Happy New Year! I hope you all had
a blessed Christmas and New Year and that you found time, made the time, to rest and reflect on God’s
faithfulness in 2013.
If you are like me, your New Year has started off with a
bang and all of life is going at its usual, busy pace. With this in mind, I wrote the following prayer, below, in preparation for the worship service that I am assisting in tomorrow morning.
I wanted to share it with the Internet world because this ancient prayer, called "The Jesus Prayer," is a powerful prayer that slows us down and reminds us of the Lord Jesus Christ and his mercy in our lives.
The practice of The Jesus Prayer dates back to the monastic tradition, from the 5th century. Though, as you will see, the refrain Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me has its roots in Jesus' healing of Blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52.
Use this Jesus Prayer to help you SSSLLOOWW down for a few minutes ….….. and to rest …..….. in Jesus.
Find a comfortable,
yet attentive body position
to sit in.
I would also
encourage you to place your hands
on your knees, palms up with your hands open. These bodily actions help prepare
our minds and hearts to be ready to worship and to receive from the LORD.
Pay attention to your breathing. Breathe in deeply,
exhale slowly.
Slowly, meditatively, reflectively, pray…
“Lord …
“Lord Jesus Christ…
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy …
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me…
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us…
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner…
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us, sinners…
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us, sinners, saved …
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us, sinners saved by…
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us, sinners saved by
grace…
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us, sinners, saved by your
grace thru your Son…
“L.J.C., have mercy on us, sinners, saved by your grace thru
your Son Jesus Christ.”
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us, sinners, saved by your
grace thru your Son…
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us, sinners saved by
grace…
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us, sinners saved by…
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us, sinners, saved …
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us, sinners…
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner…
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us…
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me…
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy …
“Lord Jesus Christ…
“Lord …
And
all God’s people said, AMEN!
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