Wednesday 26 September

Hi there, welcome. Today we'll be praying at 7, 9.15, 12 and 7pm. Do make the blog 'interactive' by posting your reflections and comments...

You'll find some resources for prayer in the previous 2 posts, and some ides on what prayer is about on the prayer resources page.

Lets start with an emphasis on prayer as worship (see the Hebrew's passage) not just a shopping list. Perhaps then we'll be in contact and able to listen clearly to what God is saying.

Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness;
       tremble before him, all the earth.
Psalm 96

 

I was struck by the emphasis in Hebrews on the holiness of God as the centre of worship. John Henry Newman offers this as a prayer for holiness...

Dear Jesus,
help me to spread your fragrance everywhere.
Flood my soul with your spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly
that all my life may be only a radiance of yours.
Shine through me and be so in me
that every person I come in contact with
may feel your Presence in my soul.
Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus.

Holiness is, of course, practical so maybe this will help your day...

Breathe in me,
O Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.

Act in me,
O Holy Spirit,
that my work, too, may be holy.

Draw my heart,
O Holy Spirit,
that I love only what is holy.

Strengthen me,
O Holy Spirit,
to defend all that is holy.

Guard me so,
O Holy Spirit,
that I may always be holy.

Amen.