|
May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2, NIV
William Barclay was not only a first-rate New Testament Bible scholar, he was also gifted in writing prayers. When you read his prayers, you sense someone whose faith is both deep and genuine. He not only prays with spiritual insight, he uses beautifully-crafted language to express these thoughts. I have a book of his prayers that I return to often simply because of the excellent quality of these words spoken to God. They not only express how we think and feel - they are almost like little sermons. Here is one Barclay created for the season of Lent. Enjoy it. Pray it. Be inspired by it:
O God, our Father, help us through this day so to live that we may bring help to others, credit to ourselves and to the name we bear, and joy to those that love us, and to you.
Cheerful when things go wrong;
Persevering when things are difficult;
Serene when things are irritating.
Enable us to be:
Helpful to those in difficulties;
Kind to those in need;
Sympathetic to those whose hearts are sore and sad.
Grant that:
Nothing may make us lose our tempers;
Nothing may take away our joy;
Nothing may ruffle our peace;
Nothing may make us bitter towards anyone.
|
