Welcome to Daily Prayer and our Friday focus on God, our help.
The Sarum Prayer
God be in my head—and in my understanding
God be in my eyes—and in my looking
God be in my mouth—and in my speaking
God be in my heart—and in my thinking
God be at my end—and at my departing
Body Awareness Meditation
We a body scan to see how the body feels right now—just checking in, building up a picture, not trying to change anything. It’s a way to center ourselves in the present moment—not focused on the past or the future where our thoughts often focus. You scan from the top of the head, steadily down the body—neck, shoulders, arms and hands, along with back, mid-section, legs, all the way to the feet. You can either take the entire minute for a single scan, or if your mind is a little too busy for that, feel free to scan multiple times at a quicker pace.
Psalm Portion
A brief reflection: If we are in a privileged position in society, a position of unearned advantage, where the system tends to work for us, we rarely have the experience of the group at large turning against us. We don’t live with the constant and gnawing fear that it can happen. But if we are personally vulnerable to the evils of White Supremacy, to the power dynamics that are hostile to women, of homophobia and transphobia and the like, then we live with the understanding that groups can and do turn on us—often with the help of enough people standing by, not lifting a finger in our defense. That is a vulnerable and scary position and feeling, such as the people who wrote the Psalms as forcibly deported exiles in Babylon also knew.
Psalm 124
Were it not the Lord Who was for us
—let Israel now say—
were it not the Lord Who was for us
When people rose against us,
then they would have swallowed us alive
When their wrath flared hot against us.
Then the waters would have swept us up,
The torrent come up past our necks.
Then it would have come up past our necks—
The raging waters,
Blessed is the Lord,
Who did not make us prey for their teeth.
Our life is like a bird escaped
from the snare of the fowlers.
The snare was broken
and we have escaped,
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
Maker of heaven and earth.
Adapted Gratitude Practice
In every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Philippians 4:6)
Today we practice combining a request for help with our usual gratitude practice. First take a few moments to identify one thing that you wish to ask God for help with today. It’s not important to select the one most important thing, just whatever comes to mind. Having identified your one request for help, take a minute or so to name three things that you are grateful for, small or big, whatever comes to mind. Then close by making your request for help to God.
Prayer for Wisdom & Justice
O Divine Wisdom, who dwells within the holy of holies, and whose light shines through all things created, fill our hearts, O blessed One, with the hope of a blessed future.
Make all things new, turn wrong to right, and cause us to walk in the ways of justice without which there can be no peace. Amen.
Prayer for Loved Ones
Over the next minute simply name your loved ones, calling each to mind in love, lifting each in the embrace of remembered love, to the God who is the source of all being. Go ahead: mute on.
Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
Benediction
The oldest benediction in the Hebrew Bible is a one regarding the God who is our help:
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
To which we add, go in peace, wash your hands, love your neighbor: you are not alone.