Father in Heaven,
Today I pray for patience
For myself and my neighbors.
Our lives are relentlessly harassed by hurry
And entangled in cycles of crushing chaos.
May patience form a countercultural cadence
Where I wake and work with an eternal perspective.
May I live trusting in your timing
And confident in Your care.
May I not falsely claim patience
As a cover for passivity,
But faithfully do the work of daily life
And trust the outcomes to You.
May patience form my rhythms
And inform my decisions.
May I remember rest requires intention
For me to live at an unhurried pace.
May both my posture and practice of patience
Not come from shame-filled striving;
But from learning how to relax
Into Your provision and providential care.
I pray for patience
For myself and my neighbors.
To live at a pace where it is possible to be formed
By the unforced rhythms of grace.
Amen.
Other prayers to engage with place…
Our Father,
We worship and praise You
As the Creator who worked for six days,
Using hours to build the world
In all of its beauty and brilliant majesty.
You rested and experienced joy in Your creation
Because it was good.
Creator and Good Shepherd,
You made the creatures we tend and the ground beneath their feet.
Before they belonged to our farms, businesses, or tables,
they belonged to You.
Lord God,
We pause in this moment to give You worthy recognition
For Your supreme sovereignty over all things.
We offer both acknowledgment and gratitude
For Your attentive, providential love and care
That You extend to us each day.
Dear God,
There are so many ordinary ways
To give and receive your love.
From the cuddles of our kids.
From the laughter of a dear friend.
From holding the hand of a spouse.
Teach me today
To give and receive
Your love as a neighbor.
Father in Heaven,
With August’s arrival,
The morning sunlight beams
Come later through the windows.
May we rest in your great faithfulness,
Remember that your steadfast love never ceases;
And Your mercies never come to an end.
Father in Heaven,
Hear our prayer for Your children
During this summer season.
May summer not be a prolonged season of isolation,
But one of generous invitation to
Play dates and sleepovers,
Camping trips and day camps,
Pool parties and birthday parties.