Add and Subtract

“Forgive me, most gracious Lord and Father, if this day I have done or said anything to increase the painof the world. Pardon the unkind word, the impatient gesture, the hard and selfish deed, the failure to show smpathy and kindly help where I have the opportunity, but missed it; and enable me so to live that I ma daily do something to lessen the tide of human sorrow, and add to the sum of human happiness.”

F.B. Myer

MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT

Remember to take a moment to pray three times daily. Identify a prayer-buddy. Remind each other prayer and pray with each other. Today, pray just as God has forgiven you...you forgive yourself!

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God-centered

Gracious God, we pause in the press of daily responsibility to call upon your name. Hear our voice as we praise you for being a merciful redeemer. For while we were up to no good, you died to give us everlasting life.

Forgive us for being self-centered. Help us to push beyond the me, myself and I of today with a new spirit to serve side by side with you for the redemption of the world. Strengthen us to be your covenant people and faithful witnesses. We desire to be God-centered in all we think, say and do today.

Give us a boldness to share what we have heard and come to know of you. And with the Lord being our helper, may we do so in words and deeds acceptable to you. In Your name, Amen.

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Counting on God

“I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

Romans 7: 15

O God, we come today confessing that we can count on you more than you can count on us. We can count on you to deal with us according to your mercy and not according to our sins. We can count on you to forgive after confession. We can count on you to be with us, never leaving nor forsaking us even when we tend to stray like sheep.

Forgive us O God because no matter how hard we try, we do what we don’t want to do and don’t do what we should. We truly and earnestly repent of our sins and are heartily sorrow for these our transgressions. Renew right spirits. Create clean hearts.

Enable us to move beyond our past sins and embrace the future with renewed hope and confidence. We give ourselves to you again. In Jesus name, clothe us in your light, for we would be children of light. Amen

MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT

This is your Morning, Noon and Night prayer assignment for Monday, March 14, 2011: Pray, Lord change me.

The Invisibles

O Lord, Our God, forgive us for being invisible men and women who fade into and out of the lives of other people. We slip pass them without a touch. We observe them without being seen. We hear without responding. We become invisible because we are afraid of saying or doing something foolish. We're afraid of rejection or abuse. It is easier to become invisible rather than risk intimacy with others.

Forgive us Lord also for making other people invisible. We refuse to see their side of the story or turn a deaf ear to their cries for help. We self-medicate ourselves so that we become numb to their touch. We are blind to their presence because their needs makes demands upon our time and treasure.

Forgive us of our fears. May your perfect love deal perfectly with us to make visible your love in us and through us. You have sent someone who is Forgiveness who paid the ultimate price. Thank you Lord that we can confess be free. It is in the name of Forgiveness we pray, Amen.

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Read through the Bible in one year!

The Scripture reading for the month of January are on the right side of this blog. Just scroll down and read the Bible daily. By this time next year you would have journeyed through all 66 books of the Bible. If you miss a day....never fear, just pick up where you left off. Come...lets dig deeper and discover the transforming power of God's Word.

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Ask God

You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it.

James 4:2

Lord, forgive us for being so busy we fail to ask you for what we want and need. Forgive us for depending upon human effort and strength to obtain the desires of our hearts. Forgive us for developing schemes to undermine the efforts of others because we want to take their place or we want what they have. Forgive us for coveting our neighbors stuff to point where we are willing to do emotional or bodily harm to take it away from them. Thank you Lord, that after we have confessed you are faithful to forgive.

We come humbly now knowing you are the supplier of all our needs. We come repentant realizing that you are the one who grants us the desires of our hearts. We come to you now remembering that you are the source of every good a perfect gift. We ask now in Jesus name that we may be empowered to bring forth fruit for your glory and not for our self-satisfaction. Amen.

Again

Eternal and Everlasting God, thank you for being ready to hear our prayers again. We boldly come to the throne of grace seeking mercy because we have fallen short of your Glory. We remained safely silent when we should have spoken on behalf of another again. We ignored the hurt and pain of those around us again. We have spent too much time on our own needs and neglected our relationship with you again. God of compassion and chances, we confess our sins to you. We seek forgiveness and your healing. Wash us again. Cleanse our hearts and minds again. Give us another chance again. Help us to rise above the "again" that so easily besets us today. In Jesus name, Amen.

Promised Joys

O Lord, we know that this human life is full of issues we’d rather avoid if we could. Yet you have challenged us to a life of service that promises such great joy that it makes all sacrifices worthwhile.

Forgive us when we fail to believe that nothing is impossible to you. Forgive us when fear eats away the fabric of our faith like a moth in a wool fiber factory. Forgive us when we fail to see your power and presence surrounding us or we fail to count on you to get us through tough times, rough waters and deep valleys. Thank you for being faithful to forgive us of our sins. In Jesus name, Amen

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Choose Wisely

Creator and Sustainer of Life, help us to push pass barriers of limitation to live fully this gift of a brand new day. We confess our sins of commission and our sins omission. The sins we aggressively committed and the ones we committed because we failed to do or say something. Thank you for forgiveness.

Help us today to choose our words carefully. Help us to use words that express appreciation, affection and kindness to others. Help us to use our time wisely lest we waste it on activities that keep us from achieving our divine purpose. Help us not to waste time on people who drain our energy, distract us from our goals and who undermine our self-esteem. In Your name, Amen.

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PRAY-A-PRAYER AND THEN SEND-A-PRAYER FROM THIS SITE TODAY!

Wash Day

Create in us a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within us.

Psalm 51:10

Our desire today is that nothing stands between our soul and our redeemer. Forgive us of our sins. Our unconfessed sins are too much of a burden to bear. They constantly remind us of our weaknesses, faults and failings.

Thank you that we can confess our sins. Thank you for your promise that if we confess, you will be faithful to forgive us of all our sins. Wash us, cleanse our hearts, minds and bodies so that we can move forward today unshackled from sin, hurt and shame and in the future with renewed and right spirits within in us.

In the name of a forgiving Savior, let us all say, Amen.

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Confession is Good. Forgiveness is Priceless

"If we confess out sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. " I John 1:9 (KJV)

Good Morning Lord,

Confession is good for the soul. I confess that giving up what I want to grasp what you have for me can be so hard to do. I confess that I want to desperately cling to things that don’t really matter instead of taking hold of what matters to eternity. I confess that my appetites have ruled and reigned too long. As I confess these struggles to you, be now faithful to forgive.

Forgiving God, I know lighting a fire in the desert can be difficult. There is struggle. There is smoke that chokes the throat and stings the eyes. Tears follow. In the end, there is finally a flame.

Help me to light your consuming fire. It may be difficult and hard to start. O Lord, there may even be tears. But, in the end, in Jesus name let me be able to proclaim that you, Our God is a consuming fire. Amen.

THE LENTEN JOURNEY

The Lenten season 2010, a journey to the heart of God, has just begun. This is the 40 day period between Ash Wednesday and Resurrection Sunday. It is a time of turning away from the usual and turning towards a unique opportunity to go deeper into a faith relationship with God. We begin with cleansing and confession. Asking God to cleanse our hearts, minds and souls. Purify the atmosphere of our homes and our motives. Confession precedes repentance. We turn away from what is not of God and go in God's direction.

Join the journey today. It includes daily prayer on this site; daily devotions and an audio message on www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com. Share your thoughts in the comment section. You can also email your prayer experiences and original prayers in a special section on this blog.

PRAYER EXPERIENCE

Grace and peace Bishop McKenzie,

I joined you over the summer for praycation, and did not miss a day of reading and journaling. I just wanted you to know as a result, I have since lost 45 pounds, and started a mother/daughter ministry to help build stronger bonds in this dynamic yet sometimes static relationship! I'm excited about all that is happening, and just wanted to take a moment to let you know how inspired I am by your ministry! Thank you, and I love you! Keep being as intellectual, spiritual and beautiful as you are! Watching how God is using you, and am open to Him using me to bless others!

I have joined you for the Lenten season, and anticipate going "Deeper in God!!!!" I am looking forward to all the added blessings.

Love, His child

Rev. D. Bailey

Armed and Dangerous

God, Creator, Redeemer and Friend, thank you for your presence because without you we can do nothing. You have loved us before we loved you. You have called us before we’ve called upon you. You have turned your attention towards us before we turned towards you. Thank you for your generous gifts, high expectations of us and for loving us too deeply to leave us the way we are.

Forgive us of unclean thoughts, words and deeds. Cleanse our minds, purify our hearts, and mend stress fractures in our relationships with you and others. Take away our indifference to the plight of others who cannot rise above the their circumstances.

Lover of our soul, clothe us with your righteousness. Arm us with the shield of faith. Help us to hold it high to block the flamethrower’s darts that seeks to delay, deny and destroy us. Today make our enemies sad because our faith and mad because of your favor!

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ASH WEDNESDAY

The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2010. There is a tradition of sacrifice with the Lenten season. People usually give up something such as meats, sweets, sodas, smoking or habits that are debilitating. You can also take up something. You are invited to take up an increased prayer and devotion through the 40 days of Lent. There will be a special devotion in the “read” section of www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com, Lenten prayers on this site and a Daniel Fast. Sign up in the comment section. I want to know how many will be joining the journey!

Gracious God

O gracious God, who so generously lavishes our lives with goodness, create in our hearts a deep center of gratitude, a center that grows so strong in its thanksgiving that sharing freely of our treasures becomes the norm and pattern of our existence. Remind us often of how much you cherish us, of how abundantly you have offered gifts to us, especially in the hours of our greatest need. May we always be grateful for your reaching into our lives with surprises of joy. Amen.

OLP

CREATE IN ME

A Prayer from God's Word

O loving and kind GOD, have mercy. Have pity upon me and take away the awful stain of my transgressions. Oh, wash me, cleanse me from this guilt. Let me be pure again. For I admit my shameful deed-it haunts me day and night. It is against YOU and YOU alone I sinned and did this terrible thing. YOU saw it all, and Your sentence against me is just. Create in me a new, clean heart, O GOD, filled with clean thoughts and right desires. Don't toss me aside, banished forever from Your presence. Don't take Your HOLY SPIRIT from me. Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey YOU.
Psalms51:1-17 TLB

All Is Calm

Creator God,
Allow me the silence to calm my soul;
The presence of mind to know when you communicate with me
and the wisdom to know when to communicate with others
In the name above all names,
Amen

Denise

PRAYER OF FORGIVENESS

“Lord Jesus, I confess that I have sinned against You, others and myself. I call upon You, Jesus, and ask You to forgive me from all sin. Especially in the realms of unforgiveness, any word curses against myself or anyone, rebellion and/or strife. I apply the blood of Jesus over myself." In 1 John 1:9 You say, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” So I thank you Jesus that I am forgiven! 


Cath

Enable Us Lord

Fountain of life, we thank you for the gift of another day. Forgive us of our sins of omission –the things we didn’t do and should have done. Forgive us for the sins of commission- the sins that so easily beset us.

Help us today to offer thanks to you, not in pious gestures or empty words but by living faithful to your call. Enable us to bear the fruit of thankfulness by serving others. Empower us to reach beyond our comfort zones to build community with those around us. Help us to willingly accept the love and friendship of others.

We know that you are with us and for us everyday. In Jesus name, we offer this prayer, Amen

Defeats Do Not Define Us

Early we seek your face this morning thankful for a moment of rest. Thank you for the restorative powers of sleep and the refreshment of rest. Thank you that both were apart of our night time hours.

Forgive us again for sins committed by thought word and deed. Help us to release those who have sinned against us through forgiveness.

In Jesus name, assist us in learning from our mistakes. We know its because of your love you chastise us. Thank God our defeats do not define us nor are we doomed to repeat a negative past. Amen.

Robert Payne

Prayer Experience

Gracious God, Abba, Father, I praise you. I worship you. I adore you this morning. Mighty Ruler and Awesome Creator, I thank you for another day.

Father, as I begin this day, I commit myself totally into your hands. I give you my heart to guard, because out of my mouth comes what is in my heart. I give you my mind to guard, because as I think, so therefore I am. I give you my tongue, because it can hurt not only my enemies, but also those I hold dear.

God, I give you me this morning. I pray that I have hidden your words in my heart that I might not sin against you. Take full control. Help me to represent you in the most excellent way. I ask you to search my heart father, and remove anything in me that goes against your statures. Replace those areas with your love.

Forgive me of any thing I may have done, I may have said, or that I may have thought that was not pleasing in your sight. Help me to walk and work worthy of your calling. I ask for your guidance in all that I do today. I pray that your hands of protection will keep us. I pray your grace and mercy upon all of my prayer partners, the fellowship of the Body of Christ, all of the workers of your vineyard, my family, and my friends.

I especially lift up to you all of our loved ones who have not made that commitment to follow you. Let today be the day that they take note of how blessed they are. Open their eyes, their ears, and their heart to your voice, and your calling. Let today be the day they answer, and say YES to you. I love you, I praise you, and I glorify you!

Love, your child Daniela

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

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!

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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