PRAYING EACH DAY - DECEMBER

[MajestyJo]

DECEMBER

Who are we, God our Father,
amidst all of your creation?
Yet you so loved the world
that you sent Jesus, your Son,
to live fully as one of us.
I rejoice that he is beside me now

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Let us pray:

Lord Jesus
you treasure
and hold a special place
for each and every person,
as though
only that one individual exists,
and you accept us as we are,
in the reality of our lives this day.
May I grow in the faith
that you look steadily at me
and love me.
Amen.

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[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray:

We give back to you, Father,
those whom you first gave to us.
You did not lose them
in giving them to us
and so we do not lose them
in their return to you.
Your Son has taught us
that life is eternal
and love cannot die.
So death is only an horizon
- the limits of our sight.
Open our eyes
and lift us up,
so that we may see more clearly.
Draw us closer to you
so that we may know
that we are nearer to our loved ones
who are with you.
And while you prepare a place for us
as you have promised,
prepare us also for that happy place,
that where you are, we may be also,
with those we have loved, for ever.
Amen.


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[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray:

God our Father,
we live in a nation
of many natural resources.
We pray for wisdom
that we may use them well
whilst also caring for our environment.
We pray, too,
that the many human resources
of all nations
may develop
as people respect and value
the dignity and rights
and responsibilities
of each individual.
Amen.

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[MajestyJo]

December 4

Let us pray:

We pray today, Father,
for the injured and sick
who are still suffering
from the after-effects
of man-made or natural disasters.
We pray that those
who have responsibilities
may have a “feeling” for others
and so grow in care and respect
for those
whose lives they may influence.
For ourselves
and those that we care for,
lead us to make our choices wisely,
and accept responsibility
for our own lives
and for our choices and actions
and their consequences.
Amen.

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[MajestyJo]

December 5

Let us pray:

Loving Father,
we ask you
to show us how to level
any ‘mountains’ we might have
of feeling ‘superior’
or ‘better’ than others,
or of making judgements
about people.
Raise us from any ‘valleys’
of despair
or a poor self-image
or a sense of worthlessness.
Lift us up
from whatever kind of poverty
may affect our lives.
Lift us up, we pray,
from anything that makes us
less than fully human.
Raise us from sinfulness,
and lead us to prepare a straight path
for the coming anew into our lives
of Jesus, your Son.
Amen.

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[MajestyJo]

December 6

Let us pray and be open teach and learn from children:

learns to condemn.
A child living with hostility
learns to fight.
A child living with ridicule
learns to be shy.
A child living with shame
learns to feel guilty.
But
A child living with encouragement
learns confidence.
A child living with praise
learns to appreciate.
A child living with fairness
learns justice.
A child living with security
learns to have faith.
A child living with approval
learns love of self.
A child
living with acceptance and friendship
learns to find love in the world.”
(Dorothy Law Holte
- adapted to inclusive language.)

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[MajestyJo]

December 7

Let us pray:

God our Father,
we thank you
that in the vastness of your creation
there is something special
about the beauty of this earth.
Into our world
which you love so much Jn 316
you sent Jesus, your Son
- your Word
who became a human being Jn 114
and made his home among us.
Breathe your Holy Spirit into us
once again
that we may grow in a sense of wonder
and proclaim to be good
all that you have made. Gen 131
May we live more fully
as brothers and sisters of one another
and of Jesus, your Son.
Amen.

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[MajestyJo]

December 8

Let us pray:

Teach us, good Lord,
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labour and to ask for no reward,
save that of knowing
that we do your will.
Amen.


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[MajestyJo]

December 9

We’ll reflect and pray today using a few
sentences from some Christmas carols.

‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’
includes these words:
“The hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee” (Bethlehem) “tonight.”

Let us pray:
As we are about to focus
on your birth, Lord,
we bring our fears to you,
remembering that you assured us
that “There is no need
to be afraid”. Mt 1031
We also bring our hopes to you,
knowing that you said to us:
“Place your trust in me.” Jn 141

Let’s pause for a moment to name some
“hopes and fears” and place them into
God’s hands…
(Pause…)

‘Once in Royal David’s City’
has these words:
“He was little, weak and helpless…
“With the poor… and lowly
laid on earth our Saviour holy…
“He feeleth for our sadness
and he shareth in our gladness.”

Let us pray:
You placed yourself, Lord,
with the poor and helpless,
and identified fully with them,
seeking no advantage for yourself.
Inspire us
to “feel” for how other people are,
that we may try to understand them
and be willing
to place ourselves
alongside those in need.
Amen.

The Advent carol,
‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’, says:
“From depths of hell thy people save…
And close the path to misery.”

Let us pray:
We remember, Lord,
those who are experiencing
the hell of poverty, drugs,
alcoholism, abuse,
homelessness, persecution,
and the other forms of hell
that are to be found
in our world today.

We bring before you, Lord,
those who feel unloved
and all who have little joy
and little hope
in their lives. Amen.

Most carols focus on the birth of Jesus.
‘ While Shepherds Watched’
reminds us
of the message of the angel:
“And on the earth be peace:
goodwill henceforth from heaven to men
begin and never cease”,
yet there is much tension in the Holy Land
in our own times,
between Jews and Palestinians.

We also sing:
“And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace”
from the carol
‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’.

Let us pray:
We think of ordinary people, Lord,
caught up in war
in man-made divisions
between people
of different race or belief,
or background or culture.
We pray for justice and peace
for all who feel threatened.
We pray, too,
for greater love and acceptance
for those experiencing difficulties
in family life.
In praying for these things,
we are praying, too,
that you inspire and enable us
to be instruments
of your justice and peace today.
Amen.

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[MajestyJo]

December 10

Let us pray:

Lord,
you have enriched our lives
in many ways,
and we are grateful
for all who have influenced our lives
for the better.
Show us how best
to use the time and talents
you have given each one of us,
and inspire us to live fully
and bring benefit
to our own part of the world.
Amen.

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[MajestyJo]

December 11

Let us pray:

Lord, it’s good
to be actively concerned
about the abuses of human rights
in other countries,
but I must not lose sight
of the mis-treatment of others
closer to me.
Most particularly, Lord,
point out to me
my own failings
in lacking respect
for those who come into my daily life.
I readily condemn slavery,
but help me to liberate those I know
who are overburdened.
I condemn torture,
but lead me to discourage the use
of cruel words and actions
to those I will meet today.
Remind me
that those who degrade others
are themselves diminished.
Enlighten me
so that I do not
jump to conclusions about people,
or be judgmental.
Lead me
always to respect individuals
for who they are,
realising that their experiences
may be different from my own,
as each follows paths in life
that are particular to them.
May I grow in appreciation
that those
who think differently from me
can hold equally valid views.
In these and other ways, Lord,
may I grow in respect for all people.
This day, may others respect me
as much as I respect them.
Amen.

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[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray:

God our Father,
as you welcome me
and accept me fully
and love me as the person I am,
so inspire me
to be generous to others
in the welcome and acceptance,
and the love and the care
that I offer.
Amen.

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray:

Lord, I need to keep an eye
on the small things in life
as well as the bigger issues,
because my thoughts
become my attitude,
my attitude becomes my words,
my words become my actions,
and my actions form my character.
Be there, Lord,
in that instant before every thought,
that I may choose wisely
my thoughts and my attitude,
my words and my actions,
so that I may grow in friendship
with those
who become part of my life.
Show me, too,
how best to encourage others
to reach their potential.
Amen.


“True greatness consists in being great in little things.” The real Doctor Samuel Johnson - who died on this day in 1784 - spent 8 years preparing his dictionary of about 40,000 definitions.
He was also a poet, and is remembered for short phrases (sometimes comical) that sum up a situation.

[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray:

God our Father,
at this time of year
we think of loved ones,
and remember with gratitude
what others have done for us.
As the stars shone over Bethlehem,
so may we shine in the world
like bright stars Phil 215
as we share the Word of Life
- Jesus, your Son,
your Word amongst us.
Amen.

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People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents. - Andrew Carnegie

[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray:

God our Father,
amidst the busy-ness and noise
of daily life,
I ask you to bring it home to me
how much I need
time and quiet for myself,
in which I can become
more attuned with myself
and more at one
with you, my God.
As I am then able to grow more
in your image and likeness
and be re-created,
inspire me to be creative
and develop to the full
the talents you have given me
for the benefit of those people
you place into my life.
Amen.

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Defeating Satan

"When Satan reminds us of our past, we should remind him of his future."

- Unknown

[MajestyJo]

Regular prayer not applicable.

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Take a moment to listen to the still small voice of God within
the bustle of the day which has begun. Find a quiet place
where you can enjoy precious moments of peace in God's
presence. Sit quietly and listen to the sounds of the world
around you, both outside and in the place where you are.
Breathe slowly and rest in God's presence......


God to enfold me,
God to surround me,
God in my speaking,
God in my thinking.

God in my sleeping,
God in my waking,
God in my watching,
God in my hoping.

God in my life,
God in my lips,
God in my soul,
God in my heart.

God in my sufficing,
God in my slumber,
God in mine ever-living soul,
God in mine eternity.

- - Carmina Gadelica

[MajestyJo]

Humble Prayer

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Heavenly father, I pray to thee,
help me to love others,
the way that you love me.
Help me Lord, in all that I do,
to always be a reflection of you.
Walk with me closely, night and day,
so I shall never go astray.
Live in my heart, and give me your light,
that someday I may become pleasing in your sight.
Make me your vessel, that others may see,
your spiritual presence dwelling within me.
Walk with me Father, till my journey is through,
then by your grace, bring me home to you.
-- Billy F. Dial

[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray:

Lord God of all people,
lead me not to judge others
or discriminate
and divide into different groups.
Inspire me to live in such a way
that I am not destructive
or negative.
Empower me with your Spirit
that I may choose wisely
and live positively
and so promote all that is life-giving.
Amen.

[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray:

God our Father,
you created light
and all that we can see.
Show us how to grow
in a sense of wonder
that we may “really see”
and appreciate
all the beauty that is around us.
Lead us to discover
how inter-connected
are so many things in life
and how inter-woven
with your presence.
May the coming into our world
of Jesus, your Son,
- who lived fully as a human being -
remind us that we are all called
to be at-one with you.
Show us how to transform
all that might be ordinary
in our daily lives
and, through your Spirit,
become more fully alive,
to your greater glory. Amen.

[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray:

Lord Jesus,
as we prepare to celebrate
the gift of yourself
to our world,
we think too of our loved ones,
remembering that you said
that there is “more joy in giving
than in receiving.” Acts 2035
We ask you to bless us
and those we love.
Amen.

[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray:

“Give us, O God, the vision
which can see your love in the world
in spite of human failure.
Give us the faith, the trust,
and the goodness
in spite of our ignorance
and weakness.
Give us the knowledge
that we may continue to pray
with understanding hearts,
and show us
what each one of us can do
to set forth
the coming of the day
of universal peace.
Amen.”

[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray:

God our loving Father,
our governments
spend money in our name
to subsidise farmers to “set aside”
good agricultural land
so that less food is produced.
Some potatoes and other good crops
are sprayed with dyes
to make them unfit
for human consumption,
and it is policy
to destroy good harvests
of fruit and vegetables.
Yet our brothers and sisters
go hungry and die
across the world.
Lead us to grow
in valuing the dignity
of all people,
as well as in respect
for the fruit of the earth
and the work of human hands.
Inspire us to be of influence
in our own part of the world
so that injustices -wherever they existmay
be challenged,
and all people learn to grow together
as caring and responsible
brothers and sisters.
Amen.

[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray:

God our Father,
may the simplicity of the birth
of Jesus, your Son,
remind us
that we can readily discover him
in the ordinariness of our daily lives.
Amen.

[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray:

In silence, Lord,
I place myself amongst all those
in many parts of the world
and in various circumstances
who are praying for peace
on this day,
as I, too, pray for peace.

Amen

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[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray, using some words of
Robert Louis Stevenson:

“O God, our loving Father,
help us rightly to remember
the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in
the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and the worship of the wise men…
May Christmas morning
make us happy to be your children,
and Christmas evening
bring us to our beds
with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven,
for Jesus’ sake. Amen.”

[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray:

Jesus, God-with-us,
what gift shall we bring to you?
The angels bring their song,
the heavens bring their star,
the shepherds bring their wonder,
the animals give their manger,
the wise men bring their gifts,
and we human beings
bring the Virgin-Mother.
We bring our whole selves to you
who have so fully and generously
given yourself to us.
Amen.

[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray:

God, Father of us all,
you who call me by name: Is 431
you are my hiding-place,
my shelter, Ps 327
amidst life’s difficulties.
Remind me
that there is no pit, no hole, so deep
that your love
is not deeper still.
Lead me to give thanks
in all my circumstances, 1 Thess 518
and show me
how to transform
whatever suffering or difficulties
I may experience,
into something that will benefit others
and will set me free.
I make this prayer,
knowing that you
lavish your love on us 1 Jn 31
and you set
the down-trodden free. Is 611; Lk 418
Amen.

[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray:

Father,
we remember before you
those who have been abused
in the womb, in childhood,
and in later life.
We bring before you
our brothers and sisters
throughout the world
who are victims
of injustice, prejudice
and persecution.
Lead us, Father,
and lead all people of good will
to do whatever we can
to help turn the hearts
of those who think themselves
better than others,
and who perpetrate evil.
Deliver us, Lord,
from all that is evil. Amen.

[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray:

Lord, inspire us
to be credible witnesses of your love,
and good shepherds
towards those
you have entrusted to our care.
Amen.

[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray:

God our Father,
we pray for all families,
that members may feel encouraged
to live fully,
and may discover
the sanctity of human love
and the value of family life.
If times are troubled
through separation
or difficulties in relationships,
may people learn to be generous.
May we all learn
how to break the cycle
of whatever may be negative,
growing in understanding
and appreciation
and in love and respect. Amen.

[MajestyJo]

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Let us pray:

Lord, you call us
not to get too set in our ways,
but to be trustful and faithful,
seeing the need
for the on-going process
of being renewed and re-vitalised.
Repeatedly you call each one of us
to be ‘born again’,
to start anew,
to ‘repent’,
to review priorities
and re-orientate
the direction of our lives.
Give us the fullness of your Spirit
that we may live
as you would have us live.
Amen.