December 17th | O Wisdom

This is the first of our seven O Antiphons. Prayers that have been sung by our faith family for centuries. Sung so that the quickening pace of Christmas is not just all the things on our calendars but the longing in our hearts.

In case you are interested, the tune which I sing them is from (appropriately!) O Come O Come Emmanuel. Let us rejoice in praying together:

O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other mightily,
and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.

Eastern Advent Prayers Two

Let us again join with our Orthodox family of faith in asking for a “stirring up” of the Spirit in and amongst us this Advent season.

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to joy.
Lift up our heads from the dust
and adorn us with your righteousness,
that we may rejoice
and testify that our Lord has come;
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

Stir up your power, O Lord Jesus, and come.
Help us by your great might,
that whatever is hindered by our sins
may be speedily accomplished for your glory;
for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

Eastern Advent Prayers One

In the Orthodox tradition, the “stir up prayers” are spoken one each Sunday of Advent. Let us join with our sisters and brothers around the globe and pray these prayers for our faith family today, and in the week to come. Let us stir up one another by seeking the Spirit’s movement…

Stir up your power, O Lord Jesus, and come.
Rescue and protect us
from the threatening perils of our sins by your might;
for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

Stir up our hearts, O Lord,
to make ready the way of your only Son,
so that by his coming we may worship you with pure minds;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

May Everything Remind You of Our Lord

For the last couple of weeks we’ve been praying to and from the final image Peter gave us in his second letter. A picture to settle our minds and hearts upon which was nothing less than heaven and earth meet once more and yet anew.

This week, in the LIGHT of our Father’s new creation, a light of life given for our growth and delight, we continue our prayers for and with one another. Praying from the still place that our lives might reflect where we are.

Our prayer comes from yet another adaptation of a Malcolm Guite poem. This poem “Exaudiat te Dominus” is based on Psalm 20. May the mystery of God with us and for us draw us on to seeing His kingdom come, his will done on earth as it is in heaven.

Let’s pray together.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world”

the True light

All given for our growth, and our delight

All flowering for us from his sanctuary.

Even before we enter in, his light

Is blessing us. Now may his mystery

Still draw us on, arouse our hearts’ desire,

And may each glimpse of Jesus become an epiphany

of life live well.

May evne the briefest sparks blaze into a holy fire

within and through our lives

As light and warmth illuminate our minds.

And may some scent and sense of heav’n inspire

Our thoughts and words. May everything remind

Us of our Lord, that we may put our trust

Entirely in his name, not in the blind

Dependence of this world, whose weapons rust

Into the soul and kill it from within.

But may we find in Jesus Christ, riches and rest.

For from him and through him and to him

are all things.

To him be the glory forever.

Amen.

In The Still Place

Peter’s final charge to his faith family is to be found like Jesus, whole and holy—without spot or blemish—and at peace. Peace, in the midst of daily existing that often feels more fluid than solid seems like a pipe dream of sorts—at least at times. But Peter concludes his second letter with a cascading picture of God’s action in the world from its founding and into its awaiting future. This final image to settle our minds and hearts upon is nothing less than heaven and earth meeting once more and yet anew.

Last week, we prayed a prayer for the still place which Jesus leads. This week is another adaptation of a Malcolm Guite poem “Caeli enarrant” which is based on Psalm 19. It is a prayer from the still place, to see in the Son anew, the true light given for our growth and delight.

Let’s pray…

Father, here in the still place where earth and heaven meet

Under mysterious starlight of old becoming new, help us to raise our heads

And gaze up at their glory: ‘the complete

Consort dancing’ as one poet said

Of his own words. But the You-made-new are all God’s words:

A shining poem, waiting to be read

Afresh in every heart. Let us now look towards

The bright’ning east, and see the splendid sun

Rise and rejoice, the icon of his Lord’s

True light. May we be joyful with him, watch him run

His course, receive the treasure of his light

Pouring like honeyed gold till day is done,

As sweet and strong as All God’s laws, as right

As all his judgments and as clean and pure—without spot or blemish,

All given for our growth, and our delight!

May the Son shine upon us, and may we delight in the grace of his light.

Amen.

To The Still Place

Peter’s final charge to his faith family is to be found like Jesus, pure of heart and at peace. Peace, in the midst of daily existing that often feels more fluid than solid seems like a pipe dream of sorts—at least at times. But Peter concludes his second letter with a cascading picture of God’s action in the world from its founding and into its awaiting future. This final image to settle our minds and hearts upon is nothing less than heaven and earth meeting once more and yet anew. A visual which Peter encourages us to grasp as we remember what God has done, and see what he is doing even today.

Our prayer this week is an adaptation of Malcolm Guite’s poem “Dilgigam te, Domine” which is based on Psalm 18. It is a prayer in-line with Peter, for and from the still place which Jesus leads us.

Father, let us behold you, and be satisfied,

Our strength, our rock, our buckler, and our shield!

You came to rescue us, we have seen you ride

The wind's swift wings at our cry,

reducing us and your children generation after generation after generation.

We have seen the water yield

To you, as you reached down to lift us out

Out of the whelming panic, where we reeled

And flailed in fear of daily death.

You heard our shout,

Our anguished cry for help, and carried us

And held us safe and put our fears to rout.

Now, Father, give us back our liberty,

through the memory of your Son.

Strengthen our weak hands and set our feet

To dancing lightly as a deer, O let us be (!)

as free

As any in the forest, and as fleet.

Come quickly, Jesus!

And with your call, draw us in your love

To that still place where earth and heaven meet.

In Jesus, amen.

From the Quieted Space II

The psalmist declares, “I have calmed and quieted my soul” (Ps. 131:2). One translation says it this way, “I’ve cultivated a quiet heart.” From this quieted space springs forth a free and content life, says the psalmist. A life we all long for and a life that is borne from an earthy view of our heavenly Father. It is awe and wonder of our Father’s love and care demonstrated in his movement of history which has the psalmist in a quiet space.

This week, let us pray together for a life birthed from this quieted space of soul and heart in the presence of our good and glorious God. We’ll do so with these words adapted from John Ballie. Words that we’ve prayed before and that we will come back to again and again as we follow Jesus through life together.

Eternal Father of our souls, let our first thought of each day this coming week be of you, let our first impulse each day be to worship you, let our first word each day be your Name, let our first action each day be to kneel before you in professed thanksgiving and freeing awe.

For your perfect wisdom and perfect goodness;

For the love you have for all people;

For the love you have for me and us;

For the great mysterious opportunity of our lives in your salvation story;

For your Spirit, who dwells in our hearts;

For the gifts of your Spirit which Jesus has for us;

We praise and worship you, O Father.

Yet when this day’s prayer is finished, do not let us think that our worship is ended and spend the rest of the day and week forgetting you. Rather, from these quiet moments and quieted spaces, let light and joy and power pour out and remain with us through every hour of this week.

May that light and joy and power:

Keep our thoughts pure;

Keep us gentle and truthful in all we say;

Keep us faithful and diligent in our work;

Keep us humble in our opinion of ourselves;

Keep us honorable and generous in our dealings with others;

Keep us loyal to every cherished memory of the past;

Keep us mindful of our eternal destiny as your children.

O, Father, you have been the refuge of your people through many generations; be our refuge in every moment and every need we face this week. Be our guide through all uncertainty and darkness. Be our guard against all that threatens our physical and spiritual well-being. Be our strength in times of trials and security in time of testing. Cheer our hearts with your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Savior, King, and Friend. Amen.

Two Prayers In One

This week, we will be praying two prayers together. These prayers are meant to be prayed in sequence, one with the other for one another. My encouragement is to pause only momentarily between the two, taking a deep breath and remembering that what you are speaking to God on behalf of others, is also being spoken for you.

Let us pray two prayers in one, these words adapted from Ernest T. Campbell.

PRAYER I

Father, with desires that we cannot fully identify, much less describe; with fears too personal to voice; harboring hostilities of which we are ashamed; and weighted with a sense of guilt for having done so little with so much; we make bold now to pray for ourselves:

teach us what it means to live in you,

to rest in you,

to hope in you;

let your presence fill those homes where death has come and sickness is near;

let your wisdom fall like a gentle rain on the parched souls of

all who are confused and searching;

let your warming, healing light kindle trust in those who are

anxious or in any way afflicted;

let your joy overcome the dolefulness of those who have

forgotten how to laugh.

Shape your grace around our inmost needs, O Father. Do not give us over to ourselves. Strive with us yet a little longer, for we love you and desire to serve you fully.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER II

We thank you, Father, that praise is therapy, and gratitude the medicine of the soul. At least for the time it takes to pray, we set our minds on your mercies and give up feeling sorry for ourselves. You have blessed us with the gift of life:

surrounded us with friends;

trusted us with responsibility;

endowed us with conscience;

provided us with all things needful for life and godliness;

and set your love upon us.

Here within this quiet moment, we remember those whose sacrifices have and are securing the good that we enjoy:

parents, teachers, and health care workers

artists, inventors, and those in all kinds of service industries

scholars, city workers, and prophets old and new.

Chiefly we remember Jesus Christ:

his selfless life;

his voluntary death;

his victorious resurrection;

and his continuing power to save.

Our praises rise to you, form whom our blessings come.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Open to The Invitation Finale

In Isaiah, the Suffering Servant extends a most generous invitation. An invitation into the abundance of God’s welcome. An invitation that requires nothing of the recipient except an openness to acceptance. Unfortunately, as history has proven, rather than openness, the invitation is often met with reluctance.

Sometimes the reluctance stems from not feeling worthy of such an invitation, but more often, if honest, the closure comes from preference or pride. Preference for something else, whatever that else might be. Pride in wanting to pay our own way, not willing to admit that we are in need of the generosity of another.

So, this month, rather than praying a different prayer each week we have prayed the same prayer over and over again. We’ve prayed it for ourselves and for a named neighbor and for those in our Gospel Communities. This week, let’s pray it one last over our city. Beseeching the One who gave his life so that even those who think they have no need of him might receive God’s welcome.

As you’re praying, if a particular person’s name, a people group, or even another faith family comes to mind, pray them specifically into Isaiah 55:1-2. May our city hunger for, thirst after, and find satisfaction in Jesus.

Come, Dallas, a city who thirsts (Father, make us thirrsty), come to the waters;

and Dallas who has so much money, see that they need no money, to come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price, Dallas.

Why Dallas do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to us and eat what is good (Father, give us, your Church, opportunity and courage to speak your invitation to our city, and open hearts to recieve it),

and delight Dallas, in rich food—the body and blood of Jesus.

In his name we pray, amen.

For Us to Be Open to The Invitation

In Isaiah, the Suffering Servant extends a most generous invitation. An invitation into the abundance of God’s welcome. An invitation that requires nothing of the recipient except an openness to acceptance. Unfortunately, as history has proven, rather than openness, the invitation is met with reluctance.

Sometimes the reluctance stems from not feeling worthy of such an invitation, but more often, if honest, the closure comes from preference or pride. Preference for something something else, whatever that else might be. Pride in wanting to pay our own way, not willing to admit that we are in need of the generosity of another.

So, this month, rather than praying a different prayer each week we will pray the same prayer. We’ve prayed it for ourselves and for a named neighbor. This week, let’s pray it for one another, for a person(s) in your Gospel Community. Beseeching the One who gave his life so we might receive God’s welcome.

Before praying, name a person(s) for whom you are praying this prayer from Isaiah 55:1-2. Who are you praying this prayer for today and this week? Name that person and pray…

Come, ____ who thirsts (Father, may ____ thirst), come to the waters;

and ___ who has no money, come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Why ____ do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me (Father, give me opportunity and courage to speak your invitation to ____), and eat what is good,

and delight _____, in rich food.

Open to the Invitation Too

In Isaiah, the Suffering Servant extends a most generous invitation. An invitation into the abundance of God’s welcome. An invitation that requires nothing of the recipient except an openness to acceptance. Unfortunately, as history has proven, rather than openness, the invitation is met with reluctance.

Sometimes the reluctance stems from not feeling worthy of such an invitation, but more often, if honest, the closer comes from preference or pride. Preference for something something else, whatever that else might be. Pride in wanting to pay our own way, not willing to admit that we are in need of the generosity of another.

So, this month, rather than praying a different prayer each week we will pray the same prayer. Praying it for ourselves, that we would be open to the invitation of God’s welcome. And praying for our neighbors, friends, family, and co-workers, that they too would be open, as we open our lives to them.

Let’s pray this invitation from the One who gave his life so we and our neighbors might receive it. Before praying, name a neighbor for whom you are praying this prayer from Isaiah 55:1-2. Who are you praying this prayer for today and this week? Name that person and pray…

Come, ____ who thirsts (Father, may ____ thirst), come to the waters;

and ___ who has no money, come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Why ____ do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me (Father, give me opportunity and courage to speak your invitation to ____), and eat what is good,

and delight _____, in rich food.

Open to the Invitation

In Isaiah, the Suffering Servant extends a most generous invitation. An invitation into the abundance of God’s welcome. An invitation that requires nothing of the recipient except an openness to acceptance. Unfortunately, as history has proven, rather than openness, the invitation is met with reluctance. Sometimes the reluctance stems from not feeling worthy of such an invitation, but more often, if honest, the closer comes from preference or pride. Preference for something something else, whatever that else might be. Pride in wanting to pay our own way, not willing to admit that we are in need of the generosity of another.

So, this month, rather than praying a different prayer each week we will pray the same prayer. Praying it for ourselves, that we would be open to the invitation of God’s welcome. And praying for our neighbors, friends, family, and co-workers, that they too would be open, as we open our lives to them.

Let’s pray this invitation from the One who gave his life so we might receive it. Familiarizing ourselves with the invitation from Isaiah 55:1-2, as we pray into it over the coming weeks.

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;

and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.

Psalms Praying

The Psalms have been the prayer book of God’s people for millennia. In this expansive collection, we learn the language of answering God in every situation, out of every emotion, in every state of faith humanity experiences. This week, let us prayer together an adapted compellation of multiple psalms put together by John Ballie that teach us what to pray when in a place of great need—mentally, emotionally, physically, and in our soul.

We call up you, O Father: come quickly to us; give ear to our voice when we call to you. Let our prayers be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of our hands as an evening prayer.

O Father, open our lips, and our mouths will declare your praise.

Bless the Lord, O our souls, and do not forget all his benefits:

who forgives all our iniquity;

who heals all our diseases;

who redeems our life from the pit;

who crowns us with steadfast love and mercy;

who satisfies us with good as long as we live so that we are always young in his presence.

But who can detect their errors? Clear us from hidden faults. Clean the slate, Father, so we can start the day fresh! Keep us from stupid sins, from thinking we can take over your work.

Have mercy on us, Our Father, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out our transgressions. Wash us thoroughly from our iniquity, and cleanse us from our sin. For we know our transgressions, and our sin is ever before us.

Be to us a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save us, for you are our rock and our fortress.

We will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Father, make us lie down in safety.

Through Jesus, your Son, and our Savior. Amen.

Three Prayers | the third

In Ernest T. Campbell’s collection of prayers, Where Cross the Crowded Way, he prays in triplet. There are few singular prays in the collection. Almost every prayer is one of three. I think each is meant to build upon the other in some way. Usually the first is a confession or observation of some sort. The second flow out of it into prayers for others, and, usually, the third is a prayer for the ones praying.

The pattern doesn’t always follow, but the final triplet in the section “All Sorts of Conditions and People,” holds true. We’ve already prayed the first and second, so this week, let us join together in the third and final of three prayers.

Confident of your care, we pray now for ourselves. For Christ City Church.

We are many things to many people, but in your sight your sons and daughters.

Encourage us in obedience where we have grown lax.

Restore us in tenderness where we have grown hard.

Renew us in purpose where we have grown confused.

Uphold the bereaved in their loneliness, and give our sick to know that your ear is not heavy that it cannot hear, nor your arm short that it cannot save. Bless us, each one, with an unhindered view of your majesty, that, sure of the power at work within us, we may live, not somehow, but triumphantly in Jesus.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.

Three Prayers | the second

In Ernest T. Campbell’s collection of prayers, Where Cross the Crowded Way, he prays in triplet. There are few singular prays in the collection. Almost every prayer is one of three. I think each is meant to build upon the other in some way. Usually the first is a confession or observation of some sort. The second flow out of it into prayers for others, and, usually, the third is a prayer for the ones praying.

The pattern doesn’t always follow, but the final triplet in the section “All Sorts of Conditions and People,” holds true. Last week we prayed the first. This week, let us join together in the second of three prayers.

We join our prayers this week in intercession for men and women in our society who are trapped:

those who are trapped in poverty with no sign of relief;

those who are trapped in jobs that engage but a fraction of their powers;

those who are trapped in families where love has ebbed away;

those who are trapped in unwanted alliances out of which they cannot break;

those who are trapped by the fear of discovery, or by dependency on others, or by a need for drugs or alcohol, or by any addiction.

O Father, whose will it is that we be free, and who gave your Son that we might be delivered from all coercive powers,

make us examples of your freedom, proclaimers of your freedom, and instruments of your freedom;

snap our chains that we may loose the chains of others.

Then shall the joy of the liberated rise from the earth like a mighty hymn of praise.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Three Prayers | the first

In Ernest T. Campbell’s collection of prayers, Where Cross the Crowded Way, he prays in triplet. There are few singular prays in the collection. Almost every prayer is one of three. I think each is meant to build upon the other in some way. Usually the first is a confession or observation of some sort. The second flow out of it into prayers for others, and, usually, the third is a prayer for the ones praying.

The pattern doesn’t always follow, but the final triplet in the section “All Sorts of Conditions and People,” holds true. This week, let us join together in the first of three prayers.

For reasons we do not altogether understand, O Father, it is easier for us to find fault than to give thanks. Our grievances lie on the tip of our tongue, while mercies that ought to excite our praise are easily lost from view.

We thank you for truth and the varied forms in which it comes to us:

in closely reasoned logic,

in scientific demonstrations,

in the forced impact of a well-staged drama,

in inspired verse,

in the brilliance of a painted masterpiece,

in the shattering disclosure of Scripture,

in the self-sight that comes from a shared love,

in the clarifying ecstasy of prayer and meditation.

O Father, the author of all truth, help us in our search to find the same. To find you. By the quiet action of your Holy Spirit in our hearts lead us at last or again to Jesus, that in his presence we may know

who we are

and whose we are,

and why we are.

Then, with a confidence born of faith, we shall have yet one cause more for which to bless your name.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

A Prayer for the Sake of Prayers

In the light of Jesus’ already and impending victory, Peter encourages his faith family to be “self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.” I think it’s the “and” that requires a balanced temperament and attentive realism. Jesus has—in life, death and resurrection—brought about a living hope, and Jesus is reigning over all degrades life, and Jesus will complete what our Father promised all those millennia ago. As we live in the midst of “and,” let us join together in praying for the sake of our prayers.

Father, we confess that the “end of all things being at hand” is difficult for us to grasp. We confess that what Jesus has done, is doing, and will do; often are mere slogans, drowned out what we’ve done, are doing, and will do.

Father, we pray that our engagement with the world today—our spouses, our opportunities, our roommates, our difficulties, our bosses, our daily tasks, our friends, our aspirations, our co-workers, our frustrations, our neighbors, our societal ills, our family—would weighed through the reality of Jesus’ overcoming. That we would live as if indeed, every divine, every authority, every power is subject to him. And that, because he reigns, we would live with a balanced, gentle temperedness. Responding with the emotions, passions, strength, and actions, appropriate to the flourishing of each.

Father, we pray that we’d be wide away to the way you are making all things new through Jesus. That we would not be caught off guard by our expectations, by your validating tests, by our own sin, or by the enemies efforts. Grant us persevering patience throughout our journey.

Thank you that the difficulty of living amid the “and” is but “a little while,” and that you are the “God of grace, who has called us to your eternal glory in Jesus, who will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us,” forever and ever. Amen.

Praying for Right Aim

The term “sin” in Hebrew means “missing the mark,” not quite hitting the bullseye on the target of life in its fullest, life in the goodness of God’s creation and intimacy. In one way or another, we are all after not sinning, wanting to hit the mark of life as it’s meant to be and can be. The irony is, the way we continuously hit the mark is through suffering like Jesus. As Peter put it, “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh for us—the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones so that he might bring us to God—arm yourself with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” Suffering like Jesus—submitting, serving, and sacrificing—for the sake of bringing others into right relationship with the Father, keeps us on target. Let’s pray together for the right aim.

Father, thank you for sending your Son to show us how to live. Jesus, thank you for your life of submission, service, and sacrafice that is the power that allows us to live a full and forever life. Let us not see such suffering as a indication that we are missing the mark, but rather than are aim is true. Encourage us and empower us in your Spirit with the mind of Jesus so that in everything You may be glorified.

Becasue of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrction we pray. Amen.

Praying for Power

Did you know it takes inner strength, power even, to be a Jesus follower? To live life anew, holy, is not an exercise in weakness, even if meekness is its yield. This paradox is because to be people who walk daily in the presence of the Father requires a “boldness” and “confidence” that is not self-willed, but “realized in Christ Jesus…through our faith in him” (Eph. 3:11-12). But, if we are honest, there are times when we “lose heart,” lacking the strength to live out of the “power at work within us.” Our lack is not unique to our time and place in history; rather, it’s been a reality of our faith lineage from the beginning. So, let us bow our knees before our heavenly Father for one another this week, just as the apostle Paul did for his faith family (Eph. 3:14-21). Let’s pray.

Because we lose heart…we bow our knees before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, including our faith family, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant us to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ Jesus may dwell in our hearts through faith—that we, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints in our city, nation, world, and throughout history, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ Jesus that surpasses knowledge, that we may be filled with the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us, to be him be the glory in the Church and our church, and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.

Amen.