February 22, 2023
A Prayer for Lent
O Lord, the moment we wake up
the needs of the day,
or our plans and commitments,
come rushing at us like wild animals
wanting to carry us off;
or maybe
it's the fears and worries and anxieties
that attack,
wanting to devour whatever peace we feel;
or maybe its emptiness or dread that pounces
and grips us.
Before we know it,
the day owns us,
the fears claim us,
the loneliness or grief controls us,
and you don't stand a chance with us
because
we belong to everything or everyone but you.
O Lord, help us to begin each day, every day,
with you,
to begin with gratitude,
thankfulness
for your forgiveness that gives us our lives back,
for your love and the love of others,
for the tender mercies and
little blessings
that grace our days and get us through;
to begin with faith,
faith enough to trust
that no matter what the day holds,
you will hold us and give us strength for the
day,
that there is no fear or worry or anxiety
you cannot calm or help us
find a way beyond,
that your comfort will never be far from us;
to begin with hope,
not hope in this person or that person,
but hope in you,
the hope that you will continue
to work your future
and there shall come the day when we dwell
with one another
in peace.
O Lord, each day, every day, help us
to give you a chance with us,
to claim us as your own,
to claim our thoughts and emotions,
our wants and wills and words,
so that
we truly do belong to you,
and the joy
only you can give
will be ours.
Amen.