May 19, 2021
Lead Me, Guide Me: A Prayer
(Based on the hymn “Lead Me, Guide Me”)
O Lord, lead me, guide me,
along the way, for
if you lead me,
I cannot stray.
And the thing is,
I do stray,
stray from your way,
and so
help me
walk each day
with you,
lead me,
O Lord,
lead me.
Or should I say “we”,
not just “me”?
Because
we, not just me,
need you to
lead us,
guide us,
because
we, not just me,
stray from your way;
then again,
I can only speak for myself;
then again,
who’s kidding who,
certainly no kidding you;
and so,
lead us all,
guide us all,
help us all
walk each day with you
and follow your way.
O Lord, the truth is
we are weak
(Or should I go back to saying “me” and not “we”?
But, like it or not, it is we, not just me,
and so…)
we are weak
and need your strength and power
to help us over
our weakest hour,
those times
when
you are nowhere in sight,
when
no answer comes,
when
the darkness within and without
hides you from us
and we don’t know
what to believe anymore.
And so help us
through the darkness
your face to see, and
lead us, guide us,
through the darkness
unto the brightness
of a new day dawning.
And Lord, to get back to that business about straying,
help us
tread in the paths of
righteousness,
right believing,
right living,
right doing,
because
you know, and
we know,
that often we don’t
believe or live or do what is right,
are just flat wrong,
not right
in your eyes;
or to say it
the way it is
no longer said:
we sin,
stray
from
your way,
go our own way, culture’s way, any way we want,
And so be
our aid
when sins oppress,
helping us
to put all our trust in you; and
lead us, guide us,
back to your way,
back to walking in your way,
back to obedience to your way.
O Lord, we are
lost,
if you take your hand from us;
blind,
without your light to see;
always
let us
your servant be.
And maybe that
explains it,
explains why it feels like we are
lost,
as a nation,
explains why it feels like we are
blind,
as people,
groping in the darkness;
because
fewer and fewer
in this culture of ours
truly are your servants, and
have taken their hand from you,
prefer the darkness of
no truth,
no grace,
no kindness.
Lord, never
take your hand from us
even when we take our hand from you,
and
lead us, guide us,
in the light of your love,
so that we do not lose our way,
see the way,
see that serving you
is the only way.
And Lord, do not take your hand from
those who continue to suffer and hurt and grieve
because of the virus;
those battling other illnesses and diseases;
those struggling with doubt or discouragement
or depression;
those striving to get back on their feet;
those who are alone.
Lead them, guide them, to healing and comfort, and to
strength and faith and hope.
And we give you thanks, O Lord, for
leading and guiding us
through this past year
to joyous near normal days again
at last;
and for
never letting go of us,
your face in the darkness seen
in the love and care and friendship and
sacrifice and serving of many.
O Lord, lead us, guide us,
along the way,
and help us
walk
each day
with you.
Amen.