The Logos Prayer

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

The Bread of Life

The Bread of Life

From John 6:27, 40, 35

Go to the grocery store and buy fresh food today, and in a few days you can see how the elements take hold. Physicists tell us of the law of entropy: that the universe, when left to its own devices, falls apart. Our bodies are subject to these laws. All you have to do is live long enough, and you start to see the effects of time. Even the things we use to strengthen our bodies, like food, only service us temporarily. What we need is eternal nourishment that generates eternal life in us. Jesus offers Himself as the Bread of Life.

The Bread of Life will never spoil. He will never leave you hungry or unsatisfied. He’s available to anyone who will receive Him. In John 6:33, Jesus says, “For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." Let Jesus give you His life today. If you’re weary, let Him give you rest. If you’re hungry, let Him fill you. As you do this meditation, imagine that you’re sitting at a table with the Lord. Hear His voice speaking these words to your heart.

A MEDITATION WITH ECUMENICAL PRAYER BEADS:
(Click here to get your own)

Invitatory: Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life,

which the Son of Man will give you.

Cruciform: My Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him

shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

Weeks:

Inhale: I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry,

Exhale: and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

Invitatory: Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life,

which the Son of Man will give you.

The Seven Last Words of Christ

The Seven Last Words of Christ

The seven last “words” (or sayings) of Christ have been a subject of Christian meditation throughout the centuries. They give an insight into Jesus’ personality, and His suffering that we would not have, had the Gospel writes not recorded them.

As you meditate on each of Jesus’ last words, try to feel what the Lord felt as He hung on the cross. Try to feel His physical pain, His spiritual forsakenness, His mental distress.

As you say the Nunc Dimittis (Cruciform verses), remember that these words were first spoken over the infant Jesus by the prophet Simeon.[1] Ironically, these words seem a fitting benediction as we release Jesus to the anguish of the cross. Feel the irony of the juxtaposition of birth and death, joy and sorrow. With these words, commit yourself anew to the One who suffered so that you might live.

Invitatory: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Cruciform: Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace according to your word.

For my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared before the face of all people,

a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.

Week 1: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”[2]

Week 2: “This day you shall be with me in paradise.”[3]

Week 3: “Woman, behold your son.”[4]

Week 4: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”[5]

Week 5: “I thirst.”[6]

Week 6: “It is finished.”[7]

Week 7: “Father, into your hands I commend my Spirit.”[8]

Invitatory: The Lord’s Prayer

[1] Luke 2:29-32

[2] Luke 24:34

[3] Luke 23:43

[4] John 19:26-27

[5] Mark 15:34; Matthew 17:46

[6] John 19:28

[7] John 19:30

[8] Luke 23:47

My Help Comes from the Lord

“My Help Comes from the Lord”

Psalm 121

Much confusion exists concerning the meaning of distress signals. The traditional SOS has been misunderstood to mean “Send Out Succour,” “Save Our Ship,” and “Save Our Souls.” Actually, was officially ratified as the universal distress signal in 1908, and was chosen simply because it was easy to send the morse signal that consisted of only three dots, three dashes, and three dots, and it could not be misunderstood.[i] The distress call “mayday” is actually an English version of the French m'aidez (help me) or m'aider (to render help to me).[ii] Each of these distress signals anticipates help that may come from nearby ships or other rescuers.

We know that ultimately our help comes not from reliance on people, but dependence on God. Because our Lord is the Maker of all things, we know that all things are under His control. As the sun’s harmful rays can be very damaging to the traveler, “the sun will not harm you by day” refers to God’s physical protection. Since the moon’s forces were reputed to affect the tides of human emotion and levels of sanity, “nor the moon by night” speaks of God’s psychological and spiritual protection. In other words, God is there to help you, inside and out.

As you meditate today, place your body, soul, and spirit in God’s care. Remember that your help does not come from high places and lofty people. Your help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

A MEDITATION WITH ECUMENICAL PRAYER BEADS:
(Click here to get your own)

Invitatory: I lift up my eyes to the hills—

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

Cruciform: He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

Weeks:

Inhale: The Lord watches over you—

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

Exhale: the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

Invitatory: The Lord will keep you from all harm—

he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

[i] http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/060199tip6.htm. April 19, 2011.

[ii] http://ask.yahoo.com/20011218.html April 19, 2011.

Waiting on God

Waiting on God

Psalm 40:1-3, 7-8, 13, 16

When I was a child, my family took a vacation to Disney World. What started out as a fun ride turned into disaster when we got stuck on the “It’s a Small World” ride for a couple of hours. Imagine being confined to a small boat in an enclosed space while animatronic figures sing a saccharine song over and over while you wait for the ride to be resumed or evacuated. I just couldn’t wait for someone to throw switch that would pick us up out of that watery ride and set us on solid ground, far from earshot of that song.

An experience like this, however grating on the nerves, is nothing compared to the agonizing waits of actual life. Hospital waiting rooms are crowded with those who wait impatiently to hear word of a loved one’s surgery. Parents spend many late night hours waiting for children to come home safely from work or a date. Widows wait with hands folded in prayer, pining for the day when they will see their departed spouses again in Glory.

As the psalmist waits, he recalls God’s past faithfulness, when the Father lifted him out of the mire and set his feet on a rock. As you wait on God, remember His faithfulness to you in the past. Let that give you peace for the present. “Here I am, I have come,” you say, presenting yourself to God to do with as He pleases. Remember His protection and salvation, and anticipate a time of rejoicing once your wait is over. Wait on the Lord, and be patient. Wait on the Lord.

A MEDITATION WITH THE ECUMENICAL PRAYER BEADS:
(Click here to get your own)

Invitatory: I waited patiently for the Lord;

he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

out of the mud and mire;

he set my feet on a rock

and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear

and put their trust in the Lord.

Cruciform: Here I am, I have come.

I desire to do your will, O my God.

Weeks:

Inhale: May your love and your truth always protect me.

Exhale: Be pleased, O Lord, to save me;

O Lord, come quickly to help me.

Invitatory: May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you.

May those who love your salvation always say, “The Lord be exalted!”

Be Still, and Know

Be Still, and Know

From Psalm 46:10, 9, 7

It’s hard to be still, isn’t it? Most people who admit to problems in meditation complain that it’s difficult just sitting still. Yet, this is exactly what God tells us to do, if we are to truly know that He is God. Habakkuk 2:20 agrees with Psalm 46, saying, “God is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him.” The prophet Eli taught young Samuel to pray, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” in response to the still, small voice of God (1Samuel 13:10).

If you love someone, you want to listen to them. You want to hear what they have to say. You want to know them in a deep and personal way, and the only way to do that is to listen to them. As long as we’re talking, we’re putting ourselves and our needs on the throne. As long as we’re listening, we’re telling God that it’s what He has to say that’s important.

Train yourself to be still, to listen. Mental wars and emotional distractions threaten good meditation daily. Yet exalting God in our stillness allows God to break the bows that focus on long-term goals that we feel we must plan out right now. He shatters the spears of short-term projects that distract us from meditation. He even burns the shields that we put up, to keep out the distractions. Yes, even our defenses against distraction can themselves become disruptive preoccupations that take our attention off of stillness.

Stop worrying about distractions. Stop defending against them. Just let God be with you. Be still, and know that God is God. Only then can He be exalted in your life.

A MEDITATION WITH ECUMENICAL PRAYER BEADS:
(Click here to get your own)

Invitatory: “Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.”

Cruciform: He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;

he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,

he burns the shields with fire.

Weeks:

Inhale: The Lord of hosts is with us;

Exhale: The God of Jacob is our fortress.

Invitatory: “Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.”

Trust in God's Deliverance

Trust in God’s Deliverance

From Psalm 56:12-13, 10-11

When David fled from Saul’s wrath and found shelter among the Philistines, he compromised his integrity as a leader of Israel. Pretending to be insane, he persuaded a nation of enemies to give him haven from a more immediate enemy. He found himself between a rock and a hard place, and chose to play it safe. But soon he remembered that he was under vows to God. His duties to God and his people called him to obedience.

Just He did with David, God wants to snap you back to reality, reminding you of your responsibilities to God and the people under your care. Obedience to God requires trust, and trust is sometimes hard to come by. Trust is difficult for us because we have short memories. How quickly David forgot the might of the One who gave him victory over the Philistines, so now he sought shelter with them! How quickly we forget God’s faithfulness to us.

As you go before God today, remember to present your thank offerings to Him. Take time to reflect on His faithfulness to you, and be grateful for all He has done. That gratitude will generate trust within you, and trust will work itself out to obedience. Then, when you begin to live obediently, you will see the deliverance that God has for you, when you’re between a rock and a hard place.

A MEDITATION WITH ECUMENICAL PRAYER BEADS
(Click here to get your own)

Invitatory: I am under vows to you, O God;
I will present my thank offerings to you.

Cruciform: For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Weeks:

Inhale: In God, whose word I praise,
in the LORD, whose word I praise-

Exhale: in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?

Invitatory: I am under vows to you, O God;
I will present my thank offerings to you.

Confession and Forgiveness

Confession and Forgiveness

From Psalm 32:5, 7, 1-2, 10

Anyone who spends much time with the Lord knows that God is not all butterflies and rainbows. In order to fully know God’s love, you must first receive God’s mercy. This means confessing your sins to God and experiencing His forgiveness. Only in this cleansing can you experience the full love of Christ.

When you confess your sin, you aren’t begging God’s pardon as if He might not grant it. You’re acknowledging your sin, uncovering it before God like a patient bares his sores before a physician. You’re becoming vulnerable before God so that He can heal you. At that point, your forgiving God becomes your hiding place, your refuge and your delight.

The psalmist uses words like “forgive” and “protect” and “surround” and “cover” to describe God’s action toward the repentant sinner. As you meditate on God’s word today, allow these things to fill your heart. Feel the forgiveness of God wash over. Relax in God’s protective presence. Experience the peace of being surrounded and covered by a blanket of God’s love.

A MEDITATION WITH ECUMENICAL PRAYER BEADS
(Click here to get your own)

Invitatory: I acknowledged my sin to you

and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD "—
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Cruciform:        You are my hiding place;
                        you will protect me from trouble
                        and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Weeks:

Inhale: Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.

Exhale: Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him
and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Invitatory:         Many are the woes of the wicked,
                        but the LORD's unfailing love
                        surrounds the man who trusts in him.

About Protestant Prayer Beads

Protestant (or Anglican, or Ecumenical) prayer beads are a great way to pray through God's word, without getting caught up in self-centered prayers or getting distracted by extraneous thoughts. Many people say that the tactile stimulation of using prayer beads keeps them focused on their prayers.

Most of the meditations on this website utilize the Ecumenical Prayer Bead format. These meditations also include devotional thoughts based on God's word.

About the prayer beads, King of Peace's website says:

Anglican Prayer Beads are a relatively new form of prayer, blending the Orthodox Jesus Prayer Rope and the Roman Catholic Rosary. The thirty-three bead design was created by the Rev. Lynn Bauman in the mid-1980s, through the prayerful exploration and discovery of a contemplative prayer group.

Unlike the Roman Catholic rosary, these prayer beads do not promote appeals to Mary and the saints. Protestants should have no worries in using these, as they simply utilize repetition of scripture and scripture-based prayers.

Quiet Time with Jesus: Lectio Divina

Whenever I teach Christian spirituality, I like to use the ancient framework of Lectio Divina (Latin: "Divine Reading). At one time, all Christians were taught the practice of Lectio Divina, but it was kept alive in the monastic tradition. It's a way of fully absorbing the Word of God, waiting on God, and praying God's word back to Him. As an example, I often use Psalm 136 to teach this practice.

There are four steps in Lectio Divina. These praying person should flow freely from one step to another, effortlessly and patiently. Personally, I like to spend about an hour in this practice.

**The fist step is Lectio, or "Reading."**
Let your prayer time begin with the Bible. Choose a scripture and read it deliberately and unhurriedly. I like to read it phrase-by-phrase, moving my lips as if I were speaking the words slowly, yet without prouncing them fully. This allows me to take time with the words, rather than skimming the verses. When you reach the end of your exhale, inhale slowly and take time to reflect on what you've just read, before you continue with your next exhale.

When you've finished reading the scripture the first time, read it again. Ask God to show you a word or a phrase that stands out from that scripture. Don't look for an entire verse--this is too long. Look for something shorter than that, just a word, or short phrase. This will be God's special gift to you.

Then, repeat the scripture again. Read it through several times. If you've carved out an hour for Lectio Divina, then make this about 1/4 of that hour.

Today, I've chosen Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26 in order to give you an example of this.
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever...

23 He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
24 and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
25 He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.
I use this passage because it's easy to tell which phrase stands out above the rest. "His love endures forever" becomes a message that, being repeated over and over, works its way from your head to your heart. By the time you're done repeating this scripture, you fully grasp that God's love endures forever.

**The second step is Meditatio, or "Meditation."**
Take this word or phrase that you've found in Scripture (in this case, "His love endures forever," and repeat it to yourself. Breathe in slowly, whispering the phrase. Breathe out slowly, whispering the phrase. Repeat this for several minutes. Personally, I like to do this for fifteen minutes or so, if I'm doing Lectio Divina for an hour. Just allow the phrase to sink in.

Some Christians are opposed to repetition, citing Jesus' injunction against "vain repetition (Matthew 6:7)." "Vain" means pointless or ego-centric, and this repetition is neither of those things. It's a way of breaking through to my stony heart. Jacob Riis writes in Reader's Digest: "I look at a stone cutter hammering away at a rock a hundred times without so much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the 101st blow it splits in two. I know it was not the one blow that did it, but all that had gone before." God's word is like that. Repeat it enough, and it finally breaks through.

As a side note: Some people will use the word mantra to describe this repetition of a word or phrase. I never use this term, since mantras stem from the Hindu tradition, and what I'm talking about is decidedly Christian. Hindus believe their mantras to possess an esoteric quality, resonating with divine frequencies and effecting spiritual dimensions by their mystical resonance. Mantras are believed to have nearly the same qualities as a magic spell. The only similarity between a Christian's repetition of scripture, and a Hindu's mantra is the fact that it's a repeated word. Instead, I use the term Logos Prayer to describe this repeated word or phrase. Simply repeat this word that God has given you, back to Him. And in the process, He will give it back to you again, letting it break through your stony heart.

**The third step is Oratio, or "Prayer."**
If you've allowed an hour for the entire process of Lectio Divina, then spend about fifteen minutes in prayer. But don't just go through your prayer list. Instead, pray about the word or phrase that God has given you. In this case, our phrase is "His love endures forever." So, spend your prayer time talking with God about His enduring love. Thank Him for it. Praise Him for it. Ask Him for more of it. Give your enduring love back to Him. Ask Him to give enduring love to others. Let God's enduring love be the theme of this prayer. This is a free-form prayer time, without any script, without any right or wrong way to pray. Just allow the Logos Prayer to flow freely. If you wish, you might mark your transition from prayer to contemplation with the simply phrase, "In Jesus' name, amen."

**The fourth step is Contemplatio, or "Contemplation."**
Simply put, contemplation is resting in the "amen." Instead of letting your "amen" mean "Ok, I'm done praying now, so I'm going to hang up the phone," spend about a quarter-hour resting in it. "Amen" means "let it be." It is a word of simple reliance, trust, and resting in God's ability to do all that you could ever ask or imagine. Psalm 46:10 (NIV) says, "Be still, and know that I am God." Contemplation is being still, waiting on God, trusting God to complete what He has begun in you. Contemplation is uncomplicated in that it involves no reading, no repeating, no forming your own thoughts into words. It is simple resting in God's presence.

The thing to remember when practicing contemplative prayer is that it's not about you. In fact, in contemplative prayer, the ultimate goal is to empty one's self and be in God's presence. This doesn't mean that you're "opening your soul to whatever spirit wants to come in," as some people have suggested. It means that you're emptying yourself of ego, realizing that "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20 NIV)." Instead of filling your mind with the things that you want or think, simply rest in the passive attitude of a person who truly means it when they say "amen." Let it be.

You may find your mind wandering as you sit in silence, trying to think nothing and simply listening for God's still, small, voice. If this happens, simply say your Logos Prayer once. Don't repeat it as before. Just say it once, allowing it to bring you back to a place of silence. Sit quietly. Trust God. Listen to God. Let God fill you.

Many Christians say that their prayer life is boring--a routine of going through their prayer list and saying "amen" before they get about the business of their day. Lectio Divina is an ancient prayer method that refreshes your soul every day. Instead of being self-centered, this practice is God-centered. I invite you to try it for yourself, and see how your relationship with the Lord will grow.

Training Wheels for Prayer

A friend of mine wants to learn how to pray. She grew up in the church, learned the Lord’s Prayer, and is still lost on how to pray. She’s gone to the bookstore and seen the shelves full of books on prayer, but they all seem so complex. When she was still an unbeliever she started asking me about prayer, because she didn’t know how to approach God as a non-Christian. Now that she’s received the Lord, her relationship with Him has changed. But her desire for simplicity in prayer remains the same. Maybe you’re the same way. You desire truth in the inmost parts. You desire wisdom in the inmost place of your life.[i] Truth and wisdom are found best in simplicity. Complexity muddles the understanding.

If you want to learn to pray, it’s best to go back to the beginning. Forget the complicated methods you may have learned. Forget the formulas and formats. Go back to the beginning. Go back to the Word. By praying the Word you’ll learn how to make your quiet time with Jesus the most precious time of the day. You’ll get to the point where you’d rather have your quiet time than anything else. Jesus will come first in your life, and you’ll long for that sweet hour of prayer.

Some time ago, I invited my congregation to take their prayer time more seriously. I asked them to covenant with me, for a time, to pray for an hour a day. To my delight, more people accepted the challenge than I anticipated. Those who joined me in this prayer commitment received a daily encouraging email. I even had one gentleman join me from his prison cell. Though he couldn’t receive email, I sent him a weekly digest that he could read day by day. Through this hour of prayer, his prison cell became his monastery. Others told me how they, too, had been set free from sterile prayer procedures and had really learned how to connect with God. What I taught them wasn’t a new innovative technique—it was a way of praying that is as old as Christianity itself. I taught them to pray God’s Word.

Praying the Word of God is like a good set of training wheels. When my son learned to ride his bike for the first time, I put extra little wheels on that Schwinn of his so he wouldn’t fall over. Now, he’s grown out of his training wheels and can ride by himself. But I don’t think we ever grow out of training wheels when we learn to pray. We need help, because we don’t know how to pray as we ought. Fortunately, we have many resources ready to help us in prayer.

First, the apostle Paul tells us, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”[ii] So the Holy Spirit is like the parent who runs alongside the kid who’s learning to ride his bike. The Spirit points us in the right direction, keeps us upright and on the right path, and if we do fall down, interprets our prayers according to God’s perfect will. Without the Holy Spirit’s help, we would never learn how to keep our balance.

Second, we have the example of Christians who have gone before us. Paul says to his protégé Timothy, “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”[iii] You may have been guided by parents, pastors, teachers, friends, and others who led you to this point in your faith. You have heard the way that they pray, and their prayers have informed your own prayer life. If you pay attention, you may find yourself using phrases in prayer that you picked up from them. Perhaps you were taught to pray by using a liturgical prayer book. In the same way that some have learned to pray by listening to others, you learned by reading words penned by others. Praise God for prayer books—they have helped many grow closer to the Lord.

Third, we have a better prayer book—the Word of God. When you learn to pray God’s Word, you’ll wean yourself off of copying prayers written by professionals or spoken by friends. You’ll be able to pray God’s Word, and know God’s power in prayer.

The difference between learning to ride a bike and learning to pray is that once you’ve learned to ride, you quit learning and just ride. Once you’ve learned to pray, you keep growing and keep learning, and you always need your training wheels. You might learn to let go of prayer books and emulating great prayer leaders, but you never leave behind the Holy Spirit or finding inspiration in God’s Word.

When I invited people to pray for an hour a day, many happily joined me in the journey. I was amazed, however, at the number of folks who approached me saying, “I’d like to, but I just don’t think I could pray for an hour a day.” They were glad to sing the hymn in church, but they just couldn’t imagine a “Sweet Hour of Prayer” in real life. That’s because they envisioned spending an hour with their eyes closed, asking God for stuff. This book is written to show that prayer can be so much more!

What you read in this blog will revitalize your prayer life, if you let it. You’ll look forward to your quiet time with Jesus each day. On the days when you don’t have your quiet time (let’s get real), you’ll feel like you really missed out. You won’t approach your time with Jesus as many did when they first accepted my challenge, saying, “I don’t know how I’m going to get through this hour, but here goes.” Instead, when your kitchen timer goes off you’ll say, “Has an hour passed already?” Indeed, you’ll have more than a sweet hour of prayer. You’ll have a life of prayer.

[i] Psalm 51:6 NIV

[ii] Romans 8:26 NIV

[iii] 2 Timothy 1:6 NIV

What is the Logos Prayer?

Simply put, the Logos Prayer is praying God's word. I believe that God's word doesn't just have power. God's word is power to transform your life. If God could form the world with just a word, then His word also has power to shape your thinking and change your life.

Certainly, there are many kinds of prayer. The purpose of this blog isn't to cover every type of prayer, but to teach you to pray God's word in a life-altering way.

The Logos Prayer doesn't approach your devotion as a perfunctory inspirational message that you read before bed. It doesn't focus on your prayer time as a list of requests, but as an appointment with the One who sees the depths of your heart and mind and refashions your life to make you more like Jesus.

Romans 12:2 (NIV) says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." The Logos Prayer does just that--it renews your mind. It isn't simple rote recitation of scripture, but a way of letting God's word sink into you.

Look at it this way: If you have a long nail that you want to hammer into a thick block of wood, you're going to have to hit it over and over again. If you're like me, then your heart can be a bit wooden, too. You need something powerful to transform you. Praying God's word through meaningful repetition hammers God's word into your heart and mind, transforming you from the inside out.

Pages

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

The Bread of Life

The Seven Last Words of Christ

My Help Comes from the Lord

Waiting on God

Be Still, and Know

Trust in God's Deliverance

Confession and Forgiveness