, sunlight streaming through. A perfect time to reach out to the Creator. The climate in my neighborhood isn’t exactly biblical, but the biblical authors certainly understood what spiritual gifts the season brings.
1) May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. (Psalm 126:5). Autumn is the time of harvest. Haven’t we all experienced anxiety and tears in these too-long months of a seemingly endless pandemic? Indulge in God’s promise. Reap God’s love with shouts of joy.
2) Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:26). The birds in migration seem to fill the skies these October and November days. Jesus’s words offer a reminder how each one of them offers a sermon. In flight.
3) The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8). As my friend Tibby Sherrill likes to say, “The only prayer God can’t answer is, ‘Don’t let anything change.’” Autumn is a constant reminder of change, changes that are inherent in our lives. No reason we can’t use those changes to grow closer to God and the Love that never dies.
4) When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and for the alien…” (Leviticus 23:22). I love this verse. A reminder of how the harvest was also a crucial time of giving. To remember the poor. Not hogging it all ourselves. Leaving enough for them.
5) The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it. (Psalm 24:1). Do you ever go on a prayer walk? No listening to podcasts or making phone calls. Just take yourself outside and experience what this verse says. You’ll see not only in the trees and the flowers but in the people you pass on the sidewalk or who drive by… They are—we are—the Lord’s.
6) Let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9). Thanksgiving is not far away. When families gather and give thanks for what God has given them. So do not weary in doing what is good. Life’s bounty is near.
7) They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season and their leaves do not wither…(Psalm 1:3). A crab apple tree lies just outside our kitchen window, the fruit bright red. No, we don’t eat it. But the sight of it is full of beauty that delights. Those who “delight in the Lord” are like those trees. Now and forever.
Summer’s here! The season of no school and swimming pools has finally arrived—and with it, new opportunities to let the changing seasons change our rhythms and routines and, perhaps, draw us deeper into prayer and closer to God.
In that spirit, here are six summer prayers you can keep handy and use and reuse to make these summer months even more special:
1. A Prayer of Thanks
Abba, thank you for summer,
for green grass
and honeysuckle,
leafy trees
running streams
bare feet
balmy days
singing birds
laughing children
baseball games
cookouts
sunshine
clear skies
the smell after a summer rain
beauty
and fecundity
everywhere
I turn.
Amen.
(A prayer by Bob Hostetler, used with permission.)
2. A Summer Gloria
Glory be to God…
for clear blue skies and sunny days
for fresh green grass and leafy trees
for vivid purple flowers and well-tended gardens
for fluffy white clouds and gentle breezes
for bright red buses and busy streets
Glory be to God…
for people stepping out with sandaled feet
for children playing games with delighted squeals
for picnics and street parties
for street traders and market stalls
for long days and short nights
for open-topped buses and open-necked shirts.
Glory be to God…
for seasons
for summer
for sunshine
(A prayer by Chick Yuill, used with permission.)
3. “Come Summer With Me”
Come summer with me, Lord;
summer deep down in my soul;
restore my faith in summer’s time,
in rest, in joy, in play, in you…
Summer in my heart, Lord,
and dwell there
as if time would never end,
as if all time were children’s time, eternal time
when school is always out and joy is ever in…
And let others summer in my shade, Lord,
and share whatever summer’s peace is mine to give,
whatever summer’s light is mine to shed,
whatever summer’s warmth is mine to share…
Good God of every season and every day this week,
come summer with me, Lord, and let the child in my heart
spend this summer in your love…
Amen.
(A prayer by Fr. Austin Fleming who blogs at “A Concord Pastor Comments.” Used with permission.)
4. A Hymn of Praise
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
You, Lord God, made them all.
Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
You made their glowing colors,
You made their tiny wings.
The purple headed mountains,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning
That brightens up the sky.
The changing of the seasons,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
You made them every one.
The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water,
To gather every day.
You gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
(A hymn by Cecil F. Alexander, slightly revised. Public domain.)
5. A Visual Prayer
Watch and pray along with this minute-and-a-half “Summer Prayer” from Guideposts:
6. A Psalm for Summer
Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;
to you our vows will be fulfilled.
You who answer prayer,
to you all people will come.
When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave our transgressions.
Blessed are those you choose
and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
of your holy temple.
You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,
God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas,
who formed the mountains by your power,
having armed yourself with strength,
who stilled the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations.
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
where morning dawns, where evening fades,
you call forth songs of joy.
You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
to provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it.
You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
you soften it with showers and bless its crops.
You crown the year with your bounty,
and your carts overflow with abundance.
The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;
the hills are clothed with gladness.
The meadows are covered with flocks
and the valleys are mantled with grain;
they shout for joy and sing.
Summer is a special season, and it calls for special prayers. Whether yearning for a vacation, wishing for better hiking weather or worrying about wearing a bathing suit, here are six prayerful ways to deal with your summer-time emotions:
1) Find a Pocket of Rest
“Hey God, I thought summer was vacation time. How come I don’t feel at peace? I’m busier than ever! Rest, I know is the answer. Help me find rest in those in-between moments. Like when I’m stopped at a stoplight or stuck in traffic or put on hold on the phone. I’ll use those times to look for You.”
2) Settle for Imperfect
“Don’t let it rain on the one day we’re all going for a hike. We want PERFECT weather. We want the sun to shine when we go to the beach and no squalls for that picnic we planned. PERFECT weather all summer. Okay, maybe that’s not possible. If it’s not perfect, we promise to savor it anyway. Sometimes a sudden squall at the beach can be fun. Right?”
3) Learn to Forget
“Please, please, please, God, let the family all get along. We do these family reunions so infrequently. Why, when I see my long-lost cousin or sibling or great-aunt, do I suddenly remember that terrible thing they said all those years ago? Help me forget it. It doesn’t have to bug me anymore. This summer, I’m moving on.”
4) Withhold Bathing Suit Judgment
“I want to swim in the lake. I want to lounge in the sun without worrying about what others are saying. Here’s what I promise. I’m not going to making any judgmental thoughts about how THEY look. Got that? All judgments gone. For the summer.”
5) Surprise Yourself at Church
“Jesus, I’m sure You will understand if I sleep in on Sunday morning. Isn’t it okay to skip church in the summer? There are not as many people. No one will notice. They’ll think I’m away. Well…maybe I’ll drop in a couple of times this summer. Just for fun. Just to surprise people. Or maybe to surprise myself.”
6) Don’t Count the Days
“I promise not to count the days. Or weeks. Or months. Every day this summer will feel like a special day. Because every day is special. They all have opportunities in them. You, God, will help me see the opportunities. Even if it’s just to pick some fresh berries off a bush or savor an ice cream cone or call that friend I haven’t seen for months. Summer fun.”
For most of my life, I lived in a region that experienced all four seasons—winter, spring, summer and fall. For the last few years, however, I’ve lived in the desert where the seasons are warm, hot and hotter.
Regardless of where you live, or even the date on the calendar, you may be entering a new season. Maybe it’s a new job or relationship. Maybe your nest is empty. You might be welcoming a new child or just assumed the role of caregiver to a spouse or parents.
Anytime we exit or enter a new season of life, it can feel upsetting. Disorienting. Even depressing. At such times, it’s good to remember that just as God was in control in our “springtime,” He is no less in control when fall or winter arrive. The prophet Daniel said:
He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning (Daniel 2:21 NIV).
Such knowledge can be comforting, as God’s Word often is. But even more so, prayer can help us transition into a new season like nothing else. For that reason, let me suggest five to pray—and perhaps memorize and repeat as often as necessary—whenever you embark on a new season:
1) Joshua’s Charge
It must have been incredibly daunting for Joshua to face a new season of leadership and prominence when his mentor, Moses, died. So God spoke to Joshua in words that we can use to strengthen and embolden ourselves when we come to a new crossroads:
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 NIV).
2) Gideon’s Comfort
The son of Joash the Abiezrite was literally hiding from Israel’s oppressors when the angel of the Lord appeared and called him to a new season in his life—he would faithfully lead God’s people to a new era of freedom. I’ve often prayed the angel’s words to Gideon, especially when, perhaps like Gideon, I’ve felt ill-equipped to face my circumstances. It’s an affirmation to repeat as often as necessary as you enter a new season:
“The Lord is with you, mighty warrior!” (Judges 6:12).
3) David’s Song
We don’t know in what situation David, the shepherd king, penned the verses of Psalm 1. But the story of his life seems to have been a nearly constant turning from one new season to another, from shepherd boy to giant killer to court musician to fugitive to warrior to king. No wonder that his songs help at the turnings of our lives. Like this one:
Lord, as I face this change, make me “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither,” and grant favor and prosperity in whatever I do (Psalm 1:3 NIV).
4) The Beloved’s Enjoyment
Some seasons are better than others, but whatever season you’re facing, God can call beauty even out of grief and hardship. You might adapt the song of the beloved from the Song of Solomon as your prayer:
God, by your mighty grace, make this season of my life like that wondrous moment when “Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance” (Song of Songs 2:12-13 NIV).
5) Mary’s Affirmation
Has anyone ever faced a new and unexpected season like that which the angel announced to Mary of Nazareth when he told her she would be the mother of Jesus, the long-awaited Christ? How her head must have spun as all expectations for her future changed in an instant. Your new season may not feel that disorienting (or maybe it does), but Mary’s affirmation may be something you meditate on and repeat often through your own twists and turns:
“I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” and will (Luke 1:38 ESV).
You may choose to adopt one of these “new season prayers” as your own, or alternate or combine them as you work through the changes you face. Perhaps one of the above prayers suggested a different prayer to you. In any case, I hope these prayers, like the coming of autumn, bring beauty, color and refreshment to your heart, mind and life.
In the rhythms of His Creation, God graciously placed cues and reminders that can regularly turn His people to prayer: morning and evening; Sabbath and work; winter, spring, summer and fall. Now is the perfect time to turn to prayers for fall.
Though we modern folk—with our electric lighting and temperature controls, among other things—are less sensitive to such prompts as previous generations, with just a little effort we can still let the changing seasons point us to prayer . . . as these simple prayers are intended to do.
The first three autumn prayers are written by me (the third with an assist by Emily Dickinson) and the fourth autumn prayer is unattributed:
1) Autumn Praise
I praise you, Lord, for autumn:
for falling temperatures and morning chill,
trees turned gold and red, brown and orange,
falling leaves and blowing leaves,
the smell of burning leaves,
the joy of leaf-pile jumping.
I praise you, Lord, for autumn:
the interplay of outside temperatures
and inside warmth,
the promise of cider and pumpkin bread,
the blessing of blankets and sweaters.
I praise you, Lord, for autumn:
the beauty and hope in the change of season,
the promise that the coming of autumn
heralds another ending,
a new beginning,
and the wonder of another winter,
another spring,
another summer,
yet to come.
2) A Powerful Prayer for Fall
Abba, Father, the trees are ablaze with your glory.
The seasons change, but you never do.
You are always beautiful,
in the green and freshness of spring
as in the golds and reds and chills of autumn.
Make me like you.
Let my life reflect your beauty,
season after season,
as the calendar of my life turns and turns and turns.
The trees are letting go of this year’s foliage.
Help me let go of both blessings and burdens,
and surrender them both to your loving care.
Fallen leaves pattern the ground with variety.
So design my own fallings and failings
into whatever design will please you most.
In Jesus’ name, I pray,
Amen.
3) An Simple Autumn Petition Prayer
As summer into autumn slips,*
O give me grace today
To rise and turn as summer’s leaves
Draw life and strength from heavenly rays.
(*first line from Emily Dickinson)
4) An Autumn Prayer Poem
When I must go, dear God, please let it be
A golden autumn day; when red leaves fall,
When purple grapes in shining clusters hang
And bittersweet glows bright against the wall,
When o’er the barren fields and russet meads
Their last farewells the crickets cry.
Let me make my silent journey
When the homing birds fly south across the sky.
When I must go, dear God, please let me go
As silently as autumn rain,
As still as lacy shadows ‘neath the willow trees,
As calm as is the moon above the hill.
So let me go—and may there be no grief
When life is done and I must say goodbye.
I’ll take my leave with flowers and falling leaf
And lie in peaceful sleep beneath the sky.
Few of us ever manage to live a complete day of peace, especially when there is a crisis or we face an uncertain future. We fight traffic, race the clock and filter seemingly countless, competing, voices. We crave a little calm, a few moments of peace, even the tiniest island of tranquility from time to time.
But how? Where can we turn to find a few moments of sanity-restoring calm in the midst of our otherwise crazy lives? We can pray. A simple prayer—even a single word—can sometimes soothe our savaged spirits. Try one of these:
1) “Come”
A frequent phrase on the lips—and pens—of the Bible’s songwriters was “come quickly, Lord, to help me” (Psalm 40:13, NIV). Taking a moment—even with a single word, “Come”—to invite the Lord into your chaos and stress brings the Prince of Peace into your situation. Into your mind. Into the moment. So, take a breath, close your eyes and say: “Come.”
2) “Slow”
Shakespeare’s story of Romeo and Juliet may have ended much more happily if the young lovers had heeded Friar Laurence’s advice: “Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.” That’s the story of our 21st century lives, isn’t it? We run so fast, and stumble so often. So a one-word prayer—“Slow”—is a way of asking God to slow us down, calm our racing hearts and guide our steps.
3)“Quiet”
You probably remember the story of Jesus and His closest followers in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. A furious storm arose, but Jesus had fallen asleep on a cushion in the stern. His panicked followers awakened Him. The Bible says, “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down, and it was completely calm” (Mark 4:39, NIV).
You may not be able to command winds and waves, but you can say, “Quiet.” It may be a plea to God. It may be a command to your own mind and heart. You may need to say it repeatedly, but either way, it can provide a path to peace and calm.
4) “Now”
Most of us spend a great deal of time thinking about the future or replaying the past. Both can be stressful. And both remove us from the present and cheat us of the full blessing of this life, this day, this moment—this “now.”
So, try praying the single, simple word “now” as a way of awakening yourself to the beauty of your own life, as a way of fully breathing in and breathing out the blessing of being alive…now. Whatever the past has been and whatever the future may hold, “now” is a gift, and praying that single word can be a helpful way to focus and calm your mind and heart, right here, right now.
Four words. Short. Sweet. Simple. But when we pray them mindfully, they can be just what our hectic and harried lives need most.
The spring season symbolizes hope and new beginnings. The freezing winter months begin to fade, and the world welcomes new plant life, from wildflowers to flourishing trees. Soon we’ll be celebrating Easter, the day marking the resurrection of Christ. One of the best ways to fully appreciate this time of year is to include some spring prayers in your prayer life.
May these spring prayers and tips for praying during spring lead you through this season with joy, inspiration and a closer relationship with God.
5 Ways to Say Your Spring Prayers
Spring can be a great time for spring cleaning, starting new projects, or even refreshing your prayer life. Try these new ways to pray during the spring season:
1. Pray in a Garden
Saying your prayers in a new location can be a great way to revitalize your practice and get a new perspective on life. This spring, make a habit of praying amongst the flowers. Go into your own garden, a public park, or a local community garden and find a spot to connect with God. Pick a spot that is comfortable where you can have a little quiet. As you pray, slowly breathe in and out. Savor the scent of life around you—from the nourishing soil to the fragrance of the flowers. Remember that everything around you was made by God, just like you.
If you can’t make it out to the garden or park, you can still focus on your prayer time by making a comfortable and inspiring prayer spot in your home. Consider making yours next to a window so you can look out over God’s creation—like the budding flowers, the new green of the trees, and the returning birds. Make the space comfortable with a good chair and pillows. Bring your Bible or devotional to help you pray. Maybe even add a vase of flowers or houseplants to lighten up the space and truly bring you into the spring mindset.
3. Pray While You Walk
With warmer weather finally here, spring is the perfect time to begin or restart your daily walks. Whether you walk in the morning or after a busy day at work, dedicate this time to prayer. As you focus on your steps and breathing, you’ll be surprised how naturally a talk with God will come to fruition. Let the world around you guide your prayers. If you see the tree on your block beginning to finally grow green, thank God for the nature around us that brings us joy and keeps us alive. If you pass by your neighbors, wave hello and say a prayer for them and their family.
The spring season can be a hectic time. Between school schedules, spring cleaning, and outdoor activities starting up again, it can be difficult to find time to sit down and focus on your prayers. Even if you find the time, your thoughts might drift to busy schedules and errands while you pray. Try using a candle while you pray to keep your attention on your time with God. Here is how to pray with a candle:
Find a quiet spot in your home where you can be alone, even for a few minutes.
Let your mind slow as you light the candle
As you pray, focus on the flame of the candle and its movements.
If you feel your thoughts going astray, simply bring your attention back to the flame and pick up your prayers where you left off.
Be sure to blow the candle out when you are done and set it aside for the next time you need a moment of prayer.
5. Pray When It Rains
“April showers bring May flowers,” goes the saying. If there’s one thing spring has a lot of, it’s rain. While you may long for the clear days of summer, you can use the rainy spring season to commit to praying more often. Make a prayer habit of praying every time it rains. Every time you hear those raindrops hit the window, step away from your work or chores to say a spring prayer. Even just taking a few minutes to check in with God can make a world of difference. Soon you’ll find yourself getting excited when the forecast calls for yet another day of rain.
God, by your mighty grace, make this season of my life like that wondrous moment when “Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.” —Bob Hostetler (based on Song of Songs 2:12-13)
Lord, as I face this change, make me “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither,” and grant favor and prosperity in whatever I do. —Bob Hostetler (based on Psalm 1:3)
3. A Spring Poem Prayer
For flowers that bloom about our feet;
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!
For blue of stream and blue of sky;
For pleasant shade of branches high;
For fragrant air and cooling breeze;
For beauty of the blooming trees,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (from “We Thank Thee”)
4. A Spring Prayer Canticle
Sun and cloud, bless the Lord.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord.
Flower and weed, bless the Lord.
Breeze and bird, bless the Lord.
Mist and meadow, bless the Lord.
Sunrise and sunset, bless the Lord.
Light and darkness, bless the Lord.
—Bob Hostetler
5. A Spring Prayer Hymn
Lord, afford a spring to me,
Let me feel like what I see;
Speak, and by your gracious voice,
Make my drooping soul rejoice.
On your garden deign to smile,
Raise the plants, enrich the soil;
Soon your presence will restore
Life to what seemed dead before.
—John Newton, author of “Amazing Grace”
6. A Spring Prayer to Jesus
Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature, O thou of God and man the Son, thee will I cherish, thee will I honor, thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown. Fair is the snowfall, fairer still the snowmelt, that heralds all the joys of spring; Jesus, you’re fairer, Jesus, you’re purer, you make the woeful heart to sing. Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight, and all the twinkling starry host; You, Lord, shine brighter, you shine far purer than all the angels heaven can boast. All fairest beauty, heavenly and earthly, wondrously, Jesus, is found in thee; none can be nearer, fairer or dearer, than you, my Savior, are to me. Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forever more be Thine. —Author Unknown
7. Spring Prayer from the Psalms
How many are Your works, Lord! In wisdom You made them all; You make springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. You water the mountains from Your upper chambers; the land is satisfied by the fruit of Your work. You make grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate—bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts. The trees of the Lord are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that You planted. There the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the junipers. How many are Your works, Lord! In wisdom You made them all. —Bob Hostetler (based on Psalm 104)
So they can see the other team’s weaknesses, strengths, go-to plays, as well as individual player’s strengths, weaknesses and patterns. The coach studies the other team’s game footage to notice the screens, the cuts, the movement before the shot, as well as how the team gets its best players into position to make the best plays
Just like in basketball, we must keep our guard up in our spiritual lives. We have to stay in the Word of God. We have to spend time in prayer. And, we need to take time each day to meditate on the scriptures that pertain to whatever battle we happen to be encountering at that particular time in our lives.
