June 4 2020
As I begin this day help me to find you Jesus. Help me to find you in those with whom I disagree. And if I cannot find you there help me recognize that I am missing something. As I attempt to share your love, help me to express it fully. Let me, when I am not showing you in my actions and words, recognize it and seek forgiveness. When I attempt to share your love and chose the wrong words or not say it as well as I could, help others to see my intentions, not my poor choice of words. Guide me this day, so that I can be a better person today. Let me be filled with your spirit and ready to face the challenges set before me. All this we ask in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen
June 5 2020
Today is just starting and I know I will need you Jesus. Let me see you in the eyes of everyone I meet today. May I hear you in the things we talk about. May your spirit fill me and help me to live fully the opportunities this day provides. May I have patience when anxiety or anger tries to overwhelm me. May I recognize when I am not acting in a way that lifts people up. May I come to the end of this day like it started, looking to you for guidance. All this I ask in the name of my Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier. Amen
June 6 2020
O Lord our God, the day has begun, I am rested and ready to work. Help me to do things this day that help others. May I see when my gifts and skills can be used in a way that empowers those with whom I interact. Give me the strength and patience I need this day. Let me lift up those around me and let them see how thankful I am that they are in my life. This is the only time I will get to live this day so may your will be done. Amen.
June 7 2020
Today is Sunday, our Sabbath. As we find ourselves longing to be together in our churches, help us to find church as we look around today. May we see it in the life around us. In the people we see, in your incredible creation, and in how the sun rises and sets. May we see your Cathedrals in what we see this day. Let us celebrate all that you have given us and recharge our batteries to do the ministries to which you have called us. Amen.
June 8 2020
As this new week begins let me learn not to judge. My mind naturally looks around in fear for threats. It is only through you, Jesus, that I can look at the world with love, not anxiety. May this week be one where I walk the road before me in peace. May I see everyone I meet as a beloved child of God. May I become this week more like the person you would have me be. I ask this in the name of my Lord and Savior. Amen.
June 9 2020
Tuesdays are days where I need a pep talk God. The end of the week seems so far away and I tend to find myself still trying to get started with what I should have begun yesterday. May this day be productive. May I be focused even though that is a challenge for me on the best of days. Help me listen fully to the people I work with and see today. And at the end of the day may I be proud of the day I had. All this I ask in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
June 10 2020
O God, there are days when I struggle. I struggle with my insecurities, I struggle with my feelings of inadequacy and I struggle feeling that I am redeemable. Help me to grow today. Help me to see myself as a beloved child of God. As one not only redeemed, but empowered. Empowered to do great things. One that is equipped to do greater works than these. I am thankful that you sacrificed yourself that I might be made whole. Thank you for your forgiveness. Amen.
June 11 2020
Today I am excited for what is ahead of me. I am for some reason optimistic for what is in front of me. May I keep that feeling throughout my day. May this day be one of those days that I remember for the great things that happened. May I look at the challenges as just that, challenges and not negative events but opportunities to learn or do something new. May I learn how to find joy today. And may your blessings be with me now and always. Amen.
June 12 2020
This morning I pray for those in pain, those suffering from anxiety, fear and poverty. May I this day and everyday look to lift others up and journey with them. May I be so grateful for the things I have that I am willing to give up some of my comforts that others might have more. I have more than I need, and then some. And may I be thankful for those who work hard to protect, heal, redeem and rescue us. All this I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
June 13 2020
Cleanse me this day O Lord. Help me to be refreshed, renewed and energized to do your will in all I do this day. May I release any anxieties, fears and anger from taking over my day. Instead, let me use all of this day celebrating your gift of forgiveness recognizing that forgiveness only truly comes when we forgive others and ourselves. All this I ask in the name of the one who brought us healing, Jesus Christ. Amen
June 14 2020
Help us this day to gather in new ways. May we find ways to connect that show we care. Let us find the beauty in some of the old ways to communicate as well, some that we have may have forgotten. May we love one another as you have loved us. May we do that unconditionally, fully and feel the joy that sharing love gives. May God’s blessing be with us now and always. Amen.
June 15 2020
Guide me O God throughout this day. I know that my life is a journey with a destination, but help me to see your beautiful creation along the way. May I know when it is time to take a rest. May I also know when it is time to move on. Thank you for both the destination and journey.
Amen
June 16 2020
Jesus, when I pray, I think about so many people. The friends of the past who mean so much to me even though I don’t tell them that often enough, or at all. The people I see daily and wonder whether I do enough to let them know I love them and you would have me. The people who I still struggle to find a way to love, or even worse find a way for them to love me in spite of the things I have done that challenge them. What I know is that everyone of us struggles with the exact same thing. Forgiving ourselves and others is hard because we truly feel our own guilt. Help me and everyone else to forgive ourselves so that we can forgive others knowing that neither can happen without the other. AMEN
June 17 2020
So I think I should explain today’s prayer. In my family where we have more ordained people than some dioceses, we pray a lot. We make our family pray in places they would much rather not. (Especially when they are teenagers). My Brother in Law, the Rev. Paul Klitzke, came up with the perfect prayer for so many things. It is this:
ARE WE THANKFUL?
YES WE ARE. AMEN.
Sometimes that is enough and may this be enough for you today.
June 18, 2020
Lord God, we are living in a very scary time for us. It seems as if all that we held dear, trusted in and expected is no longer true. Instead, we find ourselves wandering around looking for something upon which to hold. May we hold onto those things that are eternal, your love and forgiveness, those actions that we take that build others up rather than tearing them down. Can I this day find ways to show your love to those I meet. May these words be true at the end of the day and can you Jesus guide me. Amen.
June 19, 2020
Today is a day that many remember as Juneteenth or Freedom Day. It marks the day that the last of the Slaves were proclaimed free in Texas. Help us to continue to strive for freedom. Freedom from oppression and freedom to speak for justice. May we strive continually to create a community that lifts up others and gives people hope for a better future. One that gives opportunities to everyone. Enable us to truly love our neighbor as you love us. Amen
June 20, 2020
Lord God, may we regain the innocence of the Saturday morning of our youth. Where we in wonder watched cartoons and had special breakfasts anticipating a day of fun. During this day help us to find beauty in the little things. May we look deeply into the eyes of those we meet today and see you in them. May we recognize the joy and wonder before us this day and celebrate the world you created for us. All this we ask in your name. Amen
June 21, 2020
O Lord our God, we come before this day to honor our fathers.
We grew in your heart before you held us. Thank you for holding us close.
You met us fully as you first saw us and loved us unconditionally.
You helped us learn to fail and continue to try to succeed patiently (most of the time).
You adopted us as Joseph did Jesus, praying that we might have opportunities beyond your imagination. Thank you fathers, uncles, godparents, grandparents, and friends who have all stood up to become fathers in our lives.
Amen
June 22, 2020
O Lord our God, I am beginning this day making the choice to make it a good day. Help me to make that a reality by allowing me to find joy and laughter, to listen fully to those around me giving them the attention I want you to give me, and the will to make other people’s day special. I know that if I focus on those things my choice to have a good day should be assured. I ask this in the name of my Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier. Amen.
June 23 2020
As I look back on my nineteen years as an Episcopal Priest, I am thankful. Thankful for the opportunity to be with people at their best and worst moments. I have been blessed to be there for the birth and baptism of children, at many children’s first day at school, and as they begin their lives as married people. Thank you Jesus, for calling me to be with people when they are scared when heading into surgery, when they mourn the loss of a loved one and most especially when I journey with them from that loss to celebrating the gift that person was in their lives. As I continue to follow your call, may I never lose the passion that you have given me to be present with others, and may I honor those whom I meet. May I always treat that honor with grace and recognize that it is you who makes those moments possible. Thank you again for the blessings you have bestowed upon me. Amen.
June 24 2020
Today I want to thank you again Lord for the world you have given us. As I look at the beauty of the Magnolia Blossoms in bloom in my yard and all the vegetables and other plants I have not yet killed I am amazed at what your creation provides. The smell of mint and basil as I rub the leaves in my hand still excited me like the day I first discovered I could do that. The wonder of the Sunrise over the earth still amazes me, whether it is looking over mountains, fields, or the water it is like a new creation every day. Watching the birds, and other animals in their daily enterprise makes be celebrate the diversity of your creation. Let me always care for the world you have made. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
June 25 2020
This morning I am grateful for my family. The family that I have been given by birth and the family I have chosen make me whole. Each of them are special to me, and have formed who I am. I remember those I have lost and pray that I continue to honor them by how I live my life. I am excited to meet those that will become a part of my family in the years to come. May you guide my family, protect it and help me to let them know how important they are in my life. All this I ask in the name of God. Amen.
June 26 2020
Lord God, today we remember our mentors. Those people who have helped us become better. The teachers who helped learn to learn and have a thirst for knowledge. Those who coached us to work our bodies hard to become stronger and learn the value of teamwork. The people who ministered to us as we struggled with life’s tough questions. Those who have guided us through learning our chosen careers. Without all of them we would not find ourselves where we are. Help us to remember those lessons and share them when we find ourselves as mentors to others. It is in the name of God who saved me I pray. Amen.
June 27 2020
This new day, may I look for ways to express my love for my neighbor. May I greet everyone I meet with a joyous voice. May my smile let them know that my seeing them has made my day. If I begin to feel anxious, let me find peace. As this day goes on, may I continue to find you, O Lord in all my interactions. May your love shine throughout the day and as the sun sets may I look back on the day thankful for what it became. All this I ask in Your name. Amen.
June 28 2020
There are days, Lord God, when I struggle to find the words to say to you. This is one of those days. I know I need you, and I want my words and actions to adequately show my feelings and my desire to do your will. I don’t think I actually need anything today other than to feel your presence as I do my daily tasks. You have provided all I need and then some. What I really need out of today is to simply recognize you and the many gifts you have given me and truly appreciate them.Amen.
June 29 2020
Today is a day of travel for me. Be with me along the journey. May I not become too frustrated and angry by traffic, and when people drive poorly, let my temper be checked. Instead, Lord, let me see the beauty of the world around me and not be rushed in what I do today. May I be acutely aware of all that I see today. I know my trip will show me incredible poverty and wealth. May I remember my blessings and respond to those in need today and every day. Amen
June 30 2020
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, Melekh ha’olam Blessed are you Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe is the start of many prayers in the Jewish tradition. It reminds us of the many blessings God has given us. Blessed are you Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe you have given us a bountiful harvest. Blessed are you Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe you have given us life and family. Blessed are you Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe you have made this day, may we live this day as a blessed people of God. Amen.
Prayers for Challenging Times 