What are the angels, then? They are spirits who serve God and are sent by him to help those who are to receive salvation.
(Hebrews 1:13; GNT).
Saint Raphael,
Please pray for us:
The sick in body,
Mind, heart, soul,
And beg the Lord
To send you
With his healing touch,
To make us whole.
God sent me…to cure you
(Tobit 12:13-14; GNTA).
Note
Saint Raphael the Archangel is the Patron Saint of healing, who serves God by restoring people in body, mind, heart and soul.
Yesterday I returned home late in the evening, exhausted after a hospital trip to the United Kingdom, so for today I’ve picked this little prayer from my precious store of unused pieces.
I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).
Call my mind, Lord,
Back to you,
For it is yours alone.
Call my heart, Lord,
Back to you,
For it is all your own.
Call my soul, Lord,
Back to you,
When every day is done.
Call my spirit
Back to you, Lord,
When my race is run.
The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).
Yesterday morning I asked the members of my spiritual family to pray for me during my hospital trip in the UK . One messaged me straight back with a kind note which included the following symbols: 🙏💖. These were put into words by my iPad as, “Pray, sparkling heart”.
As soon as I read this, a prayer began to form in my mind, though it proved extremely difficult to write. I worked on it all morning in bed, during my ferry crossing, then in my hotel bedroom, until it was finished at last. I would like to dedicate it to my friend, P.M., to thank her for the amazing inspiration she sent me, as well as for her prayers.
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion (Ephesians 6:18; NLT).
Pray, fragile flesh,
Both now, and forever:
Let’s pray to our Father,
Though we’re only clay.
Pray, fearful mind,
Throughout each endeavour:
Let’s plead with our Maker,
In darkness, and day.
Pray, sparkling heart,
Both now, and forever:
Let’s follow our Father,
Who lights up The Way.
Pray, shining soul,
Throughout each endeavour:
Let’s worship our Maker,
And never delay.
Pray in His Spirit,
Both now, and forever:
Let’s pray, and rejoice, and give thanks –
Come what may.
Reference
The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-7; NRSV).
The very moment I began to pray early yesterday morning, these verses hijacked me completely.
Sinners will return to you (Psalm 51:13; ESV).
Lord,
My heart returns to you
Each day when I awake,
For you are Christ, the King of kings,
Who suffered for my sake.
Lord,
My mind returns to you
Each day as it grows light,
For you love all, so even I
Am precious in your sight.
Lord,
My gaze returns to you
Each day: I persevere
In seeking out your Spirit,
For I know that you are near.
Lord,
My soul returns to you
Each day until my death,
Then we will reunite at last,
For I, Lord, am your breath.
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).
The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).
You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence (Acts 2:28; NLT).
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
Please fill my body with your presence.
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
Please flood my mind with constant prayer.
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
Please charge my heart with love for others.
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
Please make my soul your thoroughfare.
The dry soil will become a pool of water, the parched ground springs of water. Where jackals once lived and sprawled out, grass, reeds, and papyrus will grow. A thoroughfare will be there – it will be called the Way of Holiness (Isaiah 35:7-8; NET).
Today’s blog is the group version of, “A dedication (#1 of 2)”, which I posted on the 13th of August. If you would like to check out that earlier, individual prayer, here is a link:
https://wp.me/p45bCr-eSN.
May your kingdom come.
(Luke 11:2; GNT).
Father,
May your kingdom come
In every life,
To make us one.
Jesus,
May your will be done
In every mind,
Till we are one.
Spirit,
May your pity dwell
In every heart:
Please make us one.
Yahweh,
May your mercy reign
In every soul,
Then we’ll be one.
Saviour,
May your kingdom come
Throughout this world:
Your will be done.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
(Matthew 6:10; NLT).
Today’s prayer arrived last Friday morning. As I worked to put it into words, it divided into two: one version for personal use, and one for groups. Here is the personal version, which came first. I plan to post the second in a week’s time, God willing.
May your kingdom come.
(Luke 11:2; GNT).
The kingdom of God is within you.
(Luke 17:21; NKJV).
Father,
May your kingdom come
Within my body:
Make us one.
Jesus,
May your will be done
Within my mind,
Till we are one.
Spirit,
May your kingdom come
Within my heart,
So we’ll be one.
Three-fold God,
Your will be done
Within my soul,
Then we’ll be one.
The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.
(1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).
Today, I’ve dipped into my storehouse for this, one of my favourite poems:
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.
(Psalm 37:7; NIV).
When I lift my mind in stillness,
Lord, I feel your Spirit stir;
When I lift my heart in darkness,
Lord, I see your perfect light;
When I lift my soul in silence,
Lord, I hear your still, small voice –
And I recognise your presence:
Then, with thanks, Lord, I rejoice.
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him.
(Luke 24:31; NIV).
Rosary Hospital news
This prayer overtook me yesterday whilst I was praying very sleepily, straight after waking up. It virtually wrote itself, which was an amazing experience.
Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.
(Luke 22:42; NLT).
Father,
I love you –
May your will be done.
Then, may I accept it
Like your Son.
Thank you for all you send,
Both “good” and “bad”.
In sickness, grief and pain
May I be glad,
And keep on serving.
Lord, may I grow like Christ,
Making my life
A willing sacrifice –
For this is my heart’s desire;
My only plea.
Father, I love you –
Thank you for loving me.
He loves us with unfailing love; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the LORD!
(Psalm 117:2; NLT).
I wrote today’s prayer soon after posting, “God in each atom”. Here is a link to that blog, in case you would like to read it as well: https://wp.me/p45bCr-c8O.
Today’s picture has been chosen to represent the presence of God in our DNA.
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
(Colossians 3:11; NLT).
Lord of my body:
You’re here, in each atom.
Lord of my thinking:
You dwell in my mind.
Lord of my heart:
You share all my emotions.
Lord of my soul:
We’re forever entwined.
Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.
(Philippians 3:8; NLT).