William Blake, The Ancient of Days, watercolor etching; 1794. "Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth." (Psalm 74:12) O Ancient One,whose being precedes all we knowand whose word sparked all things,whose holiness is unsearchableand whose love is incomprehensible,I worship You. I worship Youwith my words, stumbling …
Asking God to Act: a reflection on Nehemiah 1
“‘Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.’ I was cupbearer to the king.” (Nehemiah 1:11) At the end of his prayer in chapter 1, …
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Beginning to Pray with the Greatness of God
One of the easiest things to do is to make our problems bigger than everything else. Sometimes we can even make our circumstances bigger than God. When Nehemiah hears about the difficulties in his homeland, he allows those circumstances to lead him in to prayer. But even as he prays, Nehemiah recalibrates around the greatness …
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A Prayer of Christina Rosetti for Pentecost
O God the Holy GhostWho art light unto thine electEvermore enlighten us.Thou who art fire of loveEvermore enkindle us.Thou who art Lord and Giver of Life,Evermore live in us.Thou who bestowest sevenfold grace,Evermore replenish us.As the wind is thy symbol,So forward our goings.As the dove, so launch us heavenwards.As water, so purify our spirits.As a …
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A Prayer to God My Light
"Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heavento shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death,to guide our feet into the path of peace." (Luke 1:78-79) "The people walking in darknesshave seen a great light;on those living in the land of deep …
Matthew Erickson 