Little red prayer book
I found a wonderful prayer in a little red book called “Teenagers Pray”. The book of prayers was written in 1955 and I am both comforted and astonished that the prayer was written in 1955; it could have been written by a teen in today’s world and still be relevant. I shared it with Kris this morning and she liked it, too. I had been having a discussion with her about sensing God’s presence in her life each minute, each hour, each day. Maybe I am pushing her because that sense really didn’t come to me until I was 19 1/2 years old, after some tough times and a renewal of faith. I so deeply pray for her to sense God’s presence in her life much earlier than I did, but how do you make that happen for someone else? You can’t, right? During our conversation, I realized I was making it sound like it is something she must try to do or feel. So instead, I told her that it is something to remind yourself about and pray about. Then I found this little prayer which seemed to fit our discussion perfectly:
Lord, God, I am not always thankful enough that I am a Christian. When I stop to think of all the blessings that come to me because I believe in You, I can only say that Your love for me is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. Make me properly thankful for Your love, and let me never fail to be happy about it.
Help me to find real joy in worshipping You in church. Help me to sing the truths of the wonderful hymns with my heart as well as with my lips. What I hear with my ear, send down deep into my heart. Let the joy of belonging to Jesus show itself in my words and actions, and make me a blessing to my family and friends.
Help me also to share my joy of salvation with others. So many people are discouraged and disappointed over both little and large matters. Help me to say and do the right thing at the right time, that my friends may also find their happiness in Jesus on this earth and joy with Him in heaven. Bless me in this for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Maybe sensing is totally the wrong word. Maybe it is just believing in God, pure and simple. Just faith.
Amen! And above all give me a grateful heart.
This is Tim. I forgot my password, so I thought I would try the anonymous route.