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Pray the Thomas Prayer

Jesus appeared many times to people after rising from the dead. He showed Himself to Mary Magdalene near the garden tomb (John 20:11-17). He appeared to many of His closest disciples behind locked doors (John 20:19-23). He appeared to two of His followers on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). He even appeared to more than 500 people at once (1 Corinthians 15:6).

But perhaps the most dramatic of Jesus’ post-Resurrection appearances was His encounter with Thomas, who had not been present when Jesus appeared to the rest of His closest circle of followers. John recorded the event in his Gospel:

Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:24-29, ESV).

Ever since, of course, Thomas has been branded as “doubting Thomas.” But I don’t think that’s fair. He could just as easily be called “confessing Thomas” or “praying Thomas,” because his exclamation–“My Lord and my God!”–is among the first post-Resurrection prayers the Gospels record (the first was probably Mary Magdalene’s one-word, “Rabboni!” in John 20:16).

In fact, Thomas’s prayer can be a great way to pray during the Easter season. Try it. Begin your post-Resurrection-Sunday prayers with Thomas’s post-Resurrection prayer. When you rise in the morning, greet your Savior: “My Lord and my God!”

As you bow your head in gratitude for a meal, begin: “My Lord and my God!” When you intercede for a friend or someone in need, say, “My Lord and my God!” When you lay your head on your pillow at night, whisper: “My Lord and my God!”

Try it, and please let me know in the comments that you did.

Praying Through the Seasons

Red, orange, yellow and green–the colors of fall are breathtaking. Once again, the divine artist is at work, showcasing the wonders and beauty of nature. Summer is over; autumn is in full swing.

In life, we experience the changing of nature’s seasons and the ever-changing seasons of our lives. At this time, my dear friends, Betsy and Linda, find themselves in a season of their own as they grieve the loss of their sister Millie to cancer. My son’s friends, Marcin and Stephanie, were recently married and are now celebrating this joyful time. My son Paul is turning 30, and my mother is struggling with health issues. Everyone finds themselves in a season of life. Some seasons bring loss while others fill us with joy.

How do we get through these ever-changing seasons? The answer is simple–prayer! This is what keeps me connected to God at all times. Whether I am in a season of struggle, joy, grief or pain, prayer is what keeps me going.

As I celebrate my son’s birthday, I remember how prayer helped my family get through a tough season of his life. Almost five years ago, Paul was involved in a serious car accident. Not only did prayer give my family strength, it also gave Paul the gift of recovery.

President Abraham Lincoln, who faced many troubling seasons, once said, “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.”

It doesn’t matter in what position we pray–on our knees, walking or sitting. What is important is that we turn to God for guidance. At times, I may be short of words, but God knows my heart; he knows my fears and my joys. Prayer is our lifeline.

Are you experiencing a difficult or joyful season? If so, please share.

Lord, teach us to keep prayer in our lives throughout the changing of the seasons. Help us to understand your power, great presence and love.

Prayer Power: Summer with God

For some, summer is a verb. As in “Where do you summer?” The question assumes a certain level of wealth and leisure. Of course, not everyone can afford a lake house or country home, let alone an extended stay away from the pressures of daily life. But we can all summer with God.

Want to enjoy a season of spiritual warmth, growth and renewal? Pick from among the following six suggestions, which form the acrostic summer. Or even try them all!

Slow down.
Summer brings a change of pace—vacation, holidays, travel. Why not take advantage of that change and invite God into it? Take a break, whether it’s a beach vacation or a weekend away, and listen for God’s voice. Pause for prayer on a walk or hike. Arrive early at church, or linger a little longer in God’s presence.

Unload a burden.
We dress lighter in summer: No heavy coats, scarves or sweaters. But is something still weighing you down? A grudge? Regret? A bad habit? An unrealistic expectation? This summer, ask God to help you let go of whatever’s cluttering your spirit.

Move prayer practice outside.
Take your morning coffee-and-prayer time to the backyard. Or find a spot in the park to pray and read your Bible or an inspirational book. A favorite memory of mine is from a backpacking trip I took with my teenage son. We stopped by a mountain stream, kicked off our shoes and read In His Steps while dangling our feet in the cool water.

Mingle seasonal pleasures with prayer.
Stop to smell the roses—literally—and give thanks for the fragrance of summer. Share a tall glass of lemonade or slice of melon with your prayer partner. Drop by a Little League game or neighborhood playground to savor the sounds of the season, and let God prompt a few fond memories from your childhood—or your children’s.

Enjoy an outdoor worship experience.
Do any churches in your area host concerts or worship services in the park or at the beach? Some churches even hold periodic “holy hikes,” blending worship and low-impact walking. Check out a nearby prayer labyrinth. Or simply find a flower-filled meadow and sing a hymn of praise to God.

Reflect and recharge.
When you look back on these summer months, how would you like your spiritual life to be different? Refreshed? Rejuvenated? What moments might produce such a result in you and for you?

You might spend an hour reflecting on the first half of this year and asking for God’s blessing on the second half to come. Or you might renew a practice you’ve let slide, such as attending church or singing in the choir. Or you might rekindle a friendship and pray together over the phone.

Summer is an easy season to love. You’ll love it even more if you include God in your plans and summer with him.

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A Prayer for the End of Summer

Dear Creator God,

You made the wind and the waves and the wide sandy beach that stretches as far as the eye can see. I felt Your presence as I baked in the sun and dove in the sea-green water, listening to the gulls darting overhead.

May I continue to bask in Your warmth in the cooling autumn days.

The ice cream truck was always there when I wanted it, and somehow the rain stayed away when the picnic supper was planned or at least it waited until the blankets were folded and we were safe inside.

I give thanks for Your bounty at all times.

Every September I still feel like it’s the first day of school again, and I need to buy new notebooks at a back-to-school sale and brush up on my Algebra or rusty French so that I don’t make a fool of myself on the first day of classes.

Help me be an eternal student of Your goodness.

No sooner had I unpacked my dirty laundry from the trip we took did I glance at the calendar for the month ahead and saw it crowded with meeting after meeting after meeting. What happened to the calm of August? Even You got to rest on the seventh day.

Let me hold on to the peace and quiet of vacation.  

The days are already getting shorter. The sun isn’t such a dependable alarm in the morning. It set before we even finished dessert last night, and the stars were our unexpected companions on an evening walk.

Teach me, Lord, how to measure my days.

Soon the leaves will turn in color and drop from the trees, and I’ll have to dig out the sweaters from the bottom of the drawer, and I’ll declare that October is the most beautiful month of the year. Brisk, clear, luminous. In the meanwhile…

Thank You, God, for summer. May there be just one more round of fresh corn on the cob. 

Pray Away the Winter with 5 Winter Prayers

Depending on where you live, winter can be a challenging season. It may bring gloomy skies and heavy rains. It may feature freezing temperatures and biting winds. It may include snow and ice. In some climates, winter is nearly synonymous with darkness and depression. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Winter prayers can be a powerful way to sustain our hope and joy throughout the cold season.

William Shakespeare opened his history play Richard III by having the title character say, “Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this sun of York.” In other words, now that his brother was king, winter’s discontent had given way to spring’s sunshine. It is a happy beginning to a play that quickly turns tragic.

But Richard’s famous line suggests a great way to pray during the long days of winter, and that is by applying Shakespeare’s poetry to your prayers. Here are 5 winter prayers to help get you through any tough season:

Woman in a blanket drinking tea and saying a winter prayer for illness

Prayer for Winter Illness

If you’ve been plagued by colds, flu, Covid-19, or other maladies, find comfort by praying the following:

Lord, turn the winter of my discomfort into a glorious summer of health and vitality.

Woman with closed eyes with her hands on her heart says a winter prayer

Winter Prayer for Financial Stress

If you’re enduring a season of financial strain, try praying:

God, grant that this winter of deficit and debt may become a glorious summer of recovery and generosity.

Woman looking sad in a sweater by the window says winter prayers

Winter Prayer for Grief

Have the clouds and fog of grief invaded your home and heart in recent months? Then make your prayer something like:

Father, let this winter of loss and pain become glorious summer by the way You heal our hearts and restore our hope.

Man with his eyes closed and arms up outside in winter coat saying a prayer

Prayer for Winter Weather

It’s a simple but delightful way to pray, especially when storm clouds gather and winter winds blow. You can even turn the pattern into a prayer of thanks and praise—depending on where you live, of course.

God, thank you that this winter of slush and snow will soon give way to another glorious spring and summer of sun and surf.

Woman drinking tea outside and saying some winter prayers

Prayer for the Winter Blues

When overcast skies or inclement weather get you down, it helps to honestly express the not-so-pleasant, wintry elements of your experience while envisioning a better, warmer future ahead. Pray this and fill in the blanks with things that currently give you anxiety and things that you are looking forward to this summer:

Now let the winter of ________ be made glorious summer by ________.

READ MORE TO STAY POSITIVE THIS WINTER:

Pray as You Sail into the Unknown Waters of the New Year

Some of my favorite prayers, especially this time of year, come from a collection of Puritan prayers portraying the coming year as an ocean. In that context, I am a ship ready to launch into unknown waters with Jesus at the helm, the Spirit as the wind in my sails and the Father as the safe harbor waiting to receive me at year’s end—or before.

The imagery helps me to pray, more or less along these lines, as I contemplate a new year:

Is Jesus at the helm? I pray for His captaincy, for Him to choose and steer where He wants me to go. I submit to His leadership and remind myself that as much as I may plan and prepare, I want Him to guide the ship of my life through the year ahead.

Invite the Spirit’s momentum. I pray, adapting the Lord’s instruction to Ezekiel (37:9), “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into the sails of my life in 2022, filling me with Divine energy, purpose and power.”

Pray for the work ahead. I know that no sailor can stay idle for long, as there is no limit to the tasks on board an ocean-going vessel. So, I pray for steady hands, strong arms and sea legs to get me through the coming voyage.

Pray for calm seas while keeping a “weather eye.” I pray and hope for sunshine and fair winds, but I know there are likely to be challenges and trials ahead. Most of all, I pray that whatever storms may arise, I will keep “holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck” (1 Timothy 1:19 NIV).

Pray for others on the journey. I know I’m not alone on the sea. There are many who must brave the same—or even more challenging—waters. I pray for their journeys too.

Keep your gaze on the Captain. I remember Simon Peter’s lapse as he walked on the sea; he turned his gaze from Jesus and “began to sink” (Matthew 14:30). I pray that I’ll be able to keep my eyes on Jesus, whatever winds may blow and whatever waves may crash.

Pray to arrive safely. My destination may mean ending the year in health and happiness or being guided into the safe harbor of the Heavenly Father’s presence.

However your 2021 may conclude, I wish you bon voyage in 2022.

Five Prayers for the End of Summer

“Summer’s lease hath all too short a date,” said William Shakespeare in his famous Sonnet 18 (“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”). Boy, does it ever.

Another summer will soon be gone, seemingly before it even got started. Where did it go? As short as summer’s lease is, the change of seasons gives us the opportunity to mark and measure ourselves and our lives in prayer. To that end, here are five prayers that may be appropriate as your summer comes closer to an end:

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1) A Prayer of Thanks

Thank you, God, for the pleasures of summer,
the bright sunny days and perfect moonlit evenings,
the smells of mowed grass and air thick with rain.

Thank you for days at the lake
and evenings chasing fireflies,
for vacations and festivals,
picnics and cookouts,
baseball and concerts and swimsuits and popsicles.

Thank you for the fireworks of thunderstorms,
for watermelon sweetness,
for summer’s pace and summer’s grace,
for all your beauty and power, faithfulness and fecundity
displayed in summer,

Amen.

2) A Confession

God of grace,
forgive my frantic pace,
my failure to find
a “summer place”
amid the traffic of my days,
the stubbornness of settled ways,
and too-cluttered mind,
I let this summer get away.

3) A Prayer of Praise
Praise to You, God, for long warm days,
for buzzing bees and chirping crickets,
for shade trees and gentle breezes.

Praise to You for the earth’s rotation,
for our cycle around the sun,
for “sun, moon, and stars in their courses above.”

Praise to You for the order of the universe,
the variety of the seasons,
and the gift of another summer.

4) A Prayer of Abandonment

O Lord, my God,
how can another summer have passed so quickly?
How can vacations be ending,
and children be heading off to school,
and store displays already leaping into the next season?
How can so many good intentions I had
at the beginning of this summer
have been mowed down like so much grass?
What happened?

It is a disappointment, Lord.
It is a grief. 
I feel a sense of frustration and loss
that so many of my plans are unfulfilled.
So one by one, I will name them—
pleasures I planned to enjoy,
chores I intended to accomplish,
places I wanted to see,
so much I had hoped to do—
and leave each and every one of them with you.

I give you my hopes and my disappointments.
Please cleanse me from regret,
heal my discouragement,
and turn me toward the next season
free from the burden of all my didn’t-get-dones.

Amen.

5) A Prayer of Petition

“As Summer into Autumn slips,”

O give me grace today
To rise and turn as Summer’s leaves
Draw life and strength from heavenly rays.

(first line from Emily Dickinson)

A Prayer for Farmers and Farm Communities

The life of a farmer has never been an easy one. It has always demanded long hours, physical strain and a multitude of dangers and difficulties.

These days, however, farmers are facing even more challenges, especially from rising costs as well as the heat and drought surging across the country. Is this a unique moment we’re living through? I don’t know, but it is a moment when prayer seems appropriate for farmers and their families, farms and communities. I hope you’ll join me in a litany for farmers—and perhaps even recommend it to your pastor and church:

Gracious God, Gentle Shepherd, Garden Planter, we come to You on behalf of those who toil in farm and field, producing food for Your children and feed for creatures around the world…
Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, give crops and livestock the break they need from days and nights of stifling heat, that they may recover and flourish…
Lord, hear our prayer.

Steer the rainclouds in the right direction and send rain in the right amounts, for some have too much, and some too little…
Lord, hear our prayer.

Protect farm workers from heat, exhaustion and injury…
Lord, hear our prayer.

Protect livestock too—every chick and calf, every shoat and sheep, every bird and beast in the barn…
Lord, hear our prayer.

Deliver farmers from the debt accrued from costly machinery and shifting markets…
Lord, hear our prayer.

Save land and buildings, plants and animals from wildfire, erosion and blight…
Lord, hear our prayer.

Deliver them from the ravages of inflation; bring down the cost of seed, feed, fertilizer, fuel and hay into reasonable ranges…
Lord, hear our prayer.

Save farmers from the twin perils of low yield and depressed sale prices that plunder their profits…
Lord, hear our prayer.

Chase from them the worry and panic that so easily besets and send peace that passes understanding to their hearts and minds …
Lord, hear our prayer.

Protect, preserve and prosper their family relationships amid long hours and stressful times…
Lord, hear our prayer.

Give them strength for their difficult task. Hear their prayers. Supply their needs. Lift their heads and bring them to the end of each day’s work with faith to keep on and hope for the future…
Lord, hear our prayer.

Did you pray as you read this? I hope so. And I hope you’ll pray it again, whether in private or in corporate worship. Remember those who add so much to our way of life and ask so little.

Special thanks to my farming friends J. D. Wininger and Caitlin Henderson for their help with this post.

A March Madness Message

As a former sportswriter, diehard Indiana Hoosiers basketball fan and lifelong cheerleader, I pretty much live for March Madness. I’ll be cheering on my beloved Hoosiers when they take on Wichita State in the NCAA Tournament this Friday in Omaha, Nebraska.

While basketball fans across the United States make travel arrangements and prepare to cheer on their favorite teams in the Big Dance, the coaches and teams fortunate enough to make it into the tourney are also in full-out preparation mode.

You can bet that as soon as those teams found out who their opponents would be in the first round, they had their players in the practice rooms watching game film.

Why?

Michelle in her cheerleading days.So they can see the other team’s weaknesses, strengths, go-to plays, as well as individual player’s strengths, weaknesses and patterns. The coach studies the other team’s game footage to notice the screens, the cuts, the movement before the shot, as well as how the team gets its best players into position to make the best plays

Alan Stein, owner of the basketball training resource Stronger Team, and the strength and conditioning coach for the nationally renowned Nike elite DeMatha Catholic High School basketball program, had this to say about the importance of watching game film: “Great players are students of the game. They watch film. They study opponents…”

In other words, a coach and his players watch the opposing team’s game film in order to gain an advantage in the upcoming faceoff. If you know what to expect out of your opponent, you’ll be better prepared to outmaneuver him and come away with a win.

That same principle is true when dealing with the enemy in our spiritual lives. It’s good to know details about our enemy–the devil–so that we can be aware of his tricks and trademark moves.

We know from the Word of God that Satan is the father of all lies. Knowing that, when he comes to you and whispers in your ear, “You’re not worthy; You’ll never succeed in life; God doesn’t care about you;” you can say, “Those things aren’t true because they are coming from the father of all lies. In fact, if Satan is telling me those things, the exact opposite must be true: I am worthy! I will succeed in life! God does care about me!”

Conversely, you better be aware that the devil is also studying you and watching your “game film.” He sees what play worked on you in the past, and he will run it over and over again in order to try and trip you up and stop your victory.

If he knows you’re a worrier, he will give you lots of things to worry about until you take the bait. So, don’t fall for his tricks.

First Peter 5:8 says, Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. (MES).

Just like in basketball, we must keep our guard up in our spiritual lives. We have to stay in the Word of God. We have to spend time in prayer. And, we need to take time each day to meditate on the scriptures that pertain to whatever battle we happen to be encountering at that particular time in our lives.

For example, if you’re in the middle of a financial crisis right now, you should be reading and confessing scriptures about your Heavenly Father being your provider.

Say: “My Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills, according to Psalm 50:10, and He will provide for me!” Speak: “According to John 10:10, my God has come that I might have life and have it more abundantly.”

Furthermore, in order to defeat the enemy, we should put on the full armor of God every single day (Ephesians 6:10-18). Think of it as your mandatory uniform. Just like a basketball player needs his team uniform, his socks, and his basketball shoes; you need every single piece of the armor of God to be prepared for battle.

Here’s the best news. Though these basketball teams heading into the NCAA tourney have no idea if they will win that next game, we have a different situation. See, no matter how much they prepare and practice, somebody still has to lose. There can only be one national champion.

But, as Christians, we are guaranteed a win in the game of life. First Corinthians 15:57 says, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We are victors!

Say “I am a victor through Christ Jesus!” right now, wherever you are, and say it throughout the day to remind yourself–and your enemy–that you’ve already won the battle.

That doesn’t mean our opponent is going to throw in the towel and give up. He will still try to aggravate us every chance he gets, but we will still win! You’re a winner, so live with victory in your heart and mind today!

P.S. Go Hoosiers!

8 Prayers for Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday

It’s called “Holy Week,” because for Christians, the journey from Palm Sunday to Easter commemorates the world-changing events that also change the life of anyone who identifies with Jesus Christ in His sacrificial suffering, death, burial and resurrection. For many, the week is characterized by much thought, worship and prayer. So here are eight prayers that can be prayed at any time, but may be helpful in driving home to your heart the profound meaning and blessing of this coming weekend:

Four Good Friday Prayers

1) Lord Jesus, as you were crucified between two thieves, one who ridiculed and one who repented, so let any sacrifice and suffering I may offer be a testimony both to skeptics and seekers (see Luke 23:33).

2) Since my old self was crucified with Jesus, so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, grant that I may no longer be a slave to sin, because anyone who has died has been set free from sin (Romans 6:6-7, NIV).

3) God, Your Word says that those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires; show it to be so in my life today (Galatians 5:24, NIV).

4) Father, in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world; remind me of that truth today (Galatians 6:14, NIV).

Four Resurrection Sunday Prayers

1) Lord God, thank you that I was buried with Jesus through baptism into death in order that, just as He was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, I too may live a new life. For if I have been united with Him in a death like his, I will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His (Romans 6:4-5, NIV).

2) God, I died to the law through the body of Christ, that I might belong to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that I might bear fruit for You. Please let me fulfill Your purpose today (Romans 7:4, NIV).

3) Thank you, Lord Jesus, that because You were crucified in weakness but raised to life by God’s power, let me, though weak, live by God’s resurrection power in all I do (2 Corinthians 13:4, NIV).

4) God, thank you that I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, and the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

These are just eight simple (and biblical) suggestions, of course, and there are many ways to incorporate these prayers into your worship this week. You may walk “The Calvary Road” by praying one a day for the next eight days. Or pray the first four at intervals on Good Friday and the other four at intervals on Easter. Or you may print them and have family members read the prayers before a meal. However you use them, these prayers are offered in the hope that they will enrich not only your Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday celebrations, but that they will also find permanent lodging and exert transforming power in your heart and life from this day on.

7 Biblical Prayers for Autumn

Autumn could be my favorite season, the leaves turning copper and gold, shimmering in the breeze, sunlight streaming through. A perfect time to reach out to the Creator. The climate in my neighborhood isn’t exactly biblical, but the biblical authors certainly understood what spiritual gifts the season brings.

1)  May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. (Psalm 126:5). Autumn is the time of harvest. Haven’t we all experienced anxiety and tears in these too-long months of a seemingly endless pandemic? Indulge in God’s promise. Reap God’s love with shouts of joy.

2)  Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:26). The birds in migration seem to fill the skies these October and November days. Jesus’s words offer a reminder how each one of them offers a sermon. In flight.

3)  The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8). As my friend Tibby Sherrill likes to say, “The only prayer God can’t answer is, ‘Don’t let anything change.’” Autumn is a constant reminder of change, changes that are inherent in our lives. No reason we can’t use those changes to grow closer to God and the Love that never dies.

4)  When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and for the alien…” (Leviticus 23:22). I love this verse. A reminder of how the harvest was also a crucial time of giving. To remember the poor. Not hogging it all ourselves. Leaving enough for them.

5)  The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it(Psalm 24:1). Do you ever go on a prayer walk? No listening to podcasts or making phone calls. Just take yourself outside and experience what this verse says. You’ll see not only in the trees and the flowers but in the people you pass on the sidewalk or who drive by… They are—we are—the Lord’s.

6)  Let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9). Thanksgiving is not far away. When families gather and give thanks for what God has given them. So do not weary in doing what is good. Life’s bounty is near.

7)  They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season and their leaves do not wither…(Psalm 1:3). A crab apple tree lies just outside our kitchen window, the fruit bright red. No, we don’t eat it. But the sight of it is full of beauty that delights. Those who “delight in the Lord” are like those trees. Now and forever.

6 Summer Prayers

Summer’s here! The season of no school and swimming pools has finally arrived—and with it, new opportunities to let the changing seasons change our rhythms and routines and, perhaps, draw us deeper into prayer and closer to God.

In that spirit, here are six summer prayers you can keep handy and use and reuse to make these summer months even more special:

1.  A Prayer of Thanks

Abba, thank you for summer,
for green grass
and honeysuckle,
leafy trees
running streams
bare feet
balmy days
singing birds
laughing children
baseball games
cookouts
sunshine
clear skies
the smell after a summer rain
beauty
and fecundity
everywhere
I turn.

Amen.

(A prayer by Bob Hostetler, used with permission.)

2.  A Summer Gloria

Glory be to God…
for clear blue skies and sunny days
for fresh green grass and leafy trees
for vivid purple flowers and well-tended gardens
for fluffy white clouds and gentle breezes
for bright red buses and busy streets

Glory be to God…
for people stepping out with sandaled feet
for children playing games with delighted squeals
for picnics and street parties
for street traders and market stalls
for long days and short nights
for open-topped buses and open-necked shirts.

Glory be to God…
for seasons
for summer
for sunshine

(A prayer by Chick Yuill, used with permission.)

3.  “Come Summer With Me”

Come summer with me, Lord;
summer deep down in my soul;
restore my faith in summer’s time,
in rest, in joy, in play, in you…

Summer in my heart, Lord,
and dwell there
as if time would never end,
as if all time were children’s time, eternal time
when school is always out and joy is ever in…

And let others summer in my shade, Lord,
and share whatever summer’s peace is mine to give,
whatever summer’s light is mine to shed,
whatever summer’s warmth is mine to share…

Good God of every season and every day this week,
come summer with me, Lord, and let the child in my heart
spend this summer in your love…

Amen.

(A prayer by Fr. Austin Fleming who blogs at “A Concord Pastor Comments.” Used with permission.)

4.  A Hymn of Praise

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
You, Lord God, made them all.

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
You made their glowing colors,
You made their tiny wings.

The purple headed mountains,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning
That brightens up the sky.

The changing of the seasons,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
You made them every one.

The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water,
To gather every day.

You gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

(A hymn by Cecil F. Alexander, slightly revised. Public domain.)

5. A Visual Prayer

Watch and pray along with this minute-and-a-half “Summer Prayer” from Guideposts:

6.  A Psalm for Summer

Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;
to you our vows will be fulfilled.
You who answer prayer,
to you all people will come.
When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave our transgressions.
Blessed are those you choose
and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
of your holy temple.
You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,
God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas,
who formed the mountains by your power,
having armed yourself with strength,
who stilled the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations.
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
where morning dawns, where evening fades,
you call forth songs of joy.
You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
to provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it.
You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
you soften it with showers and bless its crops.
You crown the year with your bounty,
and your carts overflow with abundance.
The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;
the hills are clothed with gladness.
The meadows are covered with flocks
and the valleys are mantled with grain;
they shout for joy and sing.

(Psalm 65, NIV)