Praying Each Day for September

[MajestyJo]

SEPTEMBER

If I climb the heavens, Lord,
you are there.
If I fly to the point of sunrise,
your right hand holds me fast.
(Ps 139)

September 1

Let us pray:
Lord,
we pray that we may live
in such a way
that we value all that is good in our lives
and never take anyone or anything
for granted.
Amen.

September 2

We’ll pray using the words of a Muslim
prayer:

“Lord, may the end of my life
be the best part of my life.
May my closing acts
be my best acts,
and may the best of my days
be the day when I shall meet you.”

Always very cheerful, Roy Castle died on
this day in 1994, still fund-raising for lung
cancer research shortly before he died.
His ‘International Centre for Lung Cancer
Research’ was opened in Liverpool
four years after his death.


September 3

Let us pray:

Lord, isn’t your creation wasteful?
Fruits never equal
the seedling’s abundance;
springs scatter water;
the sun gives out enormous light.

May your bounty
teach me greatness of heart.
May your magnificence
stop me being mean.

Seeing you
a prodigal and open-handed giver,
may I give unstintingly
like a king’s son
- like your own Son. Amen.

September 4

Albert Schweitzer was a missionary doctor.
In Africa he set up a hospital and a
leper-colony for the very poor. Before
sitting down to eat a meal, Albert
Schweitzer was always heard to quote
from one of the psalms of the Bible:

“We thank the Lord for he is good,
and his loving kindness lasts forever.”

Let’s pause to express thanks
for the good things in our lives:
- for people who have given us
love and friendship,
encouragement and support…

- for our talents and health,
and for the opportunities
that come to us…

- for the beauty that we see,
and the inspiration we receive…

Albert Schweitzer died on this day in
1965.

September 5

Mother Teresa worked with the poorest
of the poor in Calcutta, India. She said that
“being unwanted
is the most terrible disease
a human being can experience.”

On this day in 1997 she died. She wrote
this about dying:

“When you die,
the Lord will not ask you
how much you have done with your life,
but how much love
you have put into the doing.”

Let us pray:

God our Father,
may all of life’s experiences
lead us to grow
as people who always put love
into all that we do.
May we live in such a way
that our attitude
and words and actions
reflect to all people
their own value, dignity
and self-worth,
helping people
to feel wanted and appreciated
for who they are.
Amen

[MajestyJo]

September 6

On this day in 1997, the funeral of Diana,
the young Princess of Wales, was held
in Westminster Abbey. The following
words were sung, and they can be our
words of commitment today:

I would be true
- for there are those who trust me.
I would be pure
- for there are those who care.
I would be strong
- for there is much to suffer.
I would be brave
- for there is much to dare.
I would be friend of all,
the foe, the friendless.
I would be giving,
and forget the gift.
I would be humble,
for I know my weakness.
I would look up,
laugh, love and live.

September 7

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus,
the bravery and courage
and self-sacrifice
of the villagers of Eyam
remind us of your words
that there is no greater love
than for someone
to lay down their life
for their friends. Jn 1512

We pray for courage
when difficult times come upon us.
We pray, too, for the generosity
to think of others before ourselves.
Amen

September 8

Grace Darling was awarded a medal for
her courage and bravery. She became a
national heroine and, after many requests
for a lock of her hair, she joked that she
was going bald! Grace died of tuberculosis
(T.B.) only 4 years later, aged 26.

Let us pray:

Lord, we know that each of us
will experience difficulties
of various kinds
at different times in our lives.
We pray for courage at those times,
but we also pray
for courage and strength
to join others
and be of support
when they are in difficulty.
Amen.

September 9

Let us pray,
thinking of those who look back
and wish they had an extra day
or more time:
- those who have too little time
for what they are expected to do;
- those who have lost
a sense of balance and proportion
in their lives;
- those who feel
that they have made a mess
of everything
and would like to be able
to start again.
for those who might wish for less time:
- those who are worried
about what might happen;
- those who are in despair;
- those who suffer
hours of pain and illness;
- those who are in prison
or being tortured;
- those who wish to die.

On all these people, Lord,
we ask your blessing.

September 10

Let us pray:

God our Father,
the Bible reminds us
that your love for each of us is great
and that you are faithful for ever,
never letting us down.
Inspire us
to value friendship and loyalty,
and grow in faithfulness
to those who love and trust us.
Amen.