As we begin to spend the next 5 weeks looking at some different ways of praying @ the HUB, I want to share some different prayers that I have been praying lately from a book of prayers by a pastor from New York around the turn of the 20th century. His name was Walter Rauschenbush & the little book is called “Prayers of the Social Awakening.” It is broken down into several different sections: morning prayer, evening prayer, prayers before meals, prayers for a guest, prayers in times of trouble, etc.
For the next few days I simply want to share some of the morning prayers. Praying these prayers reminds me of my good friend, the Rev. Spencer Turnipseed. He has taught me a lot of things. But one of the greatest things is to pray real & honest prayers that say something to God that is specific & that matters.
May this prayer guide you into following Jesus more closely today.
Once more a new day lies before us, our Father. As we go out among people to do our work, touching the hands & lives of our fellow people, make us, we pray, friends to all the world. Save us from blighting the fresh flower of any heart by the flare of sudden anger or secret hate. May we not bruise the rightful self-respect of any by contempt or malicious talk. Help us to cheer the suffering by our sympathy, to freshen the drooping by our hopefulness, and to strengthen in everyone the wholesome sense of worth and the joy of life. Save us from the deadly poison of class-pride. Grant that we may look ALL people in the face with the eyes of a brother or of a sister. If any one needs us, make us ready to give our help ungrudgingly, unless higher duties claim us, and may we rejoice that we have it in us to be helpful to our brothers & sisters. Amen.
