Category Archives: Prayer

Hunting With Eyes Wide

Posted on July 26, 2011 | Leave a comment

I have a prayer stand where I am learning to hunt. It’s elevated and beyond the senses of those who may stroll by on bike, car, or foot. I visit this location regularly as a farmer visits the soil. There is a pattern to my labors though. I just don’t close my eyes and draw an imaginary line from my concept of God to my concept of needs, and then  shoot out words rapidly like an automated assembly line in hope they will correctly assemble for me the desires of my imagination.

No. I cannot hunt with my eyes wide shut, but nor can I see with my eyes wide open. There is an emptying and a filling that must occur. An apophatic prayer, the emptying of that which entangles and inhibits me as an intercessor, but also a kataphatic prayer, seeing through the lens of the Great Victory of God.

So, I close one eye and focus the other. Steadying my breathing. Concentrating on my environment. Waiting patiently to see that which is imagined become manifest in objective reality. Growing in courage to pull the trigger when I see it break through… BAM!

Veni Creator Spiritus, Come, Creator Spirit for with eyes wide open I am blinded by the glory of God and with eyes wide shut I miss the cries of the needy.

But don’t be mistaken. My prayer stand isn’t so much about hunting as it is about daily orienting myself to the hunt. A daily abiding in holy attentiveness to Him who prays for His Father’s will to be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

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Posted in Holy Spirit, Imagination, Incarnation, Jesus Christ, Prayer, Spiritual Formation, Spirituality

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Prayer: The Mission of Formation

Posted on March 18, 2011 | Leave a comment

“Dear God, I want to plant every virtue in my heart, as if you were planting roses and lilies of every color in a field.  And I want you to water those flowers with your Holy Spirit.  If any thorns or thistles of vice sprout amongst the flowers, I want you to root out those weeds.  And I want you to prune and cut back those flowers, regardless of the pain I will suffer, that they may grow more strongly.  Finally, I want seeds from those flowers to blow into other souls, that they too may share the beauty which you alone can give.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.

-Hildegard of Bingen. She lived in what is now Germany from 1098-1179.  She was a nun from the age of 18 and rose to the level of abess. (This is what my professor (http://realmealministries.org/) prayed for us in Exegesis of Exodus this week)

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Posted in Prayer, Spiritual Formation, Spirituality

The Lorica of St. Patrick

Posted on March 17, 2011 | 1 Comment

This lorica from St. Patrick always brings with it a seasonal awareness of my need to be in Christ. The word lorica is actually a Latin word meaning, body armor.  So may this prayer of Saint Patrick be a means of the grace for you to be protected and shielded  from all forms of ungodliness that arise from the devil and his demonic kingdom, the flesh, or the world AND may the Holy Spirit  surround, infill, and enliven you to all forms of godliness and Christ likeness. In Jesus’ Holy name, Amen.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me;
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation

St. Patrick (ca. 377)

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Posted in Prayer, Spiritual Warfare, St. Patrick

Prayer For Students And Scholars

Posted on February 12, 2011 | Leave a comment

“O Lord who is the fountain of all wisdom and learning, you have given me the years of my life to learn the arts and skills necessary for an honest and holy life. Enlighten my mind that I may acquire knowledge. Strengthen my memory that I may retain what I have learned. Govern my heart, that I may always be eager and diligent in my studies. And let your Spirit of truth, judgment and prudence guide my understanding, that I may perceive how everything I learn fits into your holy plan for the world.”

- John Calvin -

:)

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Posted in John Calvin, Prayer

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Continuous Prayers for the Global Church

Posted on October 15, 2010 | Leave a comment

Here are ten daily prayers from Dr. Timothy Tennent, President of Asbury Theological Seminary specifically for the Global Church. Add them to your rosary.

  1. Open Muslim hearts to Jesus Christ, especially among the Berber, Arab, Turkish, and Persian peoples of the Middle East and north Africa.
  2. Bless and protect the Christian churches in India, especially the new churches in the North. Keep them spiritually strong, spirit anointed, doctrinally sound and effectively led.
  3. Mobilize and anoint the Chinese church for effective missions and evangelism within China and beyond.
  4. Awaken the Western church from its spiritual slumber – bring revival, renewal and repentance. Raise up powerful new leaders from this generation.
  5. Bless the Anglican world-wide communion – honor those who honor you and bring shame on those who deny you and your Word.
  6. Renew the UMC (United Methodist Church) and honor your faithful servants who minister therein.
  7. Bring renewal and revitalizaiton to the Roman Catholic and Easter Orthodox churches – may the gospel be heard and experienced by them around the world.
  8. May new churches be planted in all of the remaining unreached people groups of the world.
  9. Raise up godly leaders for the African church.
  10. Bring a missionary heart and commitment into the life and experience of the Latin American church.

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Posted in Prayer

The Lorica of St. Patrick

Posted on March 17, 2010 | 1 Comment

This lorica from St. Patrick always brings with it a seasonal awareness of my need to be in Christ. The word lorica is actually a Latin word meaning, body armor.  So may this prayer of Saint Patrick be a means of the grace for you to be protected and shielded  from all forms of ungodliness that arise from the devil and his demonic kingdom, the flesh, or the world AND may the Holy Spirit  surround, infill, and enliven you to all forms of godliness and Christ likeness. In Jesus’ Holy name, Amen.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me;
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation

St. Patrick (ca. 377)

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Posted in Devotional, Prayer, Spiritual Warfare, St. Patrick

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