#MorningPrayer
Inspire, empower
and encourage us, Lord,
to testify to you
in our daily lives;
not just by speaking
of you, your gospel
and your kingdom,
but by living out
our relationship with you
for the blessing of others
and of the world.
May your love
be evident
in our lives.
#MorningPrayer
Expand our vision, Lord;
deepen our listening;
attune our hearts
to the pulse
of your kingdom,
that we may
perceive and know
how you are working,
what you are revealing,
where you are leading,
and that we may be ready
to follow, to discover,
to participate in love.
#MorningPrayer
Grow in us, Lord,
your gifts of
compassion
and courage,
that we may
be ready
to meet need
with love,
with help,
with integrity,
with faith.
Let us not be
discouraged
or distracted
by the prejudices
or priorities
of the world,
but inspired
and informed
by your love.
#MorningPrayer
As we come
before you Lord,
let us never
be focused on
our position or
achievements,
our reputation
or standing
in the world,
but on our status
as your children,
our need
of your mercy
and forgiveness,
our assurance
of your love
and your
acceptance
of us
as we are.
#MorningPrayer
You said, Lord,
that a prophet
has no honour
in the prophet’s
own country,
own home.
Challenge us
never to think
that we know you
so well that we can
domesticate
your Spirit,
and mistake our
own prejudices
for your will.
Shake us out of
complacency,
into your call.
#MorningPrayer
Give us, Lord,
the wisdom,
the understanding,
the passion
and the courage
to break through,
and break down,
the barriers we place
between people,
between ourselves
and others,
because of difference.
Remind us that
you know and love
each person;
help us do the same.
#MorningPrayer
Meet us, Lord,
where we are;
reach into our lives
with your love,
your understanding.
Help us to realise
that you know us
better than we
know ourselves,
that nothing is
hidden from you,
yet you love us
with a love
stronger even
than death.
Help us
accept
that
love.
#MorningPrayer
Lord, give us this Lent
the wisdom and strength
to release our hold
on the things of the world:
wealth, status, power;
that we may not be
enslaved by them.
Turn our hearts
to the things
of your kingdom:
grace, mercy, peace;
that we may reveal
your love,
your life.
#MorningPrayer
Lord, save us
from the
temptations
of the ego,
the focus on
our own wants
and desires
at the expense
of others,
the seeking of
status, wealth
and power
for ourselves
rather than
the common good.
May our focus
be on you,
that we may
point to
your love,
your kingdom.
#MorningPrayer
Give us a hunger, Lord,
to seek understanding
in our faith;
to spend time with you,
listening and learning,
to come to you
in our darkness
and find your light.
Remind us always
of your love,
your desire to save
not condemn,
and help us
to shine
that light,
for all.
#MorningPrayer
Open our hearts, minds,
ears and eyes, Lord,
that we might
truly perceive
the wonder, the joy,
the blessing
of your gospel.
May the light
of your love
shine in us
and from us,
that we may
show the way
and lead others
toward you,
your kingdom,
your peace,
your life.
#MorningPrayer
Lord,
may we know you
with us, among us,
and be open to receive
your gentle breath of peace,
your powerful breath of
forgiveness and reconciliation.
Your wounds show
that resurrection
overcomes crucifixion;
may they spur us on
to seek your kingdom,
live your love.
#MorningPrayer
Help us, Lord,
to recognise
your presence
among us and
alongside us;
help us to know
that the paths we walk,
we never walk alone.
Give us eyes to see
and hearts to know you
alive and active
in our communities;
give us grace both
to hear your call,
and do your will.
#MorningPrayer
Give us, Lord,
the dedication,
courage, and
love for you,
that led
Mary Magdalene
to the tomb
on Easter morning,
and the desire
to share the news
of your resurrection
which led her to be
apostle to the apostles.
May new life
shine in us
and from us,
for all to see.
#MorningPrayer
Lord,
give us vision
and understanding,
that we may see and know
what it is that we can do
for you and your kingdom
this day.
Give us also
grace and strength,
that we may be able
to fulfil your call,
do your work,
and express
our love for you
and your love
for all.
#MorningPrayer
Help us, Lord,
to take every opportunity
to proclaim you as our king;
not only in words
but also in our
actions and attitudes,
and in our relationships.
Inspire us
to know and to show
that in you,
we are a family;
knit together in,
and bound together by,
your love.
#MorningPrayer
Defend us Lord,
from the world’s
temptation
to use power
to exploit others
and get what we want;
keep us from
the use of power
to manipulate
outcomes,
and from being
manipulated.
Give us the strength
to stand for what is
right and just,
to stand for
love and
peace.
#MorningPrayer
Lord,
give us the eyes of faith,
and enable our vision,
that we may see
not only that
you are the image
of the invisible God,
but also that
we too bear
your image.
Enable and inspire us
to see and recognise
your image
in ourselves
and each other,
without exception.
#MorningPrayer
Keep us, Lord,
from the desire
to build,
expand,
impose
our own empires,
from the temptation
to work to
the world’s truth
of power, advantage,
divide and rule.
Give us instead
the desire
to reveal
your kingdom,
to work
for your truth
of love, justice,
mercy, peace.
#MorningPrayer
You call us, Lord,
to be your disciples,
to follow you in life,
in ministry, in mission.
Give us the courage
and the strength
to follow
when that
becomes tough,
when we find ourselves
called to follow
through difficult
situations and contexts.
Keep us close to you.
#MorningPrayer
Grant us, Lord,
the courage
to stand by you
and to stand for you;
the courage
to stand against
injustice and
oppression,
violence and greed;
the courage
to sheath our swords
and to work for peace,
for reconciliation,
and for your love
to be known
and seen
among us.
#MorningPrayer
Help us fulfil
your deep desire, Lord,
for our unity:
unity with you,
and unity in you;
your delight in
our individuality,
in the richness
of our diversity;
your call on us
to be your body,
each member
unique, essential,
interdependent,
bound together
in your love.
#MorningPrayer
Lord, you desire
that we may be
one in you,
reflecting the unity
of the Trinity,
bound together
in and by your love.
May we know
that reality,
as you inspire
and animate
our lives,
individually
and corporately.
In diversity
and difference,
may unity
shine through.
#MorningPrayer
Lord,
inspire our thinking
and our speaking,
our beliefs and
our behaviours.
Guide us in all
our interactions
and involvements,
our relationships
and our responses.
Enable and encourage us,
in all we say, do, and are,
to bring glory
to your name,
to show
your love.
#MorningPrayer
Inspire
our hearts, Lord,
to stay open
to the needs
of others;
to be open
to the opportunities
which present themselves
to show your love,
and to show
that your love
animates our faith
and our lives.
May we shine
with your light,
bringing hope
and blessing
to many.
#MorningPrayer
Help us, Lord,
to see and to honour
the faithfulness of others,
especially those
whose ministry
is hidden or overlooked.
Encourage us to appreciate
the dedication and devotion
of a discipleship
that simply attends
to what needs to be done,
and enables so much else.
#MorningPrayer
Lord, give us
glad and
generous hearts;
hearts open to others,
open both in
a willingness to give
of our time, talents
and resources,
but open also to receive
the generosity of those
who wish to help us.
Inspire us with
the spirit of mutuality,
with faith and love.
#MorningPrayer
As we recall, Lord,
your presentation
in the Temple,
so help us
to present
ourselves to you,
to dedicate ourselves
to showing your love
to the world,
to shining your light
in the world,
and to sharing your life
with the world,
as we follow your call
upon our lives.