Context: On New Year’s Eve I woke very early, with a migraine. Fortunately, the day before, I had arranged everything I needed to start making hot drinks in my bedroom. So I sat up in bed to pray, a mug of tea to hand, holding my cross, and repeating Jesus’ name in time with my breathing.
Out of this came a stream of four short, linked prayers. Despite their brevity, they were extremely difficult to put into words. I plan to post them over the next few days, God willing.
The whole group springs from a special prayer said daily by the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham – a prayer which has made a real difference to my quality of life. If anyone is interested, I could ask permission to post it here.
The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7; KJV).
I breathe you in,
And breathe you out, Lord Jesus.
No matter what you send,
I will say, “Yes”.
You live in me,
And I in you, Lord Jesus –
With you, I can endure
Each new distress.
With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall (2 Samuel 22:30; NIV).
In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind (2 Corinthians 6:4; NLT).
References
In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10; NIV).
Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT).
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).
Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21; CSB).