Here’s a prayer of
longing and petition, inspired by Psalm 63.
It was written by Christine Jerrett, and posted on Christine Jerrett: Reflections on being the Church in God’s new
creation. She wrote it to be used
after singing “I will enter the gates…God
has made me glad.”
Prayer:
Rejoicing yet Thirsting
(inspired
by Psalm 63)
We do rejoice in you,
God our God
We rejoice in your
steadfast love and faithfulness
– a rich feast for our souls.
– a rich feast for our souls.
We rejoice that you
shelter us in the shadow of your wings
– strong protection against the storms.
– strong protection against the storms.
We rejoice that you
are more powerful than
the troubles that trouble us.
the troubles that trouble us.
We rejoice that, when
we wander far from You,
losing our way,
you do not leave us on our own.
You come to us in Jesus, your Word made flesh.
dwelling among us,
full of your grace and your truth.
losing our way,
you do not leave us on our own.
You come to us in Jesus, your Word made flesh.
dwelling among us,
full of your grace and your truth.
O God who has drawn
near, you know us as we are:
the songs of praise tell only part of the story.
the songs of praise tell only part of the story.
We have wandered down
many paths,
seeking happiness or glory,
we have trusted in lesser gods,
looking for safe haven from the dangers that threaten.
seeking happiness or glory,
we have trusted in lesser gods,
looking for safe haven from the dangers that threaten.
But the deep hungers
are not satisfied;
the fears and anxieties still haunt us.
the fears and anxieties still haunt us.
And now we know:
our souls thirst for you, the living God.
our souls thirst for you, the living God.
Show us your power
and your glory.
Take our weariness
and send your Holy Spirit to renew our hope.
Take our weariness
and send your Holy Spirit to renew our hope.
Take our fears
and grow new courage in us.
and grow new courage in us.
Take our resignation
to the way things are
and pull us into your passionate love.
and pull us into your passionate love.
Lord Jesus,
you meet us in the wilderness of our days,
and fill us with the bread of life.
You meet us in the desert of our loneliness
and streams of living water start to flow.
you meet us in the wilderness of our days,
and fill us with the bread of life.
You meet us in the desert of our loneliness
and streams of living water start to flow.
We drink deeply of
the gift of your presence,
and we rejoice,
for you have made us glad. Amen.
and we rejoice,
for you have made us glad. Amen.
~
written by Christine Jerrett, and posted on Christine Jerrett: Reflections on being the Church in God’s new
creation. http://christinejerrett.wordpress.com/tag/prayer/
