Category: Prayer

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How do we feel God’s love?

I think it looks like a graveyard, now that the sunflowers have been harvested.

People talk about feeling the love of God, but how are we supposed to do that? Is it some sort of mystical experience only available to the spiritual elite? Or only to people graced with a particular sensitivity? Personally, I think that God’s love is much more accessible to us than that. In fact, God’s love is expressed any time we love others or others love us. I believe we can learn to take that experience of God’s love mediated through other people (and animals) and use it to tap into a sense of God’s unmediated love for us. How about trying the following exercise?

Settle into your seat, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Rest calmly in silence for as long as you are comfortable. Then bring to mind a moment when you felt loved. If this is difficult for you, bring to mind a moment when you felt great love for somebody else. Dwell in this feeling. Revel in the warmth. Notice how it feels in your body, how it feels in your whole being. Imprint this feeling strongly in your mind, body and spirit.

Mark 10:13-16
People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’ And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

Imagine yourself as a small child, out for a walk with a parental figure. It’s a warm sunny day, and you are feeling happy and relaxed. You come across a crowd of children gathered around Jesus. You separate from your parent and approach the crowd. Jesus is smiling and laughing with the children. He speaks words of blessing over them and the children go away happy. How do you react to that? Now it’s your turn to receive a blessing – go up to Jesus and let him give you a big bear hug. Now bring back to mind that experience of love you just recalled and feel it now. Experience it as God’s love being directly shared with you in the present moment. Rest there for a while.

What does Jesus say to you, if anything?

Now talk with God about this experience. Were you able to sense God’s love? Perhaps it was difficult. Be honest with God, and ask for more love for yourself and for the whole world.

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How does your (inner) garden grow?

If you are in the mood for a little ‘spiritual gardening’ you might like to try to following exercise, in which you consider your life as a garden and see what emerges.

Start by becoming still and calm in the presence of God. Perhaps do a body scan or a breathing exercise.

Now review what is happening in your life right now, using whichever of the following questions you find helpful:

Where is there growth? What is blossoming? Where is there fruit?

What is fading or dying? What is on the compost heap? What needs to be put on the compost heap?

What needs to be pruned? Does anything need to be trained?

Are any areas overrun with weeds or under attack by pests?

What parts of your life need to be fed with fertiliser?

Have you sown any seeds recently?

Are there completely new areas you’d like to dig over?

Talk to God about what has come up in this time of reflection and entrust your garden to him.

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Back to school prayers

Freshly harvested coriander seeds.

These prayers were inspired by the reading for last Sunday’s service: Ephesians 6:10-20

Heavenly father, at this time of new beginnings we ask for your grace, strength and wisdom as we prepare for the next academic year.

In Ephesians 6, Paul encourages us to put on the whole armour of God, and so we fasten the belt of truth around our waists – help us to embrace all that is good and beautiful and true. May those who are studying enjoy their learning, and may all of us keep our minds open and willing to learn until the end of our days. Give grace and patience to those who teach and care for us, and help us to guide each other into truth.
Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Next we put on the breastplate of righteousness. Help us take every opportunity to be kind to others, to include the person who seems to be left out, in the playground, at church, or wherever we find ourselves. Give us the courage to do what is right, even when it might be unpopular or cost us something, remembering your great love for every single person that we meet.
Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

And then we put on shoes that make us ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. May we be peacemakers where there is conflict, teach us ways to disagree well, and help us to remember that you ask us not only to love our friends but also our enemies.
Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Next we take hold of the shield of faith, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one, so that when things are difficult, we remember that you love us, that we matter to you, and that however hard things get, nothing can separate us from your love. Thank you for the people you have made us, with our skills and gifts as well as our weaknesses and foibles; help us to put all of who we are at your service and to resist the voices that seek to undermine us.
Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We now put on the helmet of salvation, surrounding our minds with the assurance that we are safe with you, that we are united with Christ in God. Help us to remember that, whether our studies, work, or other activities are going well or badly, you love us just the same. Thank you that our place in your heart is assured no matter what is going on in our lives.
Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

And finally we grasp the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, not to attack other people but to help us learn the best way to live and to make wise decisions. As we enter this new academic year, teach us your ways and may we grow ever closer to you.
Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.

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A form of daily prayer

My first-ever baby cucumber!

I have been meaning to put together a simple form of morning and evening prayer for a while now, and have finally managed to get it finished. I have unashamedly chosen my favourite passages and modified them to fit the pattern of the liturgy. I hope you find them helpful.

I have mainly focused on passages that explore the glory of God as seen in creation, to help encourage a sense of awe, but have also chosen passages that point us to ultimate hope.

Since there are fourteen separate sets of prayers, I have put them as individual tabs on a separate page. You can access them here, or even download them as a PDF for printing, (print them as a ‘booklet’.)

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Like a tree planted by living water

This is a prayer based on Psalm 1, which is my favourite.

God of creation, beautiful, nourishing and wild,
Make us like the Psalmist’s trees, planted by streams of living water, with deep roots searching for the source of life.
When we reach the living water, refresh us and make us fruitful.
Grow in us humility, compassion, and the desire to serve you wherever you plant us.
Teach us the difference between light and darkness, that we might delight in your ways and flee from paths of wickedness.
Help us to let go of those broken and unhealthy parts of ourselves that are like the chaff the wind drives away, knowing that your judgment is permeated with mercy.
And when the drought comes, we trust that our lives will not wither, but that in all the ways that really matter, we will prosper.
In the name of Christ, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end,
Amen.

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Prayers from this morning

These are prayers from this morning, based on the lectionary readings Ephesians 1:2-14, Mark 6:14-29 and Psalm 24.

Blessed are you, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. You chose us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before you in love. We thank you for adopting us as your children and for your grace and patience with us.

In Christ you shared in the suffering of humanity and of the rest of the world you created. We pray for those suffering in their body, mind or spirit, and lift them to you in the silence of our hearts…. May they know your presence and receive your healing.
Lord in your mercy

We lift before you situations of injustice and pray for those people and organizations who speak truth to power; give them the courage of John the Baptist and the resources they need to serve you in this way.

In this time of political change and uncertainly, inspire our leaders to ever greater integrity and give them wisdom for the decisions they must take each day. May they prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable, and risk making unpopular decisions when they are in the interests of society as a whole.
Lord in your mercy

We lift before you those suffering in places of conflict and war, thinking particularly of Sudan, Haiti, Israel/Palestine, Ukraine and other places we bring to you in the silence… we pray for peace and for creative solutions to apparently intractable situations.
Lord in your mercy

The earth is yours, and all that is in it, you founded it on the seas and established it on the rivers. We praise you for water that sustains us and all your creatures. Forgive us for wasting, polluting and taking this precious gift for granted. Help us to respect and restore our seas and rivers, for the sake of all your creatures.

And we pray for people in places where water is not the gift it should be – places suffering from drought or from flooding. Help us to find ways to live in better balance with the forces of nature.
Lord in your mercy

We pray for the church as she seeks your face. In her quest for truth, give her wisdom when taking decisions, compassion for the vulnerable and grace in relating to others. We pray for our Bishop Robert, our chaplains, and our curate. Fill their hearts with joy and peace.
Lord in your mercy

Thank you for the hope we have that in the fullness of time you will gather up all things in Christ. And so we leave all these peoples and places in your all-embracing arms, and chose to trust you and not be afraid.

Merciful Father…

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Tea blessing


Anyone who knows me knows that tea is essential to my well-being. I don’t want to take it for granted, so I’ve written a little blessing to commence my tea-drinking ritual. The photo is of a tea plantation in Munnar, Kerala (India).

You cool me in summer and warm me in winter,
You calm me when stressed and rouse me when weary.
Warm cup of comfort in my hands,
I’m sorry for your tainted past.
Blessed be the hills that nursed you,
Blessed be the hands that plucked you,
Blessed be the one who brewed you,
Thank you for the tea.

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Intercessions: You see us, help us to see you.

Some simple intercessions in case you need some ideas…

As we wander in the luscious vineyards, taste the grapes and drink sweet wine; you see us in our rejoicing. Help us to see you. As we come to worship tired, but dutiful, wondering what good it will do; you see us in our disconnection. Help us to see you. As we stumble and fall, hurt each other and forget your love; You see us in our lostness. Help us to see you. As we are battered by pain, confused and in grief; You see us in our suffering. Help us to see you. As we start to hope again and perceive signs of resurrection; You see us through loving eyes. Help us to see you. And we bring before you those [we have mentioned and those] on our hearts that need your healing touch and to know that you see them… We thank you for putting us into communities of faith and love, and thank you for those who lead us… And we ask for your mercy on this fractious and divided world, for peace with the Earth, for peace between nations, and a new awareness of our unity in Christ… Show us the path you are calling us to as individuals and communities, and give us the grace and courage to follow it. Amen.