The Work is all Divine

Father God,
Your work is all divine. I thank you for all the work you have done on me and through me. I truly desire to pursue my purpose to your honor and your glory. I thank you dear Lord that you know my heart, you know my desires, and you know your plans for my future.

I will keep on pressing to reach the place where you want me to be. I have made mistakes. I have done and said the wrong things at times in my life. I have gotten off track. I thank you that I can hear your voice when you call me back on track. I pray that all of the women of God will answer when you call them to their purpose.

I bless your name as I walk in the authority you have bestowed on me. I ask you God for your blessings, your guidance, and your supernatural power as I pursue my purpose in life. Grant me the clarity to recognize that you are preparing me to step into the fullness of my purpose. I pray that you grant me the steadfastness and the fortitude to not turn back.

Lord, please strengthen me in my weak places, heal me in my broken places, and deliver me from my sinful nature. Where there is fear Lord, I ask that you replace it with power, love, and a sound mind. Knowing the depth of your love for me, there is no way I want to cause you grief by being stubborn or disobedient.

I love you and I thank you for sending your best to me, Jesus the Christ. And so, I commit to giving my best to you. I commit myself to the building of your kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. Lord, thank you for giving me a purpose. In Jesus’ name I say thank you.

In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.

This Reflective Prayer was taken from Chapter 1 of “Our Savior, Our Sisters, Ourselves” Biblical Teachings & Reflections on Women’s Relationships written by Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Browning, Co-Pastor of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church, Fort Washington, MD.

DAY 31!

It's day 31 and week five of Praycation - A Spiritual Journey! It has been a powerful month or prayers, Scripture and positive action. Spiritual Disciplines such as prayer, study, praise, silence, worship and meditation can deepen a believer's faith walk. My prayer is that you were blessed and encouraged to go deeper in Christ so that you can go higher in service.

More that 4,242 have prayed and almost 200 followed daily! Congratulations to those who completed all or part of the journey. If you're just finding out about this prayer discipline go now to the archives, start with July and work you way to August 31st. You can always use this site as a prayer guide.

Thank you for joining the journey. Thanks to everyone who shared their prayers and prayer experiences. If you'd like more, another discipline, teaching, a conference, webinar, or retreat you can email me at www.praycation2@gmail.com with your suggestions. If you sign up to follow this site, you will continue to receive a prayer when a new one is posted.

Let's continue to seek the face of God! Let's continue to deepen the walk and grow in faith and grace!

VMM

The Divine Encounter

Let us pray together:

Dear God,

I cannot begin this day without spending time in your presence. I cannot rush to be with you and then quickly move away. I cannot come to the prayer place and not be ready to encounter you. I command my spirit to receive what you will give to me. Amen

Dr. Jessica Ingram
Episcopal Spervisor, 10th Episcopal District AMEC
Author, The Journey Inward

Prayer Quote

"The value of consistent prayer is not that He will hear us, but that we will hear Him."
William McGill

Prayer Experience

Thank you Lord,

I'm yet holding on!!!!!!

Love, your child

Daniela

Prayer Experience

Yesterday, a twenty-nine year old woman who had been kidnapped at the age of eleven was found alive. The alleged kidnapper, along with his wife held this child as a sex slave. The accused perpetrator is now deemed as a religious fanatic.
The scripture for today warns us of this very thing, "beware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your stability. We are horrified by the thought of what this couple did to this innocent eleven year old girl for so long and then being exposed as religious zealots, but this is exactly the warning of the Word. It must be a common occurence among the elect.
"The lawless" will attact you at your weakness. It may be the slightest little pin hole of an opening, but when "the lawless" finds the entrance into the heart of "the called" of God, "the lawless" pries the hole open until it becomes a huge gapping chasm, if possible.


Therefore, at the end of this spiritual praycation journey, it is appropriate and necessary that this warning be reiterated to the us. Watch out for your "pin holes". A little sleep, a little slumber, a little wine, a little puff, a little peek, a little sneek, ... watch and pray saints of God. Keep this discipline of regular and consistent conversation with the Lord, our God.

Denise R.

Prayer Quote

“When we set out to hear God’s voice, we do not listen as though it will come from somewhere above us or in the room around us. It comes to us from within, from the heart, the dwelling place of God”

John Eldredge

International Women's Prayer Convocation

Continue the Praycation - The Spiritual Journey

The Women of the Fourth Episcopal District
of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Sponsor
International Women’s Prayer Convocation

Women’s Global Initiatives (WGI)
September 16-20, 2009
The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto
1 Harbour Square
Toronto, Ontario M5J 1A6 · Canada

A Global Resource Bank of Prayer Leaders:
Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant - Director of Spiritual Life
Lady Carol Messiah – Cape Town, South Africa
Honorable R. Italia Johnson – Nassau, The Bahamas
Presiding Elder Sarah Pedinney – Chennai, India
Rev. Dr. Marsha Foster Boyd, President Ecumenical Theological Seminary
Ambassador Molelekeng Rapalaki – The Kingdom of Lesotho
Dr. Pat Francis – Toronto, Canada
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie – U.S. Commission on Faith Based Initiatives
Akuyoe Graham – Accra, Ghana
Rev. Tracey Thomas – Toronto, Canada
First Lady Obioma Liyel – Imoke – Cross River State, Nigeria
Rev. Dr. Thema Bryant Davis – Pepperdine University, Malibu, California

Phone (416) 869 1600 · Fax (416) 869 0573
Joyce Keys-Garrison, WMS 4th Episcopal District President
Esata Masters-Beals, WMS Canadian President
Doris Haskins, Registrar
Patricia A. Bauldrick, Fiscal Officer
Bishop John Richard Bryant, Presiding Prelate
Reverend Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant, Episcopal Supervisor

THANKSGIVING

Let us pray together:

Most Gracious and Heavenly Father, we take this time to honor and adore you. You are strong and mighty, mighty to save us. And for that we say thank you. Your love supercedes anything for us that we could imagine, and for that we say thank you. God we thank You for Jesus, who can heal, change, and deliver at the very mention of that name.

Thank you for being patient with us as we have gone against Your Word time and time again. Forgive us. We need Your mercies and Your grace. So we're asking You to create in us this day a clean heart and renew a right spirit.

Lord, we know that we can do nothing without You. So Father, please fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit. We are unworthy of Your blessings, but Father we thank You for Your continued favor over our lives. We praise You that You would choose us as Your vessels and honor You for the awesome privilege to serve You. We will continue to have praise on our lips. Thank you.

Mold us into the man or woman You would have us to be that we may edify your Kingdom and continue to give You praise.

You're worthy of all the honor and glory.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Rev. Charles Bobo, Sr.
Pastor
The Meeting Place Church
St. Louis, MO

Prayer Quote

“Prayer is the beginning and the end, the source and the fruit, the core and the content, the basis and the goal of all peacemaking. I say this without apology, because it allows me to go straight to the heart of the matter, which is that peace is a divine gift, a gift we receive in prayer. “

Henry Nouwen

Prayer Experience

Father God, your presence keeps me. Your presence calms me, your presence comforts me, and your presence inspires me. At your breast, all things are possible. Mountains become hills and rivers become puddles.
Awesome is Your presence! Awesome is Your Name!

Dianna W.

BECAUSE OF YOU

Let us Pray together:

Father God, in the name of Jesus, it is because of you that I take another breath of fresh air. God it is because of you that I yet have another opportunity to see the light of a brand new day and for that I say thank you.

God as I start this day I pray that you order my steps in your Word that I might be pleasing in your sight. Lord I realize that I can’t make it, not another step, without your grace and mercy. God I need you right now.

God I have to magnify your wonderful name because you are worthy to be praised! You are great and mighty and I just love you today and forever. God, I’m asking you for your hand of protection around your people and that you guide us to lead others to Christ. Help us to be the examples of holiness to those that have lost their way.

God, I want to thank you just for being God and for me you are enough. Everything that I ever need, I find in you. Thank you that you will never take your love from me and please help me to love others, as you have loved me.

I give your name the praise, honor, and the glory in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Evangelist Missionary La Shell Spence
Higher Ground Church of God in Christ
St. Cloud, MN

Listening Prayer

Exhale and inhale until you are relaxed. Now pray:

“My Lord and My God, listening is hard for me. I do not exactly mean hard, for I understand that this is a matter of receiving rather than trying. What I mean is that I am so action oriented, so product driven, that doing is easier than being. I need your help if I am to be still and listen. I would like to try. I would like to learn how to sink down into the light of your presence until I can become comfortable in that posture. Help me to try now.

Thank you. – Amen”

Richard J. Foster
Prayer
Finding the Heart’s True Home

*Now be still and listen for at least 5 to 10 minutes.

Prayer Experience

Prayer, or in my case crying out to God is my ONLY source of getting through my challenging life, everyday.

I SURRENDER ALL

Let us pray together:

I cry out; yet, in my spirit, I have no relief. I have tried to work things out through my carnal knowledge; yet, I can find no solution. I have tried through my natural ability to be strong; yet, my body has taken a toll in the battle.
Father, in the name of Jesus, forgive me for taking upon myself that which you have instructed that I cast unto you.

Today, I come before your throne of grace and mercy. I totally surrender and give you my spirit, mind and body. Give me peace, as only you can that passes all understanding.
Take my mind and by the power of your Holy Spirit, give me spiritual wisdom and knowledge, in all that I do.
I give you my body, as your temple and as a living sacrifice.
Father, renew and give me strength as the eagle.
Heal me, as only you can heal me. Mold, change and shape me, as only you can, for your good will and pleasure.

As I stand before the presence of your throne, the blood of Jesus Christ covers me. In faith, I surrender all; therefore, the blood of Jesus and my faith in your power and abilities have broken the bondage that held me—spirit, mind and body.
Thank you Father that bondage no longer has dominion over me and I leave your throne rejuvenated in spirit, mind and body and ready to get back into the race. In Jesus' mighty name; amen.

Diana Fikes
Publisher, Voice the Word: A Christian website where the word of God has a solution and takes precedence over any circumstance. © 2009
http://www.voicetheword.com

Prayer Quote

The invitation to a life of prayer is the invitation to live in the midst of this world without being dropped in the net of its wounds and needs. The word ”prayer” stands for a radical interruption of the vicious chain of interlocking dependencies that lead to violence and war and for an entering into an entirely new dwelling place. It points to the a new way of speaking, of breathing, of being together, of knowing – truly, to a whole new way of living.

Henri Nouwen

GOOD MORNING FATHER

Let's pray together:

Good Morning Father. Thank you for awakening me to brand new mercies. I can’t wait to see what you are up to today. You are awesome! I worship you!

You are my shelter and my safe place. You’re my peace in the midnight hours; my strength when I am frazzled, my wisdom when I don’t know what to do. You are my healer when doctors have no clue! There is no God like my God!

Teach me your ways, for your ways are above my ways. Your ways are righteous and just when I would seek to right, or strike back at a wrong. Your ways bless others when I can get preoccupied with myself.
Lord show me your path. Your path leads to hope, salvation, and peace. In Your presence is truly the fullness of joy!

Thank you for not dealing with me according to my transgressions—for I do sin and fall short of your glory! I miss the mark and overstep your boundaries. On my best days, you know I am prone to err. So create in me a clean heart. Start me all over again. Protect me from the works of the devil.
I praise you for victory in Christ! Prosper the work of my hands that you may receive glory and your people are built up.

I ask all these things in the marvelous, matchless name of Jesus, my savior, Amen!
(Inspired by Psalm 25:4-7)

Rev. Dr. Rosalind P. Denson
Associate Pastor
West Side Missionary Baptist Church
St Louis, Missouri
http://afruitfullife.blogspot.com

Prayer Quote

"The battle of prayer is against two things in the earthlies: wandering thoughts, and lack of intimacy with God's character as revealed in His word. Neither can be cured at once, but they can be cured by discipline."

Oswald Chambers

Prayer Experience

Praise the Lord!

Before praycation, I do try to have my devotion time early in the morning. This is like icing on cake, I do have a separate notebook for the beautiful and uplifting prayers and Bible Verses that are mentioned. I used to be very active in my church but I was more doing than being what God wanted in my life. Now Being is more important than Doing for me. My relationship with Christ is what I am longing for right now in my life. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this great praycation.

Luv in Christ,
Chantal

Order My Steps

Let's pray together:

Gracious God, how excellent is Your name in all the earth. Thank you Lord for today, for another opportunity to come before Your throne of grace, to magnify Your most holy Name. Thank you Lord that You aroused me from sleep on this morning and that new grace and mercy greeted me as I opened my eyes.

Father God, I am grateful that You sent Jesus to die on the cross for my sins that I can come directly to You and make my petitions known. You sacrificed Your best for me, so I want to give You my best on this day. I want to show You that I love You through my obedience.

Lord this day is Yours. I lay it before the foot of Your throne. Have Your way. You are the one who orders my steps and I put my trust in You. You are sovereign. You know Lord what I will face today and You have already made provision for all my needs. To that end, I trust You with my schedule, my time, and my life on this day.

Help me to sense Your guidance and give me strength to obey. I thank You for guiding me beside still waters; there is no need for me to fret because You are always with me.

Lord, I am overjoyed that assurance is mine because I submit this day to You. My plans will succeed as I allow your Holy Spirit to take full control. My life is in Your hands.


Rev. Angela Tate
West Side MB Church
St Louis, MO

Prayer Experience

Praise God, I am very very grateful to have been given this opportunity to share this experience and feel strongly and pray that towards the end of all these prayers, God is going to change my life most graciously.

Thank you Lord

Paulette

ACT Up

As a pastor, I have often heard members express their feelings of inadequacies about their personal prayer lives. Mostly they feel they do not know how to pray. With that in mind, a number of years ago, I passed on to my congregation a formula that I had learned and found that it helped many to feel more comfortable about praying to our loving God.

The formula is as follows: A C T S (like the Book of Acts)

A is for ADORATION. Just as in the Lord's Prayer, our prayers should begin with Adoration to our loving God. We should always begin by telling God how great God is. How powerful God is, by bringing glory and honor to God's name.

"Dear God, I love you today. Loving and kind God I praise your holy name. I bless you and acknowledge that you are the one true and living God. You are all together lovely. You are the Great I Am. I bless you and hallow your name. There is none like you and I come this day as an empty piture before a full fountain -- you are the fount of every blessing --your name is worthy of all praise, glory and honor."

C is for CONFESSION. The Bible teaches that a confessed sin is a forgiven sin. When we go before our Holy God, we must first admit that we have sinned and come short of God's glory.

'Dear Lord, I know that I'm a sinner, but I believe that you can cleanse me of all my sins and unrighteousness. I have sinned against you and you alone. You died on Calvary's cross so that I could be forgiven of my sins and I acknowledge that I am not worthy to receive even the crumbs from your table. Please forgive me and give me power to walk upright before you. Keep me in the hallow of your hands and continue to make me and shape me into what you would have me to be. God I am so sorry that I have failed you time and time again, and I'm asking you to be merciful unto me.'

T is for THANKSGIVING. We often sing as a prayer refrain, 'Before I ask for anything, I want to thank you for everything, thank you, thank you, thank you Jesus, for all you've done for me.' And when we pray, that should be our attitude. To tell the Lord 'Thank You' first! Before we make our petitions for things -- for manifold blessings from God, take a moment to tell the Lord 'Thank You' for what God has already done for you.

Thank you for just waking me up this morning. Thank you for the air I breath. Thank you for keeping me clothed in my right mind. Thank you for my health and strength. Thank you for keeping my family safe. Thank you for every provision. Thank you for grace and for mercy. Thank you for loving a wretch like me. Lord, thank you for just being my sustainer, my maintainer and provider. Before I ask for anything, I just want to thank you for everything.'

S is for SUPPLICATION. Now that we have given the name of God glory; Now that we have confessed that we are sinners saved by grace. Now that we have given Thanksgiving unto our loving God -- we can now make our request known unto God. And just as our earthly fathers love to give children gifts, especially children who recognize the worth of their fathers, our heavenly Father loves to give us the very desires of our hearts.

So Loving God I come to you this morning knowing that you know my every need. But your word tells me to ask, to seek and to knock. So I come seeking your blessings for my life for this day. Without you I can do nothing. So I pray that first of all you create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. I pray that this day you will lead me and guide me along the way, for if you lead me, I cannot stray. Lord, I need you to bless and keep my family today. Lord I need you to open doors that have been shut so that my territory can be enlarged. Lord, I pray that you make a way for my bills to be paid, for me to put food on the table and keep a roof over my family's head. Give me health and strength to do the things you desire from me this day. Help me to live this day in a way that is pleasing and acceptable in your sight. Lord I love you and I ask these and all other blessings in the name of your beloved son, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Dr. Ann Lightner Fuller,
Pastor, Mt. Calvary AMEC
Towson, Maryland

Prayer Experience

Lord, it's Week 4, and I'm hanging strong!!!! Hallelujah for some staying power. So glad, so glad, so glad that I've hung in. Running for the finish line, and hoping to continue after the month is over. Thank you for helping me to establish some Spiritual Discipline in my life.

Love, your child

Daniela

PHENOMENAL GOD

Let us pray together:

Gracious God, who has brought us to the beginning of this day, thank you for your power and grace that defends us by your might. Lord, help us to appreciate and understand what your design is, for us, on this day. You are a loving and gracious Father, please have mercy on us as we explore all of the possibilities that you have given us to love, share, and care in this wonderful world that you have made.

Lord, on this day please forgive us for our sins of omission and commission. Please have mercy upon us! Please protect us from the Enemy who is constantly shooting fiery darts at us! Lord, you are our deliverance!

How we love having a continuous talk with you throughout the day! Thank you that you are always listening to us and that no weapon that is formed against us will prosper. Please keep us strong, increase our faith and give us power from on high.

God, you are phenomenal and your mercies are new every morning! You are The Creator who does all things well. Thank you for attending to every detail of our lives. Everything that you do, you do for our good! Please help us to be patient, rejoicing in our suffering, allowing your plans to become our plans, as you perfect us day by day! Thank you for the joy that only comes from serving You.

Your power reaches up to the Heavens and beyond!
We love you Lord! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Rev. Carl Walker
Pastor
Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church
St. Paul, MN

Prayer Experience

Lord, I thank you for for being You. I thank you for being with me as I navigate through life with my fears, doubts and indecisions. Thank you for teaching me to depend on you.

As I spend more time with you in prayer and meditation, my fears lessen. As I study your word more, my doubts become clearer and my direction more focused. Lord, I thank you for another day with you

Pam

Breathing Prayer

Let us be still together:

At the mention of fasting, immediately we think of refraining from food. Sometimes, a fast from noise and idle chatter is more helpful. A period of silence is often necessary to hear God’s still small voice above the dissonance of our lives which distracts us from a deeper relationship with the Lover of our souls. This is difficult in our society in which we are inundated with words and stimuli coming at us from every direction. Some retreat to monasteries with rolling green hills and pastoral scenes to claim silence. Others walk labyrinths. You may not be able to escape to a monastery or find a labyrinth handy but you can push away from your desk and take a break. During your break, do breath prayers.

On a deep inhalation from your diaphragm, breathe: “Lord, Have Mercy.” On the exhalation: “Christ, Have Mercy.” On the inhalation: “Lord, Have Mercy.” On the exhalation: “Amen.”

Please repeat as many times as necessary, as you claim the space and silence necessary to listen to God in the midst of your precious life.

Pastor Angela L. Shannon
Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA)
Sylvania, OH

*Now go to www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com for a message entitled "The Sound of Silence". The link is on the right side of this blog.

Prayer Quote

On the Noise of the Day

"You have made my soul for Your peace and Your silence, but it is lacerated by the noise of my activity and my desires. My mind is crucified all day by its own hunger for experience, for ideas, for satisfaction. And I do not possess my house in silence."

Thomas Merton

Prayer Experience

The journey begins anew each morning! Take a moment to be still and thank God the newness. God's already brought you through yesterday's storm, rejoice and be glad in that alone and then share your testimony with someone else. I am!

Lord, I praise you for bringing me through yesterday's storm, and for preparing me for today's weather - good or bad, sunny or stormy - I know you are present in my life. So with eyes wide open and hands lifted upward, I sing songs of thanksgiving for just another day of living. Amen

Deborah

Be Still

Be still and know that I am GOD... psalm 46:10

I am busy
I am blustered
I am bewildered
I am bothered
I am broken
and it is still morning.

I will wait
I will stop
I will slow down
I will be still
I will rest
I will relax
I will recoup
I will regain
I will recover

Thank you Lord for allowing me to experience trials. For knowing who you are allows me to be still. Thank you Lord, for refreshing me as I stop long enough to hear from you. Thank you Lord, for rebuilding me, as I have been down. Thank you Lord, for restoring me, as I acknowledge my broken areas. Thank you Lord, for reviving me, as my spirit longs to hear your voice.

I am still
I can hear
I can feel
I can see
I can smell
I can taste
I am still
And I know you are GOD.

Rev. Troy Thomas, Pastor
Historic St. Paul AME Church - Lexington, KY

Prayer Experience

God, I thank you this day for in the midst of the storm - you are my shield and protection. I thank you this day that your angels - called goodness and mercy - are ever encamped around me leading, guiding and directing my every footstep; seasoning my words with the flavor of love so that I might encourage someone instead of destorying their spirit with bitterness.

Forgive me Creator God when I fail to listen, hear and respond to You. I THANK YOU and I rejoice and praise you because I KNOW that great is thy faithfulness -morning by morning new mercies I do see; all I have ever needed your hand have [and continues] provideth- great is thy faithfulness unto me!


In the name of the Risen Savior - Jesus the Christ. Amen

Jacqueline

Another Day!

Let us pray together:

Eternal God, creator of all things, thank you for allowing me to see another day. Somebody was not able to wake up this morning, but you saw fit to give me the activity of my body and to touch me with your finger of love. Thank you.

God I understand that it is not because I have been so good, but because of your grace and loving mercy that you have allowed me to see another day. Thank you.

Bless this day and all that takes place in it. Bless my going out and my coming in. Please put a shield of protection around me from all hurt, harm, or danger, in the name of Jesus. Thank you for being the God above—and over—all things. Keep me by your power.

In The Mighty Name Of Jesus!

Thank God and Amen!

Rev. Demetrius Chester
Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church
St. Cloud State University, Class of 2011
Saint Paul, MN

Prayer Thoughts

"Love the Lord your God, walk in all His ways, keep His commandmnets, hold fast to Him, and serve Him will all your heart and with all your soul."
Joshua 22: 5

Lord, keep my heart open and sensitive to the plans you have for my life. Give me the courage to walk in Your will when You reveal Your plans to me, plans not to harm but to prosper me. In Jesus Name, Amen

Prayer Experience

Even after prayer this morning, I am a bit uptight about a situation I came home to. I know that it is just a matter of time before God works it out. I cast my cares upon you God. I cast my cares upon you God. I cast my cares upon you God. I thank you in advance for working it out.
Love your child,
Daniela

Prayer Thoughts

Is the Son of God praying in me, or am I dictating to Him?....Prayer is not simply getting things from God, that is a most initial form of prayer; prayer is getting into perfect communion with God. If the Son of God is formed in us by regeneration, He will press forward in front of our common sense and change our attitude towards the things about which we pray.
Oswald Chambers

The Divine Encounter

Dear God,
I cannot begin this day without spending time in your presence. I cannot rush to be with you and then quickly move away. I cannot come to the prayer place and not be ready to encounter you. I command my spirit to receive what you will give to me. Amen

Dr. Jessica Ingram
Supervisor, 10th Episcopal District AMEC
Author, The Journey Within
Journeyministry@aol.com

Scripture

“By the reading of Scripture I am so renewed that all nature seems renewed around me and with me. The sky seems to be pure, a cooler blue, the trees a deeper green, light is sharper on the outlines of the forest and the hills and the whole world is charged with the glory of God and I feel fire and music in the earth under my feet.”

Thomas Merton

Prayer Experience

A good read:
Speaking Life Into Our Own Lives. When we go through things in our lives, or we battle sins in our lives, we allow it 
to become our focus. We allow it to block the direction, blessing, and promises
 that God has for us.

I often relate it to a mountain. A mountain is very tall, we
 can't see over it or around it. The only way that you would be able to see what is
 on the other side would be to climb to the top and look over it. If we can begin to
 speak to the mountains in our lives, and command them to leave or (DIE), we
 would be able to see our direction, and our focus would be in view. We would
 then be able to speak Life into our lives, no matter what kind of issues it is.
 Sometimes, we make it so much harder on ourselves. We choose to climb the 
mountain ourselves, instead of taking authority over the mountain, and telling it to
 be therefore cast into the sea, and to quit blocking our view, and therefore to die 
in our lives. The Bible tells us to take God's Yoke, because His Yoke is easy,
 and His Burdens are light! In other words, if we would turn our issues over to
 Him, allow Him to remove that mountain, issue, sin that is blocking our 
view, then we would be able to continue on the path that God has for us.


As we walk with God, and try to look at ourselves in the mirror, God will allow us
 to recognize those issues, and God will teach us how to give him the mountains 
in our lives, so that our views will not be obstructed by anything. It is then we can
 speak Life and not Death into our lives. 
Remember for us to be able to speak Life into anything in our lives, that issue must be dead. Also, remember that God can help you with bringing death to
 your issues!


Love You,
First Lady Lisa

Open Our Eyes

Praying together and out loud, we pray:

Gracious God, we come before you, unworthy of your grace, unworthy of your love and unworthy of you. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Today, we come in confession that too often we have chosen the fruit over the garden; too often we have bowed down to the golden calf; too often we have begged for a sign; too often we have declared Caesar to be Lord; too often we have demanded to see the wounds in your hands; too often we have substituted our image of you, for you. Too often we have neglected your call to be salt and light; too often we have reduced our relationship with you to a moral code; too often we have forgotten Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection; too often we have acted on sight and not on faith.

Lord, have mercy. Heal us now. Open our eyes. Empower our lives. Fill our hearts with your eternal love.
In the matchless Name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.


Dr. Lance D. Watson, Senior Pastor
Saint Paul's Baptist Church
4247 Creighton Road
Richmond, Virginia 23223
804.643.4000/648.4526 (fax)
"A Church for People On the Grow"
www.myspbc.org

Prayer Experience

Good afternoon, as we start week 3, I am in a quandry on understanding speaking life into dead issues. Can someone add a little more detail? Is this where there are common problems that continue to lie around dormant and this is the time to finally eradicate those (because I can point to several in my & my family's lives.
Thank you and stay praying!
Eve

Dear Eve,

What comes out of your mouth has power. Words have power. You can talk yourself into a bad day. You can talk yourself into a good mood. Your words have the power to help or hurt, yourself and others.

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs18: 21. Since life and death is in your mouth, speak life. Pray life into dead situation.

In the name of Jesus, I pray life into everything that is dead around me – dead heart, dead minds, dead hopes, dead dreams and dead relationships. Give me words of life to speak to dead issues. Point me to your Word that will bring life to my spirit so that your Word will reproduce itself in my life. Now help me to speak Your Words of life so that Your Word will reproduce itself into the lives of other believers. Amen.

VMM

Prayer Thoughts

Think as Jesus Taught
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
(p.106)

Jesus never mentioned unanswered prayer. He had the boundless certainty that prayer was always answered. Have we by the Spirit the unspeakable certainty that Jesus had about prayer, or do we think of the times when God does not seem to have answered prayer? "Everyone that asketh receiveth." God answers prayer in the best way, not sometimes, but everytime, although the immediate manifestation of the answer in the domain in which we want it may not always follow. Do we expect God to answer prayer?

The danger with us is that we want to water down the things that Jesus says and make them mean something in accordance with common sense; if it were only common sense, it was not worthwhile for Him to say it. The things Jesus says about prayer are supernatural revelations. Prayer is not an exercise. It is the life.
"Pray without ceasing."
1 Thessalonians 5:17

Rev. Angelique Mason, Pastor
Holy Trinity AME Church
Rock Hall, MD

Fill Us!

Find a quiet space.
Be still and know God.
Open now the essence of your being to God just as a Morning Glory opens to the sun/Son.
Let us prayer together:

Loving God, we give you praise and thanksgiving for how you have created us, kept us and sustained us. Our desire and goal today is to know more of your love in our lives that we might be more loving towards you and others. Fill us now with your love, mercy and power that we might represent you, your love, acceptance, compassion and understanding in the world. Make us truly yours. In the Name of Christ who loved us so much that he sacrificed himself for us, we pray. Amen.

Dr. Lance D. Watson, Senior Pastor
Saint Paul's Baptist Church
4247 Creighton Road
Richmond, Virginia 23223
804.643.4000/648.4526 (fax)
"A Church for People On the Grow"
www.myspbc.org

Prayer Experience

Four funerals in less than 2 weeks have made me pause to consider and reconsider God's call on my life to minister to those in need of hospice care. It is not that I fear death, but that I am sometimes at a loss for words of comfort. Telling someone to call me if they need me or saying, “I am here for you,” seems pointless and trivial. I certainly will not ask if there is anything I can do for them because once someone responded, “Can you bring my loved one back?” Yet, words are all I have to express my genuine concern and regards. My presence is felt, but what flows from my mouth is so very important. I know the person, who is mourning, is sad and so I don’t want to ask, “How are you?” I can see that they are crying, so I don’t want to give them permission to cry. I know that God will bring joy in the morning, but this is the night and to them their pain is unbearable.

Oh! Yes, this too shall pass, but when? When will they, the mourners, be made whole again? For instance, I still mourn my grandmother whom I cared for and was with when she died. I still mourn my great-grandfather who loved me beyond measure and taught me to love my neighbor as myself, and whom I cared for and watched die. I still mourn my sister, Denise, who was not a sister by blood but a sister/daughter/friend by circumstance and choice and love; who died too young, moments before our last good-bye. How do I care for those whose days are numbered? What do I say to their families? How do I prepare my family for our own deaths?

My prayer: Lord, you’ve given me this cup and I don’t ask you to take it away rather I ask only that you strengthen me to carry it. Give me the words Lord to say to those who mourn, to those who are dying, to those in need. Lord, let them see you through me; hide me Lord, my needs, my desires, my wants, and my doubts. Speak to them in words I cannot imagine. Comfort them so that my a rms reveal your presence, my hugs reveal your love, and my tongue reveals your heart. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Deborah

Renew Our Faith

Let us pray together:

O God, the holy source of energy, enthusiasm and excitement, renew our faith in your eternal compassion and commitment to humanity. Life’s travails have beleaguered us beyond measure. We are over burdened by our work experiences. We are overwhelmed by our family responsibilities. We are overloaded by our religious commitments. We are most grateful that the power to overcome our dilemmas rests in you, God alone. We praise the wisdom of recreation and relaxation, moments of renewing divine purpose and intent in our lives. Help us to envision your divine mission for each of us and all of us. Allow us to divert daily to devote ourselves to your presence, to withdraw weekly to worship your providence, and to abandon annually to adore your purpose. Amen.


Dr. Daryl B. Ingram
Executive Director
Christian Education Department
"Teaching Christ Globally"

Prayer Experience

I thank God for his Morning blessing...I had been praying that God would give me the tools to increase my prayer and be consistance with it.... as i was surfing the sites, I viewed the site of Bishop V, and read about Praycation, I am now involved with it and it has help me to be consistence in my prayer time with God... I am learning to be still and listen for his voice... I have thank God for sending the tools I needed to be consistence in my prayer time.

Rev. Beaver-Carter,
12th District of the AMEC

Eternity's Embrace

Let us prayer together:

In the quiet of the night
My soul reaches for you
I breathe deep
As I feel Eternity
Embracing me…
In the midnight hour
I whisper my prayer
Knowing that you hear me
I am able to close my eyes
As I breathe (inhale)
(exhale) Just breathe
Listening
As you speak
In a still small voice
That summons me
Down the path
Of my greatest good
As I journey
I see the manger
The cross
The tomb
And I rejoice as I
Dance
Just dance
Into the Light
of Eternity.
Amen
Inspired by: Luke 1:46-55 (NRSV)

Rev. Yolanda D. Lehman
Publisher, Ainta That Good News?!: A daily online Christian devotional that makes Good News easy to read and fun to share! © 2009
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/

Prayer Experience

I know prayer works - it has worked for me.

When things are going well in our lives we forget to put God in the mix, and that's when we start getting into trouble
Estrella

Dear God,

Let us pray together:

Dear God,
It's a special season of prayer again. Because I have tried and failed to keep my commitment to the practice of spiritual disciplines, I am seeking your guidance. This is a time when I want to be more spiritually in tune with you and your Son, Jesus Christ. I ask that you remove the veil from my eyes so I might see him more clearly. Implant in me a holy resolve to be like him. Teach me to take up my cross each day and follow him. When this time of Lent is ended, I want to know that I have drawn closer to Christ.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Dr. Jessica Ingram
Episcopal Supervisor
10th Episcopal District
Preacher, Author, Teacher

Prayer Experience

Bishop,
I'm so blessed by this spiritual journey I've embarked on with you. I have not missed a day. Being consistent is an area I'm not always good at; however, I'm happy to say that I've made the commitment to follow this through all the way. I'm going on vacation tomorrow, and I'm packing my Bible, my computer and my journal. I'm happy to report that the discipline of this journey has helped me to have some discipline over my eating. This month, since I started the journey, I've managed to loose over 10lbs. To God be the glory. I feel great.

Thank You,

Daniela

Prayer Quote

You have a choice between a Bag Lunch or a Banquet!

"The difference between quickly throwing up a few prayers when you have a moment, and spending a quality devotion time with God is like the difference between buying fast food and dining in a fine restaurant. With fast food, you drive up, yell into a microphone, and drive around to a window where they throw you a sack of food. But in a fine restaurant, you sit down. You spend time in pleasant conversation with your table companion, and you become nourished and refreshed". ~~~John Maxwell~~~

Rev. Tyronda

Morning Prayer

Let us pray together:

Oh Lord, how excellent and marvelous is your Name. You are the day spring of all my joy… my shelter, the lifter of my countenance. At every remembrance of your goodness, I bow in humble adoration. Indeed, your loving kindness is better than life. As I seek You early in the morning, I am grateful to behold the beauty of another day. A day so beautiful because of the radiance of Your love, the brilliance of Your wisdom that protrudes my thought process as I listen for your instructions and guidance for the day. Lord, you are awesome and mighty in power.

In this hour, I am inspired and my heart is spilling over with love for You. Oh God… my God… I love you with all of my heart, soul, mind, body and strength. I devote my life to You… for Your service and for Your delight… for Your glory and for Your honor.

Oh, God, create a clean heart within me, a heart that has been cleansed from my guilt of past sins, and even from the pain and shame of broken promises. Yes, cleanse me, and make me whole. Your Word says Your mercies are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness unto me. My God, I praise Your Name.

I thank You for Your fatherly goodness today. Thank You for air to breathe. Thank You for the warmth of sunshine… the beauty of sun, wind, rain, moon, and stars. Thank You for clothes to wear and food on my table… a roof over my head… Thank You for being my God, and my Friend. Yes, I can call on You at all times. I am so glad that I can depend on You. Oh God, I give You my hopes… even my fears.

I release the pain of my past, the pressures to perform and to succeed. My passions and pursuits, I release them all to You. In Your hands there is major transformation. You transform my pain into purpose, my trials into triumphs, my distresses into destiny. You are so perfect in all of Your ways. Even my mess-ups become bless ups. God, I love You.

Thank You for Jesus, My Savior and Friend, Your only begotten Son. Yes, Father, Son, Holy Spirit—three in one, GOD. Now give me this day, to drink of Your Spirit, to be nourished by Your Word… clothed with Your righteousness. Lord as I greet my husband… my children… my world, let me do so in love, joy, and peace. Yes, today is a new day, that I can worship and praise the Lord.

In Jesus, Name. AMEN.

Rev. Maxine Thomas
St. Paul AME Church
Lexington, Kentucky

Prayer Experience

I am so grateful for "Praycation". I don't like to journal, but I decided to be obedient to this entire spiritual journey. What a blessing it has been! I have written things down and the next day the Scripture lesson brings clarification and confirmation. And so many of the prayers are what is in my heart but I did not have the words on my lips to express. Thank God and you for this spiritual journey.
Sharon

Your Work is all Divine

Let us pray:

Father God,
Your work is all divine. I thank you for all the work you have done on me and through me. I truly desire to pursue my purpose to your honor and your glory. I thank you dear Lord that you know my heart, you know my desires, and you know your plans for my future.

I will keep on pressing to reach the place where you want me to be. I have made mistakes. I have done and said the wrong things at times in my life. I have gotten off track. I thank you that I can hear your voice when you call me back on track. I pray that all of the women of God will answer when you call them to their purpose.

I bless your name as I walk in the authority you have bestowed on me. I ask you God for your blessings, your guidance, and your supernatural power as I pursue my purpose in life. Grant me the clarity to recognize that you are preparing me to step into the fullness of my purpose. I pray that you grant me the steadfastness and the fortitude to not turn back.
Lord, please strengthen me in my weak places, heal me in my broken places, and deliver me from my sinful nature. Where there is fear Lord, I ask that you replace it with power, love, and a sound mind. Knowing the depth of your love for me, there is no way I want to cause you grief by being stubborn or disobedient.

I love you and I thank you for sending your best to me, Jesus the Christ. And so, I commit to giving my best to you. I commit myself to the building of your kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. Lord, thank you for giving me a purpose. In Jesus’ name I say thank you. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.

This Reflective Prayer was taken from Chapter 1 of “Our Savior, Our Sisters, Ourselves” Biblical Teachings & Reflections on Women’s Relationships written by Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Browning, Co-Pastor of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church, Fort Washington, MD.

Prayer Experience

Bishop, I started out well. I created a prayer corner in my room and planned to be in it at least 20 minutes a day. I started strong but now I can hardly get back into my prayer groove. Help!
Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,

Never fear, just start again. Making the decision to participate in a season of intense prayer is one thing. Doing the daily prayer and Scripture is where real change takes place. Start small and build. If you forget, start where you are. Just follow the instructions on the right side of the blog. The spiritual journey is to be a joy not a burden. Center yourself, connect and commit to listening to the Lord.

VMM

Being with God

Let us pray this personal petition together:

O God, I rejoice today that I can spend time just being with you. No matter how much I love those you placed in my life, I love being alone in your presence for this moment. Let me fall into your arms, again. Let me taste and see that you are good, again. Let me drink deeply from your refreshing pools of living water, again. Feed me, O bread of heaven until I want no more.

Keeping company with you, the source of all wisdom, knowledge and power, leads to a greater revelation beyond human achievement.
Tutor my spirit, when I need to be challenged
Assure my heart when fear seeks to overtake my faith; and
Satisfy our hunger for certainty and control.

Just being with you helps us to entrust our lives to you more and more each day realizing that you are closer to us than we are to ourselves.

In Jesus name,
Amen
VMM

Prayer Experience

Thank you Bishop. Praycation has re-opened my lines of communication with God and with myself. I have been writing, as I haven't in some time.
I feel volumes of works are in me dying to be released.
Homer (The Odyssey and the Iliad) ain't got NOTHIN' on THIS Child o' God!

Laurette Williams

Prayer Experience

"Skill vs. Will". Skill is the result of training and discipline. Set aside time for a "Prayer-cation" (Bishop McKenzie) to train daily and exercise discipline to overcome your Will or daily distractions. 30 minutes a day in prayer, meditation, & reading God's word will give you the strength and encouragement you need to confront challenges and declare VICTORY in Jesus' name. "Are you celebrating yet?"

Denise Wellons-Glover

You may share your prayer experience by filling out the comment box on the right side of the blog.

Search, Know and Love

O God,
Search me, know me and love me. I turn my face to the wall to commune with You. Satisfy me with your steadfast love that I may rejoice and be glad all my days.

Come gently to my secret places where my intimate self dwells. Give me the confidence to lower the barriers carefully constructed to protect me from intrusion. Gaze upon the passionate landscape of my interior life; tend to my weary soul, renew my mind with your words and refresh my spirit with your presence.

Lead me to that place where my ears hear your voice more clearly; where my heart composes new songs; where my voice gathers the strength it needs to sing; where my mind finds the rest it needs from the jangling discords of life; where my eyes see you everywhere in everything and in everyone.

O God,
Search me, know me and love me. I turn my face to the wall to commune with You. In communion with you help me to celebrate the divine gift of Being
Being still
Being alive
Being in your presence.

In Your name, Amen
VMM

Thank You

Let us pray together:

Oh Father, you truly do “reward those who diligently seek you”!
My prayer today is a prayer of celebration and thanksgiving!
You’ve blessed me “immeasurably, above all that I could ever ask think or imagine”!

I stood on your Word and you did what you said and answered my prayer! Thank you for your consistency! Thank you for your kindness, but most of all thank you for being true to your word! You are truly amazing to me! You’ve “gone before me” and made my “crooked roads straight” and so many “rough places smooth”!
I now see a different way!
I’m now taking a different approach!
I’m now moving down a different path! You’ve illuminated my way by my allowing you to become “a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my pathway”!
And you continue to “order my steps” and I’m so glad about it!

Now Lord, keep me focused, keep me steady and keep me secure in all your ways.
You’ve told me that there is “more land to possess”; therefore I am confident that I will reach my destination according to your will.
Continue to remind me, that you are “Alpha and Omega”, that you are the “beginning and the end” and that all things are “under my feet”!
Remind me that I belong to you and that you are my God! “I am persuaded” that I will reach my destination for if “I abide in you and your Word abides in me, I can ask for what I will and it will be given unto me”!
So now Lord, give me strength, mercy and grace to run this race and endure to the end!

In Your Name, Amen

Rev. Dianne Lewis Brown
Pastor of Administration & Ministry Development
St. Stephen Church
Louisville, KY/Jeffersonville, IN

A Listening Place

"Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live..."
Isaiah 55:3

Dear God,

I really do want to be like Jesus, not only in my works, but also in my ability to get by myself and listen to your voice. I am so accustomed to the sounds around me until I am not sure I know how to stop listening to them. I know I must learn to listen attentively to your voice. I humbly ask you to teach me how to be, how to listen.

Amen.
The Inward Journey
Dr. Jessica Ingram
Episcopal Supervisor
10th Episcopal District, AMEC
journeyministry@aol.com

Prayer Experience

Our God is the God who kept His promise to Noah to never again destroy the earth with a flood.

 Our God is the God who kept His promise to the Hebews enslaved in Egypt that he would lead them
 safely to their homeland-the promise land. 

Our God is the God who kept His promise to restore his sinful 
people to Jerusalem from their captivity in Babylon.

 Our God is the same God who kept His promise to send a Messiah to suffer and save people from their sins-Jesus.

 Our God is the same God who kept His promise that the gates of Hades would not prevail against his church.

Let's continue to Stand on the Promises of God who is a PROMISEKEEPER.



Rev. Linda Thomas-Martin

Presiding Elder
South Memphis District

13th Episcopal District

Prayer Experience

LISTEN, IT'S A NEW DAY!



"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24




Listening for God each day with prayer, offers me time to listen more closely to my Creator speaking power and balance into a world in need of life and hope. 

Listening helps me hear creation; sounds of moving cars; voices of laughing people; quick chirping harmonies of birds after a rainy day; footsteps of early morning walkers on a wet pavement, announcing as life opens wth a wide smile and a welcoming message, "Listen, It's new day!" 

Listening draws me closer to God's word and will as it helps me to step back and step up to the plate to do my part, and to take a look at what God has prepared with the dawning and making of another new day. 

Listening gives time for my heart to rejoice and give thanks in all things: God's hidden mysteries and revealing mighty works of love; faith's active role playing on the stages of life, and yes, the start of a continuous path and yet, a new journey on the road of uncovering, discovering and recovering the God in me. Listen, It's a New Day!



Dr. Charlotte B. Sydnor, Pastor

Shorter Chapel AME Church

Franklin, Tennessee

Prayer Experience

Silence is the hardest part of my praycation experience. I want to fill the silence with words - what was, what is, what will come. I seal my lips, and my eyes envision words prancing through my head; jumbled words, flashing words, preventing the absence of thought for the silence required. I can find my lonely place, my place of solitude, solace, nothingness. I can pray silently or in my secret closet or aloud, publicly. My listening skills are keen, and I am a master of the written word. But, being in silence, without a thought, without a whisper, without a whimper, without a word, I am learning to be silent.

My prayer: Lord, I surrender to you silently, without words or thoughts. Lord, I give you me freely, without the ‘what was, what is, what will be.’ Lord, I am open to your will, without reservation, expectation, clutter, noise; simply emptiness waiting to be filled. Lord, I am intricately, intimately, silently yours. Amen.

D.L. Stapleton

When

Let us pray this prayer together:

When my flesh fails wrap me in a love that does not flinch.
When my heart falters, wrap me in a love that creates clean hearts and renews steadfast spirits within.
When my attention span causes my mind to wandering, gently knock upon the door of my heart again.
When I am surrounded by noise and violence, lead me to a quiet place.
When the silence is intimidating, transform the threats with your tranquility.
When doing becomes more important than being, help me to be still and know the power of your presence.
When I am tempted to go another way, whisper in my ears your marching orders.
When I am are thirsty, let me drink from your cup of grace.
When I am hungry after righteousness, feed me until I want no more.
When I am are empty, step into the void and darkness and say, “Let there be light”.
When I am blinded by the idols of this world, give me the courage to see that yours is still the kingdom and glory, forever.
When the time to be silent is over, speak through me words of life to a dying world.
When,
In Jesus name, it is so!

VMM

A Call to Silence

Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!

Silently now I wait for thee,
ready my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!

Silently now I wait for thee,
ready my God, thy will to see.
Open my my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!

Clara H. Scott
1895

Fill me Again!

Let us Pray:

Lord, “Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me”! I am reminded in your word that you “desire truth in the most inward parts”, and so I come with this request from the depths of my heart, asking you to cleanse me, forgive me and fill me again!

I recognize, it is time for a thorough examination from you again! So dear Lord, “Search me”, and if you should find anything that is not of you, remove it immediately! I am in desperate need to have my heart washed and my spirit renewed! I am drowning in spiritual pain and am in dire need of rest today! My tears have become my bed pillow and my nights have been so restless--and my days so dark! I’m in a place of “fleeing” all the time! I find myself daily fleeing from your presence, fleeing from your Word, fleeing and running from worship, prayer and even fleeing from fellowship with other believers. I am so tired, and in such vital need of reconnecting and being filled again!

O Father, I am in need of a response today! Hear my prayer and fill me again! Fill me with the “joy of my salvation” again! Fill me with an appetite for your Word again! Fill me with a desire for fellowship again! Fill me with a zeal for prayer again! Fill me with a burning desire for your presence again! Fill me with your Holy Ghost power again! I need to feel your presence again! Now I say “thank you” in advance for what you’re doing right now for your Word says if I delight myself in you, you will give mes “the desires of my heart” so my desire today Lord is for you to fill me again and I will be so ever grateful for another clean heart and renewed spirit! Amen


Rev. Dianne Lewis Brown
Pastor of Administration & Ministry Development
St. Stephen Church
Louisville, KY/Jeffersonville, IN

Hear My Prayer, O Lord

All together pray:

O, God, to You I call out now! Hear my cry O, Lord, for in You and You alone I find my hope and contentment. You say in Your Word that I should seek You and then I will be able to find You. Lord, please, why am I not hearing from You? What have I done? What is it I need to do? Please turn not a deaf ear to me at this time, please, Lord! Please do not remain silent now. Hear Your servant now, I humbly beg of You. God I know you not to be a respecter of persons so, please hear me, talk back Lord, I need to hear from You.

Thank You, God, for your unconditional love towards me. Thank You for all the blessings You continue to send my way even when I know I do not deserve them. Thank You God for not counting my offenses, but extending your mercy and granting forgiveness to me. Thank You, God, for knowing my heart when my actions have been so wayward. O, God, I do love You. I desire so to please You with my living. I want to be in Your will. Help me, Lord, in my daily pursuits to please You by representing you so that You are glorified.

So now, Lord, as confusion seeks to disrupt my peace, talk to me, please. Questions are arising where I once only had answers. Doubt is running under the doors of my heart and mind. I need to hear from You Lord; I need a Word from You. I am struggling with decisions that need to be made and yet I cannot move from where I am Lord, until You have spoken. Speak to me Lord!

I must wait on Your direction so as I wait on You, Lord, please increase my patience. As I wait on You, Lord, give me clarity of focus; as I wait, Lord; let me not be distracted by all these other voices. Keep me from anxiousness so that I am useful where You have placed me. Help me to rest in not having to know what is next until You reveal it. O, God, teach me Your ways; help me to KNOW when You are speaking; help me to pay attention to You as I move around Your world with Your people. Lord, I shall remain here until I hear from You. Please speak for Your servant is listening, and trusting and believing that You are hearing me, and will answer me. Let me not get weary in my well doing, but help me to stand confident in whom You have been and all You have done in my past.

I love You, Lord and I pray this prayer in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.



Bishop Sarah F. Davis
16th Episcopal District, AME Church
Kingston, Jamaica

Chaos to Calm

Pray this prayer with me:

My soul only waits for the Lord. In silence I sit in anticipation for the one who is my rock and my salvation. Draw me out of the chaos of this world and into the calm of your intimacy. I breathe out chaos and breathe in calm; breathe out the chaotic experiences of living in an uncertain world and breathe in the calm of a peace that surpasses all understanding; breathe out chaotic personalities and breathe in the calm of a changeless Christ; breathe out ignorance and breathe in the calm of your wisdom that instructs me; breathe out my will and breathe in thy will be done.

Calm me just as you have calmed the winds and the waves.
Speak to me just as you spoke to the storm.
Touch me in places I’d rather leave untouched.
See me and know what I thought was hidden from you.
Cross my inner threshold so that we are one.
Here I am Lord your servant is listening

In Jesus Name
Amen
VMM