Easter Workshop 1981
THE DAILY PRAYER

Lord, Thank-you for this, and everyday that you give. Every wonderful day. Wonderful – because it is a gift from you. Thank-you for the opportunities in our moments of wakefulness, to be able to spend time in loving and praising you through your beloved son, Lord Jesus. Thank-you for the opportunity to come closer to you in our daily living. To grow and mature, and be molded into holier children of Our Heavenly Father. Thank-you for the opportunity to fill each living moment with the desire to submit ourselves to you in obedient service. Thank-you for daily offering us the challenge to witness, and take up our crosses to follow You, and for giving us your living Word for our spiritual nourishment. Thank-you for the chance to live each blessed day happily, and joyously. Rejoicing in the salvation that is assured and guaranteed, through our belief in Your Son, His cleansing blood, and your love and grace.

Thank-you for the comforting knowledge that yours is the power and the glory. That you are our deliverance, our strength to overcome the powers of evil. That Yours is the almighty, all conquering love, that melts the stoniest heart. Humbles pride and vanity, gives strength to the weak, and breaks the most stubborn will into joyful submission. That can pull out – by the very roots – the thorns of bitterness. No matter how deeply they may be entrenched. That you bring the calm into moments of despair and unthinking impulse. That yours is the light and warmth that dispels the mists of self-deception. Thank-you Lord that you are near us, each day. Only a prayer away. That you hear us, help us, lead us back when we stray, pick us up when we fall, and forgive us when we disobey.

Thank-you Father, for giving us the insight to see ourselves as we really are. Not the image that we sometimes project to others. That sadly, we still refuse to rid ourselves of the worries and ways of this world, and the false values to which we foolishly cling. That we are only ‘scratching at the surface’ when it comes to giving our all to you. Merely giving only enough to satisfy peace of mind.

Thank-you for exposing our short-comings, for revealing just how far we fall short of being capable of loving with a love as unselfish as yours, or of being obedient to your will, in any way comparable with our Savior’s obedience.

Forgive us Lord for not striving hard enough each day to achieve your aims in our individual lives. We, who expectantly ask for your forgiveness, and yet struggle and fail to forgive one another. Forgive us Lord, when pride hinders our ability to say the words ‘I’m Sorry,” or “I forgive you,” and “I love you” to each other. Father make us humble and repentant. Convict us in the darkness of our resentment, in the loneliness of our disobedience, in the empty despondency of unforgiving moments, and the despair of temper and intolerance. Please heal every area of our lives where we need you. Especially our self-inflated blindness to your Word, and the light of the World, and our deafness to your voice when you speak.

Constantly remind us Lord, that we have nothing, are nothing, and achieve nothing without you. For you are the fountain head of all the love and goodness in our lives. You are our refuge, our deliverer, our faithful loving Father, our hope and faith, and our complete fulfillment – in this life, and the life to come.

Fill our every day with the longing to praise you, and thank you through Our Lord Jesus. For every day, every circumstance- no matter what prevails. That we may know the peace that comes in trusting you, and the growing faith in your purpose in our lives.

Make us aware of how little we give of ourselves to you. Compared to your servants of old, how many of us today have forsaken all, and given up everything to follow you, or fearlessly spoken out in obedience to you, caring not about the consequences? When were we imprisoned, flogged, ridiculed, rejected, or had our faith tested to the almost unbearable limit – just to obey you? How many, if asked this day, would you be ready to make the supreme sacrifice. To die. Gladly and willingly for you? As your Son died for us; in order that we may live! As we search ourselves we see how little we deserve, and yet you give us so abundantly. We have given so little – yet ask you for so much.

Have mercy on us Lord. Fill our hearts with praise and thanks for your infinite goodness, mercy, and patience towards us. Fill us this day with the Holy Spirit of Lord Jesus, and the awareness of His presence in our daily life. Guiding and leading us to become more holy, more obedient, and more worthy of your divine love.
Praise and glory to your Holy Name. Now and Forever.
Trough Jesus Christ, Your Precious Son
and our beloved Savior.
Amen.