Listen in….
Twenty years ago I discovered a wee, 2″ x 3″ and 1/2″ thick book in an antique store. Today that book, Week-day Prayers, is among my most precious possessions. Written by Christian Reisner, his prayer offerings are short yet richly infused with meaning. Listen in…
O Thou Tender Shepherd, straighten all our paths today. Save us from the hesitation of doubt. Make us considerate of others’ feelings. Soften the sharp words that threaten to slip off our tongues. Sweeten our deeds with kindness. Teach us how, like our Lord, to endure wrong in silence. Ballast us with love. Direct our aims. Steady our hearts. Plant right loves. Employ our good impulses. Give direction to enthusiasm. Spur us to our best. Bring us to the end with our assigned tasks well done.
May I suggest you now reread this prayer, pausing after each sentence. Then read it aloud and notice what phrases stick to your soul. Words that give us pause are often a window to our needs. Sticky words can open skylights of understanding.
This pray is a keeper! Thank you Patsy! Blessings to you.
“Save us from the hesitation of doubt.” I don’t like hearing that I’m at all in doubt when I know that My God IS and DOES and CAN and WANTS TO in my life. Thanks for the encouragement to press on through this profound prayer, and for stilling a heart that I didn’t realize until now was so anxious today.
Sharpen, O Lord, the sharp words that threaten to slip off my tongue when I’m home alone all day with the kids, and someone steals someone else’s toy, and then someone else spills juice all over the floor . . . Grace in my speech when I’m dealing with my children is a theme that God keeps bringing up. Thanks for sharing this beautiful prayer!
Patsy, I love that. I’m speaking at an Advent tea…the theme is being encouraged in this world. May I use those words? Beautiful.
Jane Hyden
Don’t know how I missed this when it was posted – what a wonderful prayer – a keeper.
LOVE the new look and I’m VERY excited that “God Uses Cracked Pots” is being re-released. I know it wasn’t a parenting book, but it helped me raise my boys.
Love you so much, dear friend.
“Soften the sharp words that threaten to slip off our tongues. Sweeten our deeds with kindness.” that was for me today. Thank you.
PATSY, YOU ARE ALWAYS AN INSPIRATION TO ME. I HAVE ENJOYED YOUR BOOKS AND TRY TO PASS THEM ON TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS. THANK YOU FOR BEING AN INSPIRATION TO ME AND OTHERS.
I wish I would have read this earlier today, but I think reading this now is a poke in my side from God, I have anger issues that need to be resolved, and these words are a reminder to me of how I should behave
Thank you Patsy for who you are and being so inspirational to myself and others. This entire prayer speaks volumes in the things in my life that I need help with from God. I copied this prayer, cut the praying hands, (in which I assume are yours), along with the prayer, and taped it to my computer at work so I can see it and remember to pray this prayer every morning before I get started with my business for the day. I went to this last Women Of Faith Conference, “Over the Top” in Denver. It was AWESOME!!! This is my second one now and can’t wait till next year.!!!
LOVE THAT YOU FOUND THIS BOOK AND HOPE FOR YOUR SOUL. LOVE THAT YOU SHARE THAT HOPE-FILLED HEART & SOUL WITH SO MANY OF US NOW:) BLESSINGS SWEET PATSY~GIRL!!! XXX
Thanks for sharing. I needed to say that prayer before I got too far into my day.
“Save us from the hesitation of doubt…Ballast us with love.” Mercy.
Love that prayer. Thanks for sharing with us. ‘endure wrong in silence’, what a hard thing to do. But knowing He is right beside me all the time, He says He will never leave me…what a great promise! God’s blessings on you and all the wonderful women this weekend in Seattle.
Love this! The Lord spoke volumes to me through this “wee prayer.” Thank you for sharing:) Would love to see if this book is still available. Blessings Friend!
Good morning all! I so needed to “find” this today. I’ve been brooding for 2 days over an encounter with a prickly neighbor. Short version is he stopped his car to yell at me about my walks with my dog down a peaceful country road we share. I mean he went off and it took me aback as we rarely cross paths.
My mind has been swinging between shrugging it off to his having a bad day or putting a sign on the road, “Meanie, you know who you are.” A smile and a wave or a very pointed finger the next time I see him. My better angel’s wings have been ruffled by having her quiet enjoyment disturbed. How dare he! 🙂
So this prayer was exactly what I needed to take into my heart for it to pause and reflect back light not darkness.
“Teach us how, like our Lord, to endure wrong in silence. Ballast us with love.” And “Employ our good impulses.”
That is a prayer for This Day, and truly one for every day. Peace.