Here’s
a prayer for highschool graduates from Scott Sauls. It was posted on Scott Sauls: God, People, Places &
Things.
Prayer for Those Graduating from High School
Our
Father in Heaven,
it’s
an honor to join you in affirming and celebrating
the
creative, athletic, and academic accomplishments
of
those who are graduating and moving on to the next chapter of their lives.
Thank
you for the season that you have entrusted them to our care.
And
now, Father, as they move out into the world,
now
more than ever, we entrust them into your care.
You
have created these men and women in your image.
You
have created them to live inside a big story, not a small one—
your story—the story
in which your glory and honor
and
truth and beauty and grace and love are at the center—
the
story in which your mission to love people, places, and things
to life—
to
leave the world better than they found it—
is
the central mission.
God,
we pray that our graduates’ campuses and dormitories,
as
well as their future homes, neighborhoods,
and
places of work, play, and worship,
would
be better places, more life-giving places,
because they are in those
places as the aroma of Christ.
Where
they see hurt,
give
them healing hands and healing words.
Where
they sense confusion,
give
them wisdom.
Where
there perceive beauty,
give
them a sense of thankfulness and wonder.
Where
they encounter scarcity,
give
them a heart and a passion to contribute and serve.
For
those pursuing higher education,
grant
them the knowledge that they will need in their chosen fields
and the wisdom to apply
that knowledge to every facet of life.
For
those going directly into the workforce,
grant
a sense of what is right and good and honoring and beautiful—
especially
in the confusing and complex issues they will face.
For
those going into military service,
may
they draw courage and strength from you.
May
they serve the cause of truth and freedom,
and
the welfare of all of humanity,
with
integrity and honor.
For
all of today’s graduates and their families,
more
than anything may their measure of success be bound up
not in making money
or in making a name for themselves,
but
in trusting in your mercies which are new every morning,
and
in bringing fame and honor to your name
by
doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with their God.
Wherever
the next chapter takes them,
give
them character that exceeds their gifts
and humility that
exceeds their influence.
Give
them Jesus.
Finally,
may this prayer from St. Patrick be their prayer,
and
their foremost pursuit,
in
the days and years ahead of them:
Christ
be with me,
Christ
within me,
Christ
behind me,
Christ
before me,
Christ
beside me,
Christ
to win me,
Christ
to comfort and restore me.
Christ
beneath me,
Christ
above me,
Christ
in quiet,
Christ
in danger,
Christ
in hearts of all that love me,
Christ
in mouth of friend and stranger. Amen.
~
written by Scott Sauls, and posted on Scott
Sauls: God, People, Places & Things. https://scottsauls.com/2014/05/prayer-graduates/
