We say the Lord’s Prayer so often that sometimes the words barely register, but years ago I started using this prayer as a ‘grid’ from which to pray (seemed like a good idea as Jesus did say ‘In this manner, therefore, pray…” Matthew 6:9) Then, while stuck one weekend without wheels in Dodoma (the middle of rural Tanzania,) I wrote this ‘prayer snapshot’ in my journal…

Our Father, who art in Heaven *** Hallowed be Thy Name…

Your name, O Lord, is greatly to be praised! You are a mighty God, an awesome God.  How magnificent is Your name, the Name above ALL names: King of Kings, Lord of Lords, El Shaddai, Almighty All-Powerful God, Heavenly Father… Blessed is the name of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace, Rose of Sharon, our Bright Morning Star… Blessed is the name of the Holy Spirit, Holy Comforter, Dew of Light, Flame of Heaven…

Our hearts bow before You, Heavenly Father, in adoration – Holy Redeemer, Savior & Lord…Most Merciful & Compassionate God…

We thank You for Your Faithfulness, Your Forgiveness, Your Mercy and Your Miracles… for Your Heavenly paintbrush in the beauty of creation all around us.

We worship You, O Lord. We praise You. We love You, although our love is often fractured by selfishness and sin.  Even as we stray from Your grace, Your love remains faithful; the love of our divine Daddy –“Abba.”  We are grateful for Your unfailing love.

Thy Kingdom come *** Thy will be done *** On earth as it is in Heaven…

…Please pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us, so that Your Kingdom may come within us in our hearts and minds and spirits. Let Your light shine through the cracks of these earthen, clay pots to touch the lives of others. Help us reflect the Light from Your Kingdom, where Love and Joy and Mercy reign supreme.

We ask that Your will – not ours – be done.  May Your will be done in our lives, in our families, in our churches, in our ministries, in our city, in our country, in our world.  Where violence, despair, and apathy prevail – where there is conflict (Sudan, the Congo/DRC, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel/ Palestine, Sri Lanka, Somalia…) – may Your will be done.  Where diseases – HIV/AIDS, malaria, cancer – ravage lives, may Your healing love be felt. May Your will be done on this earth, as it is in Heaven…

Please align our desires with Your desires. Transform our hearts and minds with Your wisdom and love so that we may know You better. Let the eyes of our hearts be enlightened to grasp the Hope for which You have called us, the riches of the Saints who have gone before us, and Your incomparably Great Power for us who believe.  Empower us, Lord God, to be Your hands and feet of love to those in need here on earth.

Give us this day our daily bread…

Lord, please meet all the needs (spiritual, physical, emotional, mental & financial) of this day.  Anoint the work of our hands and affirm us in Your love. Please help us to be content in all situations (especially the challenging ones) with extra doses of Your grace.  May You bless our loved ones with Your Love & Mercy – this day.

And forgive us our trespasses,

                                    as we forgive those who trespass against us…

Forgive us, O Lord, for our sins…for what we have done and what we have failed to do in our thoughts, words and deeds.   We are sorry, so sorry, for sinning against You. Your forgiveness comes at a great price: the sacrifice of Your son, our Lord Jesus Christ, His blood running through thorns and nails down the side of the Cross.

Have Mercy, Oh Lord…Have MERCY!!!

Forgive us.    Forgive us.   Forgive us.

Help us, O Father, to forgive those who have hurt us.  Fill us with Your supernatural grace, as You have forgiven us, to forgive others through the power of the Holy Spirit.

And lead us not into temptation *** but deliver us from evil…

Father God, our faith is so fickle when we fall with the darts of the enemy; too often and too easily he preys upon our weaknesses. Strengthen our faith, O God, to withstand temptation. Through the precious blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ, protect us from evil.  Please set a watch-guard on the gates of our minds, hearts and spirits to shield us from the lies and deceit of the evil one.

Let Your light blot out the darkness within us. Shine Your Flashlight of Righteousness into the dark corners of our souls.  Deliver us, O God, from evil, that we might be Your hands and feet to the hurting of this world, especially those decimated by evil. “But for the grace of God, there go I…”  Deliver us, O Lord, so we might bring them into the warmth of Your forgiving arms – even as we place ourselves there.

Fill us with what pleases You — Your love, Your joy, Your peace, Your grace, Your Mercy, Your compassion…but especially Your wisdom, O Lord, to follow Your path and resist evil, as we place our hope in You.

For Thine is *** The Kingdom *** The Power *** and The Glory…

Yours is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory, O God.  Your Kingdom – so mighty, so miraculous, so marvelous – fills us with humble awe as we experience Your presence. Please give us ‘Kingdom eyes’ to see what You’re about around us, within us. Equip us with Your Power, especially when we think we can’t, we’re not & we don’t want to – O Lord, help us know what YOU want, who YOU are, and what YOU can do – even the impossible in us, through us, with us…  

…that You may be glorified– always!

 Forever and ever, AMEN.

prayers for daily help (a good idea at the Niagara Falls, 2007)