My Morning Prayers by Sharon Espeseth

If you're like me, you are often writing on the run or jotting down notes as you go about you duties of the day. I don't stop to pray before I get those words down on my notepad. Doing so might cause me to lose the point that came to me while I was folding the laundry. Beginning the day with a morning prayer, however, covers all bases.

I can refresh as the day goes on.






For years, I have prayed The Lord's Prayer in the morning--often before stepping into my slippers, which is when the real action begins. Although we know and love this prayer, here it is as a reminder. Many poster forms of this prayer can be found on the Internet. This one, being a free image, can be copied and literally pasted into a notebook or kept in a plastic sleeve.

Through this prayer, I surrender my will, which includes setting priorities and dealing with distractions according to God's will rather than my own. I ask for daily bread, which, to me, means healthy living and spiritual bread for my life and for my writing.

Asking forgiveness, can clear my mind of any wrong doings of yesterday. "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" like those niggling writerly issues of pride, false humility, lack of confidence, impatience, judgment, biased thinking . . .






In more recent times, and as recommended by one of my friends who is a "cradle Catholic," I have come to appreciate The Morning Offering. For my writing, I can say, "I offer you, Dear Jesus, 'my prayers, my sufferings, my disappointments, my joys and my works.'
Amen."

My research on the Net unearthed wonderful Christian prayers suitable for people in any denomination. Here is one.

My Daily Offering to the Lord

Heavenly God, I offer You all my works and actions for this day for the glory of Your name. I pray that I may sanctify every beat of my heart, every thought in my mind. Every simple work I do, I offer onto You. I wish that all my sins be forgiven as You are a merciful and loving God.

I offer this prayer to those who are dear to me. I pray that they fulfil Your most holy will and that they may accept all sorrows that may come their way. Take all my laughter and my tears, every word, every thought and each deed to help all those who are in need. May this gift of prayer be a unique offering to Jesus Christ, Your son.

He renewed our spirits and guided our eyes to look heavenward. I pray that my soul be united with the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name I pray Amen.

Found at prayers-for-special-help.com

Favourite Psalms

"May the favour of the Lord rest on us (today);
establish the work of our hands for us--
yes, establish the work of our hands."                          
Psalm 90:17 (NIV)

"Let this be written for a future generation,
that a people not yet created may praise the Lord."
Psalm 102:18 (NIV)


Here's another thought! Write Your Own Psalm--See Write Your Own Psalm - MarcAlanSchelske.com

Savour a Morning Song

Morning Has Broken
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5D3LEjGF8A


Sarach McLachlan and her music students sing Prayer of St. Francis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agPnMxp5Occ




Write Your Own Writer's Prayer

You may have previously read my comments on The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. In the Appendix of her book on page 223, Cameron presents "An Artist's Prayer," which would be suitable for a writing group. Combining her thoughts on our being created by The Creator for creative living, I wrote my personal "Artist's Prayer."

You may pray this with me, or use this as a starting point to write your own "Artist's Prayer."

Dear Creator God,

I am here (at the kitchen table)

In your presence, asking You

To help me become aware

Of the abundance in my life.

May I sense your bounty freely given

Rather than fixating on my own lack.

I offer myself to you as an instrument

Of your peace and your plan.

I open myself to your creativity in my life.

I surrender my old ideas.

In their place, I welcome your new

And more expansive ways and design.

I trust you will lead me

For I know it is safe to follow,

Trusting you will lead me

In the direction that is right for me.

I know that you created me.

I know that creativity is your nature

And therefore my nature

For I am made in your image.

I ask you to unfold my life

According to your plan

Rather than according

To my own sense of self worth

Or the lack thereof.

Help me to understand and believe

That it is not too late for me

And that I am not too small or too flawed

To be healed by you and made whole

So that I may serve you and give you my best.

Amen

Spurtster by Glynis Belec

I'm a Journal Spurtster.

In other words, I journal in spurts. When I am going through challenges, trials, troubles, frustrations,
periods of questioning, times of refreshing - I pull out my journal and free write. What a great way to pour out emotion and hone in on how a particular situation made me feel at the time. Then there are desert times where I write nothing in my journals.

I would love to brag about how dedicated I am and how I consistently blog every evening at the close of the day. Sigh. It's my intention, but it takes a big pinch for me to do that. I am pretty good at writing in two of my journals, though. (Although, lately I have been a bit delinquent with those.)

One of them is loosely titled, Trekking through the Word and the other one is What's in my Bible?

Trekking through the Word is a journal where I take a little passage and read. I began at Genesis, and write my own commentary on what I 'get out' of that passage; or maybe how God speaks to me or directs me.

The next one, What's in my Bible, is based on my pack-rat tendencies. In my bible (thank goodness I have a big bible cover) one can find everything from funeral cards, to handwritten notes from students, to art work from grandchildren, to poetry, sermon notes, to inspiring quotes, to cards, to - well you name it, I've got it. When it stockpiles and my Bible cover bulges, I clean it out and put my treasures in a box by my bed. Then when I write in my What's in my Bible journal, I comment on what 'it' is and then I reflect on the person or persons involved and what they mean to me or how they have affected my life or whatever comes to mind. I love doing this and it helps me preserve memories.

When I was going through chemotherapy for cancer nine years ago, I was such a diligent journaller and how happy I am that I was. When I look back in my many journals over two years, I cannot believe how much I poured onto the page. I remember a lot of the situations, but let me tell you, I would never have remembered all the emotions attached to the situation if I hadn't written it all down. I wrote poetry a lot. I shared some deep-seated thoughts that I don't think I would have ever remembered without it staring me in the face on the written page. My mind can capture events but it is weak to remind me of feelings - other than something superficial. I still have to write that book based on my journals! But even if it takes me a few more years, I still have the written evidence that will never be fabricated.

That said, journalling isn't for everyone. And I don't think writers need to feel obligated or apologetic if they choose not to journal. What works for one, doesn't necessarily feel right for another. And it certainly isn't anything to do with laziness. Maybe exhaustion, but not laziness! I can't journal at any time of the day except night time. This might sound a little cockeyed but I have to be in bed to journal. And if I am plum exhausted, journal is not high on my list of priorities.

But when I am ready to journal, I love how words pour from my hand onto the page. And don't even get me started about sermon notes. When I'm listening to a sermon, I take notes. It's my way of decreasing distraction and oh, how I love to reread and reflect. But that's a whole different story (and a whole big box of 'other' books!)

I wonder sometimes, about what will happen to my journals (and my big box of sermon notes) when I am dancing in heaven. I suppose it won't much matter at that point. My children did not inherit my pack-rat tendencies. Hmmm. Just a minute. I have a granddaughter who actually loves to collect. Maybe I can make a note in my will ...

Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:

Psalm 102:18