Worship yesterday included music by a bell choir. As I was reflecting on what to share for today’s worship words, one of the songs they played kept reappearing in my thoughts. The song was Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah. Today’s prayer is a prayer for a time of discernment or seeking God’s wisdom now and in the future. Pray with me.
Guide me, O my great Redeemer. We seek your guidance, O God, for there are many choices in our lives and many paths we could take. We need your wisdom. We need to know how best to live in your ways. Hear us cry out for help.
Pilgrim through this barren land. God, you know there are days when it seems like no choice is a good choice, days when nothing we say comes out right, and we wonder how to turn back to you. We are wandering and wondering.
I am weak, but you are mighty. Your strength and power amazes us, O God, and we need to feel your presence when we feel like we have no power. Give us the words to speak. Point us in the right direction.
Hold me with your powerful hand. God, we need to be held in your hand, to hold your hand, and to be pushed on with your hand. Give us comfort, support, and a nudge in the right direction.
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more. Loving God, you feed us with your Word, with our communities of support, and with blessings too many to count. We are so thankful for all the ways you reveal yourself to us. We pray for all of your children who need to be fed physically or spiritually. We know what you provide is more than enough to share, so revive our spirits of generosity until everyone has enough.
As we seek out what is next for our lives, may we always begin by saying, Guide me, O my great Redeemer. Amen.
The words in italics are from The New Century Hymnal #19, Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer.
In the picture, I am posing beside a cross at the Camas Centre on the Isle of Mull. The Camas Centre is part of the Iona Community. I spent a week volunteering at the Camas Centre in 2005.
This prayer was published on liturgy link on June 28, 2015.