Category: benedictions and prayers

bread.
wine.
a garden.
a trial.
a ruler.
a prisoner.
a crowd.
soldiers.
whips.
beatings.
a road.
a hill.
a cross.
nails.
a cry.
a spear.
a burial.
a stone.
a tomb.
an empty tomb.
a Savior.
a Lord.
our Lord.

May you come to the banquet table of Christ, spread freely for all.

May you proclaim that the Lord is your God,
that you trusted in Him,
and may you rejoice
in the salvation He brings.

In the footseps of the King,
may you journey to the cross.
From cheering
to jeering crowds
may you drink in the fullness of emotion –
heights of joy
depths of sorrow,
embracing the heart of Christ.

May present sounds and sights
constantly remind you
of the call and purpose of your journey –
and walking toward Golgatha
may you eagerly invite others
to witness
the compassion of the cross,
the power of the empty tomb,
and the hope of a resurrected Lord.

May you eagerly await the glory of the King,
constantly desiring to be a servant
in the presence of the Master,
aspiring to honor him.

May you live a life of sacrifice,
existing as a kernel of wheat,
the beginning of a plentiful and abundant harvest
of new lives.

And may you meet and encounter Jesus in every circumstance,
not praying for rescue from pain and struggle,
but that whatever happens
you will be drawn to a Savior,
lifted on a cross,
to draw all to himself.

May you see through the eyes of Christ
exchanging your worldly ideas
for a vision of the kingdom –
mercy, justice, humility.

May you wait patiently for the Lord
in both joy and sorrow
knowing his promises to be true.

May you find comfort in a God who walks alongside you
hurting and struggling with you
understanding your heartaches and pains
binding your wounds with skillful hands.

And may you conform your mind and mission to Jesus,
seeking in all things
to draw others close to Him.

may you be constantly aware of His unfailing love.
may you live according to his truth.
may you sing songs of thanksgiving and tell tales of miracles.
may you love the Lord’s sanctuary – a place where His glory shines.
and in his mercy, may you take a stand
and publicly praise the Lord.

– traci eicke

May you be transformed,
your heart stretched and molded
by the Creator God as you focus on him.

May you empty yourself
set aside all life’s petty distractions
letting go of your common worries and cares.

And may you replace them with Christ
seeking to grow closer to Him
as you draw near to the cross.

may you carry others to Christ:
wounded, helpless, hopeless.

may you have eyes to see those in need –
in need of relief and release from an existence of fear and doubt –
in need of a Savior.

and as we approach Christ together
poor in our spirits and blind in our understanding
may we be continually reminded
that we are not above the charity of God –
that we are all the rescued ones.

as you journey with a broken heart
may you walk with expectation of Christ’s healing.

may you appreciate and embrace the pain and sorrow of disappointment,
trusting Christ to guide you to completeness.

may you experience fully the place you are,
not seeking to run ahead,
cheapening the priceless gift of life God has given you.

and may you wait patiently for the Lord,
weeping in your time,
but perpetually aware
that joy comes in the morning.

Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.

He tends his flock like a shepherd,
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.

The Lord is the everlasting God,
the creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary,
and increases the power of the weak.

Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my savior.

The sovreign Lord is my strength
he makes my feet like the feet of the deer
he enables me to go on the heights.

May the Lord bless you.
May he keep you.
May he make his face to shine on you,
And may he give you peace.

May you listen with open ears
to the call of Christ,
his authority and power
faithfully guiding your journey.

May you see with expectant eyes
the works of a mighty God
mountains moved,
wounds healed.

And may you know clearly
the power of God
His fingers molding your humble life
ordinary clay in skillful hands
transformed into a magnificent vessel
fit for the service of a king.