Category Archives: Prayer

Prayer, Saint Patrick

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day

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Hope you have a great St Patrick’s day. On St Patrick’s Day the world goes green, enjoy this video narrated by Liam Neeson.

St. Patrick’s Breastplate

I bind unto myself today
The strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever,
By power of faith, Christ’s Incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan River;
His death on cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name,
The strong name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Prayer

Pray for Christians in Iraq

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The Arabic letter ‘N’ for ‘nasara’ or ‘nazarene’ written on Christian homes in Iraq by the strict Muslims of ISIS as they tell Christians to convert, pay a subjugation tax, or expect their death – fortunately, many of these believers have been able to take a fourth option, to flee. Lord, have mercy! 10491216_10152365149941731_5318837975934514093_n

Bible Study, Prayer

SOAP Journaling

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For a long time I have been keeping a prayer journal and it has been very helpful to me. I don’t write a lot in it. I just enter prayer requests that people ask me to pray for. Once in a while I would write a prayer down or a scripture that came to mind while praying, may be just for myself or to share with someone I have been praying for. It has also been amazing seeing how the Lord has answered prayer in my life.

About a year ago I came across SOAP Journaling in a blog on the net, and thought I might pick that up sometime. In 2010 I have been using Eugene Peterson’s excellent devotional Solo, which is based on the classical method of lectio divina: reading, thinking, praying, and living Scripture. I love doing it every day and it has been very challenging. I would recommend it to everyone. One thing I wish I had done last year was to write notes each day, sometimes I would highlight a passage that stood out, but I never really kept much notes.
So this year I have decided to give SOAP Journaling a go. Journaling is an brilliant way to both record, process and reflect what God has spoken to you.

S = SCRIPTURE: What?
Select the passage of Scripture for today’s reading. Ask God to speak to you through His Word. Then take time reading to hear from God. When you are done, look for the verse(s) that spoke to you that day, and copy into your journal.

O = OBSERVATION: So What?
What is the meaning of what you’ve just read? What is the author intending to communicate to his readers? Paraphrase and write the meaning in your own words in your journal.

A = APPLICATION: Now What?
Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write down how you would obey this Scripture in your life today. Include a statement that starts “I will…”

P = PRAYER
This can be as simple as asking God to help you obey this Scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out.

And that’s it.

Jesus, Prayer

A Scripture for the heavy hearted

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Ephesians 3:14-21
I kneel before the Father,

from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,

may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,

and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fulness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Jesus, Prayer

Dallas Willard’s paraphrase of the Lord’s Prayer

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Dear Father always near us, may your name be treasured and loved,
may your rule be completed in us-
may your will be done here on earth in
just the way it is done in heaven.
Give us today the things we need today,
and forgive us our sins and impositions on you
as we are forgiving all who in any way offend us.
Please don’t put us through trials,
but deliver us from everything bad.
Because you are the one in charge,
and you have all the power, and the glory too is all yours-forever-
which is just the way we want it!