Praying Each Day - February

[MajestyJo]

FEBRUARY

As art is a journey of discovery, Lord,
so may I grow more aware this day
of your life-giving presence.

February 1

And so we pray:
Lord, we come before you as we are.
We ask you to take away from us
all that makes us less than human.
Strengthen us
with the power of your Spirit
that our attitude and outlook
may develop,
and our “way of looking”
may become more like yours.
Help us to remain positive -
encouraging and appreciating
one another,
looking upon people
in the same way that you do.
Amen.

February 2

A candle may be lit. Today is 40 days after Christmas Day.
The feast is called “Candlemas” or “The
Presentation of the Lord”.

The response to our prayers will be:
May your light be reflected in us.
May your light be reflected in us.
Lord Jesus, 40 days after your birth
you were taken to the Temple
and presented by your parents
to God our Father.
Make us aware that we are the Temple
of your Holy Spirit who lives in us.
May your light be reflected in us.
Simeon’s eyesight grew dim,
but he recognised who you were.
Open our eyes
that we may always recognise you
in our midst.
May your light be reflected in us.
Simeon prophesied
that Mary would be pierced
to the heart.
As Mary stayed with Jesus
in his suffering,
we pray that we may help
those who are part of our lives.
May your light be reflected in us.
You said
that you are the light of the world.
May your light be reflected in us.

February 3

Let’s pray for the gift
of being able to see what is needed:
Lord, there are times
when we are so concerned
about ourselves
that we don’t think of others.
We ask for the gift of your Spirit
that we may grow in awareness
of others:
- noticing when someone is unhappy,
- sensing when there’s something
wrong for somebody,
- seeing when someone feels cut off
or isolated,
- knowing when to say the right word,
- expressing thanks and compliments,
- being thoughtful when someone is ill,
- giving words of encouragement,
- helping someone to feel welcome,
- realising when someone needs the
opportunity to talk.
May we grow in sensitivity
towards others. Amen.

[MajestyJo]

February 4

Dietrich wrote this short prayer about
love and hatred, and we can make the
prayer our own today by thinking of
those people with whom we haven’t get
on very well over the years:

“Lord God,
give me such love
for you and for others
that it will blot out
all hatred and bitterness.”

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February 5

Let us pray in the words of Saint Ignatius:

Teach us, good Lord,
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and to ask for no reward,
save that of knowing
that we do your will.
Amen.

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February 6

Asks for a moment of silence.

As it is traditional to have a moment’s
silence at football matches whenever
there has been a disaster, let us pray in
silence for a moment - for ourselves and
for those we know who have suffered
tragedies in their lives. We pray for those
who are hurt and wounded because of
the splitting up of their family, a death,
difficulties with someone, failure, betrayal,
the loss of friends, or a serious
illness. Let us pray in silence, then, for
all who suffer in their lives…
( pause …)

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February 7

Let us pray:

God our Father,
teach us to distinguish clearly
between right and wrong,
that we may grow in character
and develop a true sense of values
through following Jesus,
your Son and our Brother.
We pray, too, for all
who are in positions of leadership
in our country
that they may be inspired
by the values of the gospel.
We pray that they may live
as people of integrity and honesty,
growing in a sense
of duty and responsibility,
always being aware of the needy,
and ready to be of service to others.
Amen.
“I die the King’s good servant,
but God’s first.”

[MajestyJo]

February 8

Let us pray:

Lord, we ask you to open our eyes
that we may value and appreciate
all people,
recognising what we have in common
rather than focusing
on what our differences might be.
Inspire us to distinguish
between what is important
and what is not,
and open our minds and hearts
that we may always be people
of good will
who bring life and joy to others.
Amen.

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February 9

Let’s pray that each of us makes good
use of our talents, and that we set out to
work well with others:
Lord, you have enriched our lives
in many ways,
and we remember with thanksgiving
all who have loved, cared for,
and supported us over the years.
Show us how best
to use the time and talents
you have given each of us,
and lead us to grow in appreciation
of the contribution that others make.
May your Spirit empower us
to work well with others
and bring out the best
in those with whom we share our lives.
Amen.

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February 10

Let us pray:

Lord, lover of life,
you know the depths
of my innermost self,
and you understand me.
You protect me on every side,
shielding me from all harm.
When you put me together carefully
in my mother’s womb,
you knew all about me.
I thank you for the wonder of myself
and I stand in awe
at all that you have made.
Guide me in your ways.
(from Psalm 138/9)

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February 11

Let us pray:

Father, we pray that we may live
cheerfully and patiently and positively
both in sickness and in health.
We bring before you all who are sick
and all who care for them…
Bring healing of one kind or another
to those we know
who are ill, afraid or worried.
We think of those who suffer
from constant sickness or weakness
and those who never get well.
Father, be with them all, and be with us.
Amen.

[MajestyJo]

February 12

Let us pray:
God our Father, open our eyes
that we may sense the wonder and awe
in the splendour of all your creation -
from the stars
that are large and far away,
to people and the tiniest creatures
near us each day.
Help us to become more aware
of how every living thing is special
and to be treated well.
Lead us to respect and value every person
as unique and important,
made in your image and likeness.
We ask this prayer through Jesus,
who became a human being
because you love our world so much.
Amen.

=====

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
or forgetting your promises to us.
Inspire us to value friendship and loyalty,
that we may be faithful
to those who love and trust us.
We pray that we may live in such a way
that we may make others feel
welcome and secure.
Show us how
to look upon other people
in the same generous way
that you look upon each of us.
Extend our horizons
that we may understand better
those who are far from us.
Amen.

=====

Let us pray:

Father, we read in the Bible
that the best way to describe you
is to use the word “Love”.
Your love for mankind is so great
that you sent Jesus, your Son,
to live as one of us.
We pray that we may appreciate
and value one another.
God of love,
lead us to grow in love. Amen.

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray:

God our Father,
there are many difficulties
and challenges in life,
and we see or experience
more of them
each day we live.
Give us the power of your Holy Spirit
that we may have courage and
determination,
and may live in such a way
that we encourage one another.
Enable us to transform
whatever is negative,
and remain positive in attitude
throughout our lives.
Lighten our darkness
and keep us safe. Amen.

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus,
as you touched
the eyes of the blind man,
touch us
so that our eyes may be opened
so that we can “really see”
the many wonderful things around us
and in our own lives.
Amen.

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray:

Inspire us, Lord,
to take the gospel more seriously,
that we may be credible witnesses
of your love. Amen.

The Beauty Of Life Is All Around You



Life is an opportunity,
benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is costly, care for it.
Life is wealth, keep it.
Life is love, enjoy it.
Life is mystery, know it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious,
do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

- Mother Teresa

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray:

God our Father,
give us the power of your Spirit
that we may see and love in others
what you see and love in them.
We want to see the positive in people
and bring out the best in each other.
It’s easy to say that,
but not always easy to live it out,
and so we ask you
to help and inspire us
to live as you would like us to live
this day.
Amen

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray to be appreciative
of all who influence our lives,
including many whom we will never
meet:

God our Father, I thank you today
for those people
whom I will never know
who make my life better
for what they offer
- those far away, and those very near.
More and more
may I come to appreciate and respect
everyone who is a part of my life.
Amen.

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray:

God our Father,
we pray that we may grow
in such a way
as to be welcoming to other people,
and generous in every way
to those people we don’t agree with.
Lead us to appreciate others
in the same way
that we would like to be appreciated.
Never let us look down on others,
or consider anyone
to be less than ourselves.
Show us how to be open-minded
and able to learn from each other
so that, together,
we may grow as the people
you invite us to be.
Amen.

Voltaire’s words were:
“I do not agree with what you say,
but I would be prepared to die to defend your right to say it.”

[MajestyJo]

Regular prayer not applicable and printable. The following is something I wrote in 2004, plus some words from today.

Just for today, I know I am not alone and that there is no room for fear and faith in the same space. There is no fear when I take my God with me.

For so many years, I felt alone even in a room full of people. It was generally because I had the walls up around me out of fear. Fear of not being liked, not be accepted, fear you wouldn't like me if you got to know me, fear that I would say and do the wrong thing and many more paranoid and painful thoughts going around my head, because I was caught up in the disease of addiction. I may have called out to God, but there was no room for Him there and I couldn't see Him for the darkness within.

In today, thanks to recovery I have lost that fear. I can be alone with me and that is okay, but more important I can be with you. I have lost those fears and have faith in my Higher Power that He is with me and through Him I can overcome all things, do all things, and be right with me and you.

You are never alone, may you ever walk in the Fellowship of the Spirit and be at peace.

May you ever walk in the Light of His Presence.

[MajestyJo]

In the Bible we find this passage from
Saint Paul about filling our minds with
good things.

“I want you to be happy,
always happy in the Lord.
I repeat, what I want is your happiness.
Let your tolerance be evident to everyone:
the Lord is very near.
There is no need to worry:
but if there is anything you need,
pray for it,
asking God for it
with prayer and thanksgiving,
and that peace of God,
which is so much greater
than we can understand,
will guard your hearts and your thoughts
in Christ Jesus.
Finally, fill your minds
with everything that is true,
everything that is noble,
everything that is good and pure,
everything that we love and honour,
and everything
that can be thought virtuous
or worthy of praise…
Then the God of peace will be with you.”

The scripture is Philippians 44-9: Jerusalem Bible

Let’s pause for a moment in silent prayer,
asking that our minds be filled with all that
is good…

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus,
you called Zacchaeus by his name
and enabled him to grow.
I ask you to enter my life
in a new way this day
that I may grow
in stature and wisdom and grace
as the person you call me to be
Inspire me to follow you more closely
and help me to live in such a way
that I encourage others
and bring life to them.
No one is small in your eyes;
let no one be small in mine.
Amen.

[MajestyJo]

We’ll use as our prayer some words written
by the father-in-law of Mohammad:

I thank you, Lord,
for knowing me
better than I know myself.
I thank you for letting me know myself
better than others know me.
Make me, I ask you then,
better than they suppose I am,
and forgive me
for what they do not know.

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray, using some words from one of
the psalms in the Bible:

I thank you, Lord,
for the wonder of myself,
and for the wonders of all your creation.
(Psalm 139



This prayer is so short that it can be
memorised and simply repeated at odd
moments during the day, and no-one
else would ever know that you were praying.
Some people find it’s helpful to do
this with a very short prayer, simply repeating
it slowly a few times throughout
the day. It is a way that many people use
to grow in the awareness that God is with
them. They realise that, if they really live
in God’s presence, they can only be positive
and joyful and loving.