A prayer of David.
Meditation.
Psalm 17.
Listen while I build my case,
God.
The most honest prayer you'll ever hear.
Show the world I am innocent.
In your heart you know I am.
Go ahead,
Examine me from inside out.
Surprise me in the middle of the night.
You'll find I'm just what I say I am.
My words don't run loose.
I'm not trying to get my way in the world's way.
I'm trying to get your way,
Your words way.
I'm staying on your trail.
I'm putting one foot in front of the other.
I'm not giving up.
I call to you,
God,
Because I am sure of an answer.
So answer.
Bend your ear.
Listen sharp.
Paint grace graffiti on the fences.
Take in your frightened children who are running from the neighborhood bullies straight to you.
Keep your eyes on me.
Hide me under your cool wing feathers from the wicked who are out to get me from mortal enemies closing in.
Their hearts are hard as nails.
Their mouths blast hot air.
They are after me,
Nipping my heels,
Determined to bring me down.
Lions ready to rip me apart,
Young lions poised to pounce.
Up,
God.
Beard them.
Break them.
By your sword,
Free me from their clutches.
Barehanded,
God,
Break these mortals,
These flat earth people who cannot think beyond today.
I'd like to see their bellies swollen with famine food,
The weeds they've sown,
Harvested and baked into famine bread,
With second helpings for their children and crust for their babies to chew on.
And me,
I plan on looking you full in the face.
When I get up,
I'll see your full stature and live heaven on earth.
Here endeth the reading of God's holy Word.
Breathe.
Breathe in,
Breathe out.
Think of God's goodness,
His kindness and His tender mercies toward you.
Breathe.
Let us pray.
Our most kind and righteous and eternal Heavenly Father,
We love you today.
Thank you for your grace and your mercy.
Thank you for your peace,
Your joy and your strength.
Thank you for your goodness,
Your kindness and your tender mercy.
Thank you for grace.
Thank you for a new day that we have never seen before.
Thank you for your blessings.
Thank you for your goodness,
Your kindness.
Thank you for your peace,
Your joy and your strength.
God,
We love you.
We thank you for all things.
Thank you for your blessings,
Great and small.
Thank you for smiling upon us.
Thank you for shining your love upon us.
Thank you for the radiance of your sunlight.
Thank you for the air that we breathe,
That scent from heaven.
Thank you for preserving us,
For keeping us,
For loving us,
For forgiving us.
Thank you for holding us fast in the center of your will.
We love you.
We bless you.
We praise you.
We honor you.
We adore you.
We give you glory.
We give you honor.
We thank you for all blessings.
We thank you for opportunities and open doors.
Move by your spirit.
Move by your power.
Move by your grace.
We surrender our all to you.
Keep us.
Preserve us.
Love us.
Bless us.
And we say thank you.
Amen.
