Two wings are necessary to lift our souls toward God: prayer and praise. Prayer asks. Praise accepts the answer.
From Hebrews 13:15-16: “Through Him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess His name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
From Psalm 85:8-9: “Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people, to His faithful, to those who turn to Him in their hearts. Surely His salvation is at hand for those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.”
Uncertain darkness
Surrounds me this day
Humbly take a knee
Bowing now to pray
Prayers calling God
Remain unhurried
Unanswered questions
Never be worried
Christ’s teachings feed thee
With the bread of life
This eternal gift
Blessings without strife
Lord of life and love
He feeds and frees all
Through His Holy Word
Never builds a wall
Allow me to pause
God prods thee along
Hearing His questions
Answers make me strong
God everlasting
Faith remains with thee
Through life’s harsh chaos
Calming stormy seas
From Romans 10:10-13: “ For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in Him will be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on Him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'”
Lord, my God, hear this prayer
Bless the students in my care
Together, we’ll face each day
Overcoming times of gray
Bring patience to this classroom
Allow these young minds to bloom
Create a safe learning zone
God with us, never alone
There may be days not at school
Find ways to make learning cool
Cover colleagues with your love
Devotion, to be proud of
Send families gifts of grace
May we all stand and embrace
Loving each child in my care
Walk together in prayer
It seems there are nearly infinite challenges to educating our youth (both in schools and universities). My own daily prayers include significant time for teachers, students, and families during these challenging times. I especially reach out to my former colleagues who are still teaching as well as two of my daughters who teach. I may be retired from the classroom, but my heart still misses all whom I served and worked with.
In the middle of all the uncertainty that surrounds us, it is difficult for us to think of a better thing to do than to pray.
From 2 Chronicles 20:9: “If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before you, for your name is in this house, and cry to you in our distress, and you will hear and save.”
Summer sunrise lights up the vast Montana prairie
Fields of grain smelling like sweetest confectionery
Farmers and ranchers always start up their days early
Full and hearty breakfast, making any man feel burly
This morning’s itinerary calls for baling hay
Alfalfa windrows cannot wait around all day
With tractor pulling an old baler, creating perfect bales
Gentle morning breeze fills out the air like a ship’s sails
Midday arrives, there’s time for a quick, tasty bite
Wife packs dinner with her usual special delights
Afternoon heat and wind suspend all baling for now
Starting up the swather, cutting hay as time allows
Thinking about next week, wheat looking to ripen by then
Combine stands ready and dependable, just like Big Ben
About an hour before sundown, pick-up truck returns home
Just enough daylight to check a few cows where they roam
Supper bell will be ringing soon, so need to finish now
Washing up, sitting down with wife, enjoy hearty chow
Praying together, evening transcends with the setting sun
Thankful for the Lord’s help with another day’s work done
This poem is written as a traditional Sonnet, but it can certainly be read as a prayer. God’s peace!
Lives pretending to follow a Holy God
Being of the flesh, greater than the spirit
Living as infants in our Lord Jesus Christ
Thirsty for our Father’s love, we shall fear it
Life filled with jealousy and quarrelsome times
Behaving outside of our Father’s design
Belonging to the Left, beholding the Right
Only walking with Jesus, should lives align
Sowing life’s seeds for a bountiful harvest
Thirsty for true living water and care
This world’s Master Builder brings His hope-filled Grace
Humbling kneeling at the Cross, hear our prayers
Only through our Lord Jesus, rests our foundation
Unifying voices throughout this nation
From 1 Corinthians 3:21-23: “So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.”
I committed my life to Christ, and that faith has been most important to me ever since.
I pray every night, sometimes long prayers about a lot of things and a lot of people, but I don’t talk about it or brag about it because that’s between God and me, and I’m no better than anybody else in God’s sight.
From Psalm 146:1-2: “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.”
Bless the Lord’s name forever
Sing praises for Holy deeds
His greatness stands infinite
Loving us like tender reeds
Witness our Lord’s mighty acts
Share with each generation
His greatness lauds His goodness
Building our firm foundation
Recall love works from His hands
Fueled by Grace’s steadfast love
His greatness flows with mercy
Protecting us from above
Call on the Father this day
Pray to Him on humble knees
His greatness lighting the way
Watching over all He sees
From Psalm 145:17-18: “The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
The burdening of our heart to pray for ourselves or for others is a special demonstration of God’s love.
From John 16:13: “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but will speak whatever He hears, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.”
From Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Life’s journey suddenly growing cold
Living under clouds of uncertainty
No longer feeling confident and bold
Even confident people possess fears
Overcome by unplanned dilemmas
Feeling much like the rest of our peers
Our faithful prayers will be heard
God’s will scatters those stormy clouds
Never lose hope, listen to His Word
As neighbors, our love supports each other
Through our steadfast encouragement
Children of God, true sisters and brothers
Tackling problems on life’s clipboard
Filled with determination and courage
Walking in confidence with our Lord
From the words of German-Dutch Christian author, Thomas a Kempis: “Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.”
