Christmas Prayer for Perfect Love

LORD, Creator of all ~
You made us and delight in showing us all the ways to find You ~ in the crisp winter chill, in the perfectly blue sky, in a brilliant pansy, in sincere laughter, in honest tears, in genuine, loving words, in careful remembrance. We long to feel You and to see You and to hear You and to know You in all our moments. We desire to reflect Your beauty and Your love in acts of goodness and offerings of love.

It is in seeking this desire to be more like You that we discover our humanity. Despite our best efforts, our generous offerings, our selfless intentions, You alone are Perfect Love. You alone can feel the weary heart. You alone can see the wounded soul. You alone can hear the silent prayer. You alone can know the deepest need.

Emmanuel, God with us, we come on bended knees seeking Perfect Love that came to earth centuries ago but dwells here still in Spirit, in Truth, in Hope, in us. We come to the sacred place within our souls reserved for You alone. You call our hearts to rest in the shelter of Perfect Love. You come and heal our wounds, hear our prayers, meet our needs. Perfect Love, You wear the robe of Grace. . . O come let us adore You . . . Rejoice! Rejoice! . . . Gloria! in excelsis Deo! . . . little Lord Jesus, Son of God, Christ, the newborn King, holy Child, King of angels. . . True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal . . . Prince of Peace. . . Savior. . .O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.

~dho 12/7/06

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem . . . a band of scholars arrived
. . . "We're on a pilgrimage to worship Him." Matthew 2:1-2 (msg)

Thanksgiving ~ A Season of Blessing

Offer prayers unceasing to Him, bless Him from morning to night. . .
Cornucopias of praise . . . Blessed GOD . . . the one and only wonder-working God!
Psalm 72:15,16,18 (The Message)

Prayer for Joy

Keep me safe, O God,
I've run for dear life to You. . .
All the good things I have are from You
(Without You, nothing makes sense).
And all these God-chosen lives all around -
what splendid friends they make!
LORD, You have assigned me my portion and my cup;
You have made my lot secure!
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; . . .
I will bless the LORD who counsels me; He gives me wisdom in the night.
([this is] confirmed by my sleeping heart).
I know the LORD is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.
No wonder my heart is filled with joy,
(Heart, body and soul are filled with joy)
and my mouth shouts His praises!
My body rests in safety. . .
You have let me experience the joy of Your presence
and the exquisite pleasures of living with You forever.
Psalm 16 (MSG, NLT, NIV, NAS, TLB)

Faithful Father ~
I run to You! You are my safe place; my port in the storm, my anchor in the waves. You are my security, my confidence in the conflict, my healing rain in the fire. You are my shield; my retreat in the battle, my armor in the fight.

All the good things I have are from You. Your blessings, exceeding all needs, are like water flowing from every stream, rushing to the rivers, filling up the oceans. I am overcome with joy and write new God-songs every day.

When circumstance claims victory, when difficulty seems unending, when happiness gets lost, Hope can always find You. When I call to You, when I listen for You, when I am in Your presence, Joy reaches to every corner of my soul.

Faithful Father, You are Shelter. You are Goodness. You are Hope. You are Joy. When I am in Your presence, these are the extravagant gifts You give to me. Without You, nothing makes sense. Hear my prayer. Amen. ~dho

Love Most High

"Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;
All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.
The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;
And His song will be with me in the night.
A prayer to the God of my life." Psalm 42:7-8 (NAS)

El Elyon, the Lord Most High ~
My soul calls to You with Hallelujah! but not enough for the fullness of Your presence. Deep calls to deep. . . I long to hear the Voice that calls to those who wander, to those who wait. Through the wilderness, I hear the Good Shepherd coming, smiling as He finds me, loving as He leads me.

"Let my cry come right into Your presence, God;
provide me with the insight that comes only from Your Word.
Give my request Your personal attention,
rescue me on the terms of Your promise.
Let praise cascade off my lips;
after all, You've taught me the truth about life!"
Psalm 119: 169-171 (The Message)

The Spirit finds my spirit, and this holiness is light. You love with tenderness and mercy, with joy and calm. In these holy moments, there is a spiritual awakening, not as I have never known before, but as I so need again this day. My heart walks the valleys that separates You and me ~ the valleys of doubt and fear, of sin and human fraility. You are Glory; my cup brims with blessing!*

"Invigorate my soul so I can praise You well,
use Your decrees to put iron in my soul.
And should I wander off like a lost sheep - seek me!
I'll recognize the sound of Your Voice."
Psalm 119: 175-176 (The Message)

The Great Provider always comes with the right provision, at the right time, in the right way. Grace floods the valleys, and I am lifted up to You, the Love Most High. It is here my soul shouts a thousand Hallelujahs** but never enough for the fullness of Your Grace. Amen. ~ dho

* Psalm 23:5 (The Message)

** Psalm 96:4 (The Message)

Goodness of God

From Devotional Classics,
The Highest Form of Prayer by Julian of Norwich,
a Benedictine nun (1342-1413).

"I saw that it brings more honor to God and
more true delight if we faithfully pray to Him for His
goodness . . . Because His goodness is full and complete,
and in it there is nothing lacking. . . For the highest form
of prayer is to the goodness of God. . . . For we are so
preciously loved by God that we cannot even comprehend it."

God of Goodness ~
I kneel in wonder of Your Extravagant Love.
I humbly bow my head in the presence of Your
Holiness. My soul weeps that You would love
me with such tenderness, with such
compassion, with such generosity. My face
cannot look at Holiness, but Goodness reaches
for me, holds my unworthy efforts, listens to
my cries of despair, touches my broken places.
Goodness whispers to my soul with words of
mercy and love and hope. Goodness finds the
best and reassures, cleanses the wrong and
renews, heals the torn and restores. In times
of darkness, Goodness shines! In times of need,
Goodness provides! In times of joy, Goodness
celebrates! In all times, Goodness prevails!
My soul-songs repeat Praise be to God for
Everlasting Goodness! In the name of Jesus,
Lover of my soul, I speak this prayer! Amen.
~dho

Things too wonderful for me

Then Job replied to the LORD: "I know that You can do anything, and no one can stop You. You ask, 'Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?' It is I. And I was talking about things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me. You said, 'Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.' I had heard about You before, but now I have seen You with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentence." Job 42: 1-6 (NLT)

Adonai ~

In my moments of doubt, I wonder, "How can it be?" And, yet, I hear Your truth. I feel Your desires within my heart. I know these thoughts are from You. Spirit of Truth, please forgive my shallow understanding, dim vision, timid hope.

Beside me, I watch a fragile bird. She is calling with repetition, searching for direction, asking with intention. Creator of all, is she speaking to You? Minutes and more minutes pass. Then, she flies away. Can it be that You are her instincts? Does she hear Your truth? Can it be that You are her song? Does she feel Your desires? Can it be that You are her wings? Does she know You are the Wind?

Oh, Word of Life, that I remember the simple trust of this little bird - knowing that You that will lift me up with certainty of purpose, that I can praise You without all the answers, that I can soar without understanding how. You ask, "Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?" It is I. And I was talking about things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me. ~dho