A Prayer for the New Year

Dearest God,

I know we are on speaking terms
because I believe You have heard me.
It doesn't feel like I've heard from
You lately..or have I?

I pray for peace, yet strife remains all around.
I pray for the Church, yet it wrestles with interpretation
of things You said or did not say and man made prerequisites.
I pray for equality, yet see disparity near and far.

I pray to do good in Your name, yet fall short.
My attention wanes, my strength cannot keep pace
with the best of my intentions.
Despite forgetting to turn to You in all things, despite
taking You for granted from time to time, I am utterly dependent upon You.

You and me are together -
even together You are the majority of One.

With Your strength alone can I chip away at the walls
I have built
between You and me,
between myself and others.

Grant me the courage to face this challenge.

The insidious growth of hatred in this world did not spread in one day.
Once planted bitterness,anger,greed,apathy and ignorance encourage its growth.
Its demise can occur when those who believe in Your unfailing forgiveness
and abiding love live Your truth. Prayer in action, love in action.

My prayer for 2008, most Holy, persevering, tenacious, gracious God,
is that I may be one who lives Your truth.

During this upcoming year tune my heart
to seek Your truth,
to listen for Your voice,
to learn Your ways and incorporate them in my life,
to speak Your love,
to remain faithful regardless of setbacks
one day at a time, one person at a time, one heart at a time.

Like your servant Francis, make me an instrument of Your peace
in and to this broken world. Amen.

Copyright © 2007 K.L.Joanna Depue (DJ)