Read an Excerpt
Morning Glory and Evening Grace
A Year of Daily Prayers for Growth and Hope
By Walter Coleman
AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2012 Walter Coleman
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4772-6540-6
Chapter One
JANUARY
Unfolding Days
Lord of the Unfolding Way, we come to seek your guidance and wisdom as this new year begins to unfold. Our lives are each a journey that moves ever onward through the days you have planned for us. Some of the days will be marked by frustration and disappointment. Some of them will be marked by routine and ordinary occurrences. Some of them will feel rushed and chaotic. Some of them will contain discovery and wonder. Each day will provide opportunities to learn and to follow you.
Help us to value each day for what it is – a twenty-four hour gift of opportunity and possibility. Every moment is of supreme worth. Each is like a pearl of great price ready to be strung into a beautiful work of art. You are the artist who is putting each moment in place to reflect the wonder of your plan for creation. Let us submit to your placing us in the right position and the best light so that, like a diamond, we can display every shining facet that lies within us. Help us to redeem the time of our lives and shine brilliantly for you.
-AMEN
What Shall We Become?
You have encouraged us, Lord, to ask, seek, and knock to receive answers to our questions. One of the most pressing questions in our focus at this time is "What shall we become?" during this year. This is important because it pitches our vision forward and sets our intention in the present. How we spend our time, resources, and energy will determine what we become. We can spend our time wishing or hoping something would happen but most times it never comes about.
We can put forth excuses for why something won't work, and it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. We can set our sights lower on the good and never experience greatness.
Help us to ask of you the things that will add action to our intention. Grant to us the wisdom to discern the best ways to advance toward goals you have inspired us to adopt. Help us to stretch and grow beyond our comfort zones and risk trusting you to provide hope where we cannot see. Grant to us the courage to live fully into our questions.
-AMEN
A Five Fold Blessing
Sometimes, Lord, we need to listen to voices from the past to find meaning in the present. One such voice is that of Moses, as he blesses the people of Israel. He says to them: "The Lord bless you and keep you, make his face to shine upon you, be gracious to you, give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26). All parts of this blessing we desire, Lord.
What a joy it is when you choose to bless us. Your blessings far exceed anything we deserve or expect. They are extravagant and life giving. They provide hope and grace in our lives.
We also desire that you keep us. In your keeping we can turn away from our fear and know that you will be there to guide and strengthen us. Your promise to dwell with us always is a solid place for us to stand.
When you shine your face upon us, you grant to us a glimpse of what it means to be fully alive in you. You reveal your loving nature and show us who we were meant to be.
When you are gracious, we experience what it means to have life and life more abundantly.
Finally, in our internal and external world there is much conflict, so we desire your final gift of peace.
Grant to us this five fold blessing, Lord.
-AMEN
Consecrated Gifts
Giver of Gifts, no matter how many times it is said, we have to return again and again to the truth that the gifts we receive from you are to be used in service to you and others. There is no question that we are each gifted. Gifts come as part of who we are and how we are made. You design us with gifts, Lord, to add to the unfolding of your divine plan.
Too often, though, we run away from our gifts. We hide them, or more seriously we use them to build ourselves up. We display them in prideful and arrogant ways. We use them to lord it over others and to grab power. We forget the order of things, and we strive to become our own gifted creators. When we crash and burn we wonder what went wrong.
Help us to honor the gifts that you have given us and, more importantly, honor you as the Giver. Let us not spend so much time applauding the gifts we have, but instead devote ourselves to consecrating our use of them with honesty, integrity, and faith. By devoting these gifts to your honor, we can fulfill what it means to be your instruments for good in this world.
-AMEN
No Jealousy or Envy
We come to you today, Friend and Companion, to ask that you help us to grow beyond the ugly habits of jealousy and envy. They bite at our heels and our souls like little dogs anxious to take a piece out of us. In reality, when they do overcome us we truly lose a piece of ourselves.
Our world issues a siren call that is hard to ignore. The call is to compare. In and of itself comparison is not bad. It becomes bad when we look at the success of another and envy what they have. If they gain wealth, we feel poor. If they gain property, we feel deprived. If their children do well, we wonder why ours did not do better. It can be a deadly trap.
Help us to move away from this trap of comparison, and instead spend our time wishing others well and rejoicing with them in the blessings you have chosen to share with them. When we do this you help us repair that missing piece torn out of us by jealousy and envy. In reality we are all blessed beyond compare because we are your children, and as such we are heirs to your grace and love. Both of these are given without regard to status or worthiness. Jealousy and envy have no place in your order of things.
-AMEN
The More Monster
Guiding Lord and Guardian of our way, we are grateful that you help us not to be devoured by the "More Monster." Everywhere we turn this monster seems to be in our face. The need for "more" from us is voracious. The cry of this monster is for more of our time, more of our energy, or more of our resources. It is a never-ending chant from our families, our jobs, our friends, or ourselves. What we ask of you, Lord, is to help us remember that the "more monster" is not in control, but you are.
Your word to us is to follow your time-table and not our own. Guide us to remember that some very effective ways to tame the "more monster" are to say "not now," "wait," "this is not a priority," or simply "no." Sometimes we find these simple words hard to speak. Give us the courage to find our voices and know that in speaking them we can retain our energy and restore our souls.
Thank you for helping us to know that "more" does not always mean better or best.
-AMEN
Tsunami
Creator and Father of All, we come to you with many questions regarding the devastation and death that has visited a whole region of the world. The numbers and pictures overwhelm us. Our hearts are heavy and our minds are numbed as we seek to grasp what we can do to help.
We know that nature can display its power in many forms. We know of the forces of hurricanes and tornados but we had no idea of the power of a tsunami. Now that we do, we can't go back to business as usual. The world has been ripped and many in the global villages are suffering in ways we can't begin to fathom.
Our prayer is that, even when we don't understand such devastation, we will trust you to be active and present in it all. Help us to remain tender in our hearts and let us be generous in supplying aid and comfort. Above all, keep before us that when one rider on planet earth is hurting, we are all diminished and we truly are "our brother's keeper."
-AMEN
Always There
Ever Present Lord, we are grateful that you are always with us. It is hard for us to believe this because we put up barriers that we believe separate us from you. The truth is there are no such barriers. Even when we can't see you, you are the light that shines through us. Even when we can't feel you, you provide the power for us to carry on. Even when we don't fully understand your ways and your plans, you continue to work them in and around us. Even when we turn away from you, you remain available to welcome us when we return. When we are plagued by loneliness, fear, or pain, you are there to hold us.
When the circumstances of life seem so unfair and brutal, you are there with your goodness and grace. When love seems to have gone and hate seems to reign, your love never ends. When the world seems to exert the power of politics and force, you quietly work behind the scenes in obscure people and obscure places, to change the course of events.
Above all when our faith is plagued by questions, you remain as the ever present answer who never waivers and never stops loving us.
-AMEN
Deadly Privatizing
If there is one thing that marks our dealing with you, Lord, it is that relationship is at the heart of everything. You created everything in the world to be interdependent and interrelated. You call for community, not isolation. Our language should include more "we" than "I," more "our" instead of "my," and more "us" than "me." You seek connection, not aloneness. Privatizing our faith goes against the grain of your grace.
When love is privatized it becomes pride. When grace is privatized it becomes greed. When hope is privatized it becomes fantasies. None of the gifts or virtues that we possess can grow or mature apart from community.
Help us to be willing to move out of our walled-off centers of the ego and live expansively in open spaces of mutual respect and assistance. Let us value the diversity of expression found in our individual lives, but hold to the truth we are "one in the Spirit."
-AMEN
Of Time and History
Lord of all time and history, we are aware of the reality that our lives are measured by both. We measure our existence in hours, days, months, and years. These are ways we chart events as they unfold and thus they form the substance of our history. You have put both in place so we can give meaning and perspective to our time in this world.
At the beginning of this new year we have the opportunity to give weight to our days, and thus create a meaningful history. The way we conduct ourselves and the way we make choices will determine how our history will be written. We ask you to guide us in all things. We ask you to help us seize each day as a gift from you to practice being fully alive. We ask that you open us to new adventures and rich places of growth. We ask that you lead us in such a way that our fears might be overcome as we deal with challenges.
We go into this year, Lord, with optimism and hope. Grant that our time may be spent well that our history might be rich.
-AMEN
Quality Listening
Ever Calling Lord and Living Word, we come asking that you help us to learn how to listen both to you and to each other. Time and time again the scriptures remind us, "He who has ears let him hear." Your servant Isaiah cautions us not to have "heavy ears." (Isaiah 6:10) He goes on to remind us what he learned from you. "Morning by morning he wakens, he wakens my ears to hear as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I turned not backward." (Isaiah 50:4-5)
Hearing is essential as part of communication, and the quality of our hearing is crucial. If our listening is selective we will hear only part of the truth coming our way. If our listening is calloused, we will filter out many new things because we are closed to them. If our listening is superficial we will hear many wonderful truths, but they will never take hold in us. Help us, we pray, to listen with open, alert ears and hearts attuned to you and your ways.
-AMEN
Strengthening Our Resolve
Ever Reliable Spirit, we are thankful that you open ways for us to improve our lives. As we move forward in these first days of the new year, we look for areas that need such improvement. We realize, Lord, that there may be habits that cause us harm. We may need to face destructive patterns in our work or home that need to change. We may need to look at how we spend our time or money.
Yes, Lord, we desire to make changes. We feel that a new beginning is in order. We intend to put forth effort to make it happen. After awhile we become erratic. Before long we find it more comfortable to go back to what we were doing before. Then we give up.
Our simple request to you now is that you strengthen us in our resolve to do better. Whatever area you lead us to mark for change, help us in our resolve to stick to it. Help us to resolve to call upon you as our motivation. You are the only source that truly makes our resolve a reality.
-AMEN
Our Place – Your Plan
Lord, you are the one who is faithful and true from generation to generation. You work through the birthing process to bring each of us into your world and your unfolding plan.
When we turn to your written word, we are reminded of this truth in references to Abraham being the father of Isaac, who in turn became the father of Jacob, who became the father of twelve sons who formed the tribes of Israel. More than events and dates, these names are the ones that speak of your means of grace to all humanity.
Help us to look with fresh eyes at our heritage, both in our families in which we grew up and in our faith families. Let us claim and live out of the powerful reality that you are about the business of molding us throughout each generation to be unique in your plan. Let us understand that we are indeed, "your children," and that we are chosen and put here for a purpose. Let us with humility and thanksgiving live with joy the role we play in this generation.
-AMEN
Thresholds
You have told us that you are the Way and that you will lead us through your Spirit to experience depth and meaning in our lives. We know this is true for we have experienced such meaning as our lives have unfolded.
We have to admit, Lord, that sometimes it is difficult for us to know the way. We find ourselves standing at the threshold of a new direction, and we wonder what we should do. We seem to get frozen by the possibilities that open before us. We see advantages and disadvantages in each option. We try to draw on the wisdom we have gained from the past, but it doesn't seem to fit.
Help us to remember your call to us when we are on the threshold - "ask, seek, and knock." You have promised us you will tell us what we need to know and reveal the right path. Let us stand still until it is time for us to advance.
Threshold moments are exciting and frustrating. We are glad you are the Way through them.
-AMEN
Deeper Ever Deeper
Word Made Flesh and Source of our Faith, we ask that you lead us deeper into following your ways. May we stand boldly upon your gifts to us and not be limited by our hesitations and fears. May we spend more time in worship, spiritual disciplines, and enjoying the abundant life you give. May we live more intentionally out of your blessings, victories, and mighty promises. May we turn more quickly to you when we are faced with temptations. May we rely upon you to sustain us when we face trials or failures. May we accept negative experiences as places where you can teach us valuable lessons. May we be more bold in asking others to join and support us as we journey through life. May we practice your command to love all within our circle of influence. May we extend ourselves in trust of you as we accept your challenge to follow you in faith. Above all may we look to you as the author and finisher of our faith.
-AMEN
Attributes of God
As we come to you in prayer, Lord, we are aware that we can never fully grasp the extent of who you are. You identify yourself as, "I am who I am." You never reveal all of who you are. You ask us to look at the life of Jesus to discover attributes of who you are. Jesus said that he came to show us who you are, for he is one with you.
Looking at his actions we discover that you are merciful. Rather than condemning, you act to redeem. He reveals that you are sovereign. In your word we read, "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours." (I Chronicles 29:11) He reveals that you are transcendent. You are not limited by our thoughts or ideas of who you are. Again in your word you clearly remind us, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9) Finally, Jesus reveals that you are unchanging. We read in Malaciah 3:6, "I the Lord do not change."
Your attributes reveal your nature and we build our lives on them.
-AMEN
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Morning Glory and Evening Grace by Walter Coleman Copyright © 2012 by Walter Coleman. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
