In this month of January, at CPC we are studying prayers from others and how we can use those prayers in our own lives.  One of my favorite prayer books is "A Book of Uncommon Prayer," by Kenneth G. Phifer.   Here's one titled, "I am not sure how to Pray."

How should I pray, O Lord? 
Should I wait till my life is cleansed and my spirit is hot?
Or should I come just as I am with my half-hearted commitment 
and my on-again, off-again faith?
How should I pray?

Should I choose my words carefully
and phrase my petitions with discrimination?
Should I sit very straight and very still?
Or should I let my needs roll out
and my doubts and difficulties show

How should I pray,
O God of the morning sun and the evening shadow?
How should I pray in the high, hot noon of life?
I really do not know.

Once our Lord told us we should pray like this:
"Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name..."
And then he poured out petitions
about daily bread and forgiveness of others
that we may be forgiven...
temptations to be delivered from ...
evil to be spared.
Those are things that press in upon us all.

So I do pray for daily bread.
I pray for the material things of life
that I may have what I can use,
and that I may use what I have.

I pray for the grace 
to exercise forgiveness where I have been wronged.
Deliver me from the stuffy, condescending attitude
of self-righteousness.
Help me to have the honesty and the courage
to accept my share of responsibility
where broken relationship obtain.

Keep me from using words to cover a rejecting spirit.

I ask to be delivered from temptations
and to be delivered from deceiving myself
about my temptations.
For too often, I only mean that
I want to be rescued
from the consequences of my behavior.
And the evil from which I desire to be spared is,
too often,
the result of my headlong pursuit of my selfish whims.

I try to put burdens on you, O God,
that are mine to bear.

I try to avoid the strain on my own will power,
and call upon my sense of love
by asking you to take responsibility.
I know I should not, and yet I do.

How should I pray, O God?
I do not really know how I should,
but I have prayed as best I can.
And where I have left unsaid
what should have been said,
O Lord of the heart,
Take the intention for the deed.

AMEN

What phrases stand out to you?  why?  

Peace in our journeys,
 

Pastor Steve Melde