Lord Jesus Christ,
You call us to follow you and come away
To find you in quiet and hidden places
Where your voice is heard.
Help us to respond to this call
With generosity and perseverance
So that we may receive with open heart
Your gift of more abundant life.
For you are our Lord, for ever and ever.
Amen!
(Michael Casey)
Almighty God,
in whom we live and move
and have our being,
open our eyes that we may ever behold
your loving presence about us.
Draw our hearts to you
by the power of your love.
Teach us to be anxious for nothing,
and when we have done what
you have given us to do,
help us to leave the issue to your wisdom.
Take from us doubt and mistrust.
Lift up our thoughts to you
in heaven,
and make us to know that
all things are ours,
through your Son,
our Saviour
Jesus Christ.
Amen!
(Third Order, Moravian Liturgy, 2010)
O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you;
I can’t do this alone.
In me there’s darkness,
But with you there’s light;
I’m lonely, but you don’t leave me;
I’m feeble in heart, but with you there’s help;
I’m restless, but with you there’s peace.
In me there’s bitterness, but with you there’s patience;
I don’t understand your ways,
But you know the way for me.
O Heavenly Father,
I praise and thank you
For rest in the night;
I praise and thank you for this new day;
I praise and thank you for all your goodness
and faithfulness throughout my life.
You have granted me many blessings;
Now let me also accept what’s hard from your hand.
You will lay on me no more than I can bear.
You make all things work together for good for your children.
Lord Jesus Christ,
You were poor and in distress, a captive and forsaken as I am.
You know all man’s troubles;
You abide with me when all men fail me;
You remember and seek me;
It’s your will that I should know you and turn to you.
Lord, I hear your call and follow;
Help me.
O Holy Spirit,
Give me faith that will protect me
from despair, from passions, and from vice;
Give me such love for God and men
as will blot out all hatred and bitterness;
Give me the hope that will deliver me
from fear and faint-heartedness.
Amen!
(Dietrich Bonhoeffer)