Prayers of Robert Raines
Lord, we offer ourselves to you,
Help us to understand what we need
for our own survival,
and what we can get along without.
Help us to find a healthy balance
between our wants and our oughts
and give us the wisdom
to know you are in both.
Heal and hallow all our loves
that our caring may be
clear and honest.
Help us to discern when we should
deny ourselves for the sake of others,
and when we must
affirm ourselves for our own sake.
Let your grace fall on our dry souls
Give us a tiny freshet;
refill the reservoir of memory and hope
Deliver us from self-preoccupation that
blinds us to our partner’s pain or our enemy’s truth.
Purge out of our hearts the lurking grudge;
Be thou our guide through all that is dark or doubtful.
Let not our narrow agenda constrain your gracious purpose,
nor coerce the hopes of others.
Make us to be magnanimous people.
When we wake at night with forethought of grief,
tune our hearts to sing thy grace.
When rage consumes us
burn away our self-righteousness.
Let You light shine in our shadows
Let Your spirit breathe in our bodies
We pray to You in the name and in the presence
of Jesus Christ Our Lord, Amen
- Robert Raines
