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Prayers
Along the Way
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Eight colorful stained glass windows decorate the Graves-Wyatt Chapel,
dramatically expressing eight particular moments in the life and ministry
of Jesus. From the time the sun begins to shine on the Chapel in the morning
until it sets late in the evening, these windows are illuminated with
bright, vibrant, always-changing color.
Stained glass windows always remind me that beauty can survive, even be
created, from brokenness. The Creator can take the small colorful fragments
of our life and piece together something dramatic and meaningful. All
of the windows in the Chapel maintain a similar pattern, and yet each
is uniquely different. Even though I have my favorite window; at different
times each one has caught my attention and resonated with something deeply
spiritual within me. I hope you find the prayers of this book in a similar
context.
The Pastoral Care Department appreciates each person who has had a part
of this book. We hope that these Prayers Along the Way find a place within
the colorful stained glass of your experience.
Brad Hood, Chaplain
Department of Pastoral Care
Examine me, O God, and know my mind;
test me, and discover my thoughts.
Find out if there is any evil in me
and guide me in the everlasting way.
Psalm 139: 1-18, 23, 24
Adonai, my God, You are very great.
You created this new day and have given it to me to use as I will.
May I be worthy of Your kindness and love.
May I, through my actions, make the world a better place for someone else.
May I be the bearer of peace and harmony.
May I turn my talents and abilities to constructive purposes.
May I overcome, in some small way, problems or troubles that habitually
upset me.
Grant me the power Your hand in common, everyday things:
the happy face of a child,
the graceful shape of a tree,
the soft wind against my cheek.
And when I lie down to sleep tonight, grant me the knowledge
that I have used Your gift wisely.
From Covenant of the Heart, Submitted by Wilma Weinbaum
Dear Father,
Thank you for Your Son, Jesus, and the gift of salvation through Him.
Help me today to reflect His love to all that I meet. Give me understanding
and wisdom to know how to resolve conflicts. Let my actions show kindness
to allow resolutions to occur.
I pray each day I will be given opportunities to help someone. Let me
be a blessing to that hurting heart that I may tough them with Your love.
In Jesus' name, I pray.
Amen.
Written and submitted by Joyce Garrett, Guest Services.
O God,
Help me this day
to awaken in Your truth,
to stand in Your grace,
to listen to the beautiful whisper of Your presence.
Help me this day
to be still in gratitude for Your creation.,
to bring only peace and joy to those I touch,
to experience that holy instant that in all forgiveness
reveals the face of Christ in all.
Help me this day to remember that I am healed as I let You teach me to
heal.
Amen
Written and submitted by Vickie Smith, Utilization Review
Prayer for comfort after the death of a parent
God,
My mother was my friend. She was a true gift from God for all of us to
share. Her absence in my life has created a void which no other can replace.
For this reason, I lift my eyes to you to mend my heart.
Bless her and welcome her into the Kingdom and in so doing, grant me Peace.
Amen.
Written and submitted by Barbara Loveday, Operator, PBX
Hear us, O God,
For we have come to the end of ourselves.
We have prepared best we know how.
We have been angry, sad, excited, hopeful, depressed, lost and found again.
We have walked with You, away from You, with You and on our own.
We have prayed, cried, talked and been without words.
How much longer will You ask so difficult a burden for us to carry?
We have celebrated with others with genuine excitement while simultaneously
feeling the catch of emptiness.
Make Your waiting embrace so warm and inviting that we seek You daily.
Give us strength to conquer the sins that so easily overtake us.
Give us courage to walk through so many valleys.
Keep us allies and never enemies.
May our physical relationship always be am expression of our love.
May this experience always be part of who we are becoming - to make us
assertively compassionate and more aware of the unspoken difficulties
of those around us and forgiving toward those who unknowingly or intentionally
say hurtful things.
May this experience encourage us to passionately adore, protect, love
and provide for each other and our children.
May we both be convinced of Your consuming, compassionate love for us.
Amen.
O God, as a postscript, because we sometimes fear it may be, if You foresee
that we will not not have children, please prepare our hearts for that,
too.
Written and submitted by a couple facing infertility
Prayer for those with loved ones too sick to make decisions for
themselves
Lord,
My loved one is so ill they are unable to tell me what they want. I find
myself having to make decisions for both of us. I fear I'll make the wrong
choices.
We are bound by love, Lord. And, for their sake, let my body rest so that
my mind is clear. Let me ask the questions that need to be asked. Allow
me to make decisions in the spirit of the one most affected. Let my decisions
be unselfish ones. And let me choose as they would choose for themselves.
Lift the burden of these decisions from my shoulders. Let me know that
these decisions are Your decisions and simply another part of Your wondrous
plan for this life.
Amen.
Written and submitted by Matt Brayton, RN, MSN
Director, Care Coordination
I was regretting the past
and fearing the future.
Suddenly my Lord was speaking:
"My name is I AM." He paused.
I waited. He continued,
"When you live in the past,
with its mistakes and regrets,
it is hard. I am not there.
May name is not 'I Was'.
When you live in the future,
with its problems and fears,
it is hard. I am not there.
My name is not 'I Will Be'.
When you live in this moment,
it is not hard. I am here.
My name is 'I Am'."
Author Unknown, submitted by Judith Cross, RN
Lord of Life,
The doctor has gone and I'm left here with my patient and his family.
The diagnosis is terminal. For this patient the time for living is nearing
an end while death awaits close at hand.
My heart sorrows, words fail me, I fight back tears of compassion. Give
me insight into his total personhood as a husband, father, friend and
neighbor. Grant this patient peace in his passing, strengthen him in his
dying. Comfort those who endure this moment with him.
Sustain me in my efforts to comfort him in his last dying days - through
touch, compassionate caring and unashamed tears of empathy as he completes
his journey of life.
Amen.
Written and submitted by Dona Patty, RN
A Prayer for Nurses
God,
As I move through the day today...
Awake again that sense of calling that inspired me to become a nurse.
Touch me that I may touch my patients with love and compassion.
Create in me so that I can creatively participate in the miracle of life.
Open my eyes to the real needs of those I care for.
Give me strength when I am weak that I can inspire strength in those around
me.
And nurture the best in me that I can nurture the best in others.
Amen.
God,
Give us the strength to reclaim our joy when so much wars against us.
May patience grow from our deepest struggles.
May these experiences teach us Hope.
May we have enough within us Enough to receive and share Love.
And when we've come to the end of our day,
please renew our strength to have wings like eagles,
running without wearing out and walking without stumbling.
Amen.
Prayerful reflection on James 1:2-6, Ps. 27:11-14, Rom. 5:3-5 and
Isaiah
40:28-31
I look to the mountains;
where will my help come from?
My help will come from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let you fall;
your Protector is always awake.
The Protector never dozes or sleeps.
The LORD will guard you;
He is by your side to protect you.
The sun will not hurt you during the day,
nor the moon during the night.
The LORD will protect you from all danger;
He will keep you safe.
He will protect you as you come and go
now and forever.
Psalm 121
Prayer for those who have lost a baby.
God had given us a child. We counted on her being with us throughout life.
She gave us a gift in an unexpected way; a whisper in God's direction.
His Son's promises: "Let not your hearts be troubled... In my Father's
house are many rooms... I will not leave you desolate; I will come to
you."
- John 14:1,2,18.
Thank you, God, for our little angel.
Written and submitted by Gene and Melanie Champagne
God,
I am a social worker, called at times to crisis, but called more often
for the essentials of food and shelter, finances and medicines, placement
and transportation.
Those I serve are often at the crossroads of health, life, transition,
or decline; some are alone, fearful or angry. Use my knowledge, skills,
and compassion to serve those in need so they may experience the security,
comfort, and healing power of Your love.
At times the problems seem endless and the resources scarce; I may become
frustrated and tired but I am constantly reminded of Your abundance and
that a way is provided by You through me.
As You awaken me daily to my own goodness and capabilities, may those
I contact be empowered to live fully in mind, body and spirit as You intend.
I ask these things with faith in Your limitless love and power.
And it is so.
Written and submitted by Sara Ridner, Social Worker.
Gracious God,
Sometimes my words are not enough.
Not enough to describe the depth of confusion and anguish that walks the
halls of this building.
Not enough to connect in any meaningful way with the loneliness and despair
that watches through the long and silent night.
Not enough to deliver the comfort and hope we seek that reminds those
I dare minister to - and even myself-- that you are here.
Sometimes my words are not enough.
In those moments of awful, empty, silence.
Those moments when words fail - help me to remember those encounters of
wonder.
Those days when Your strength sustained me - when in all of my weakness
I knew that my strength was not enough.
When Your hand continued to hold me close even when I had fallen.
When Your Spirit understood, even when I did not understand my own thoughts
and feelings.
Even when words were not enough.
When I am most overwhelmed, help me to remember.
To remember that it is Your grace and not my strength,
Your grace and not my answers,
Your grace and certainly not my words.
Help me to remember that it is Your grace
that comes near,
that redeems,
that guides,
that calls me ahead.
Even when words fail.
Amen.
Written and submitted by Dan Hix, Pastoral Care Department
A Prayer for a Loved One
Dear Lord,
I know you have reasons, I will not question them.
Help me make good decisions, as this loved one would want me to.
Watch over my health, make me strong.
Life goes on.
Remember my children, help them along the way. Make them strong.
Amen.
Written and submitted by Wanda Ogle, ICU Waiting Room
A Prayer for Comfort
Life brings joy and peace and pain
Even when illness strikes again.
Our faith, O Lord, will keep us strong
For on this earth we are not long.
Thank You for the love we share.
It's times like these, we know You care.
Written and submitted by Debbie Corrier, RN
Medicine Care Coordinator
Dept. Of Care Coordination
O God, who created us and knows us more completely than we know ourselves,
Surround us now as we pray with Your loving spirit.
Fill us with Your grace and take away the terrible burden of our heavy
guilt. Forgive our sins and make us whole.
As we pray we know that You are near. You know all our secrets. You know
all about us, but You love us still.
As we silently open ourselves to You now, O God, teach us how to more
completely open ourselves to one another.
As we become available to You and to one another, create genuine community
among us.
We offer ourselves now in worshipful service. We pray for a vision. We
pray for empowering, for wisdom, for courage, for insight.
Make us more alive. Make us into Your redeemed and redeeming people.
Written and submitted by Rick Harrison, Pastoral Counselor
EAP Coordinator
Pastoral Care Department
A Prayer of Hope and Trust
(Based upon and may be read alongside Psalm 61)
Loving God, Refuge of hope and security,
I bring my cares and concerns before You today,
mindful of Your sufficiency to adequately supply every need of my life.
You are my rock when I need a secure place to stand.
You are my fortress when I need a secure place of protection.
No person or thing can ever quite satisfy.
And yet, no matter what the great and imposing fundamental needs of my
life,
You, O God, are sufficient to meet them.
I praise and thank You for who You are and for what You have done for
me.
Help me to trust You even more.
In Your Holy Name, Amen!
Written and submitted by Ivan McDaneld, Chaplain
Pastoral Care Department
Prayer for those with emotional/ mental (health) illness.
"My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me
according to your word." - Ps. 119:28
Oh God,
Sometimes this is all I can say. Sometimes I can only think "God"
and hope that, in my quagmire of confusion, You are there.
The internal wrenching pain is seldom shown, and known by few. The faces
and sounds that pervade my entire being are understood only by You.
So many think I can be "fixed" with a pill or need only a "positive
attitude" or a "stronger faith".
How dare anyone!
Please, Father, guide those who are truly trying to help and let the waiting
(there is so much waiting) be less painful.
Help me to know You are here - always.
In Jesus' name.
Written and submitted by Diane McCurdy Crooks, RN Parish Nurse
Broadway Baptist Church
A meditation based on Psalm 23
The Lord is my Guide, I shall not rush.
My Guide leads me in refreshing quietness and makes me stop and rest.
The Lord provides me with visions of beauty which restore my peace.
Even though I have many pressing things that distract me,
I will hope because God is here.
God will keep me in balance.
The Lord prepares refreshment and renewal in the middle of my business.
The Lord anoints my head with oil, I am filled to overflowing.
Surely celebration and integrity will be the fruit of my work,
For I shall walk in step with my Guide, dwelling in the presence of God
forever.
Written by the Pastoral Care Department for Professional Secretaries
Day.
The Lord is my Good Shepherd
The Lord is my Good Shepherd.
I am as a sheep, safe in the fold.
The Shepherd loves to guide and protect me with
a comforting and consuming melody.
I feel defenseless and vulnerable
in the presence of evil.
I hear, O, do I hear!, the singing of the Shepherd.
For it sings to me in grace, creativity and fullness.
Am I choosing to follow when I'm enticed by danger?
When I am lost -
The Good Shepherd sings of my goodness.
When I am found -
I can sing of the joy of forgiveness.
All we, like sheep, will someday go astray.
The voice of the Good Shepherd knows and lovingly
continues to sing.
- John 10:1-22
Written and submitted by Brad Hood, Chaplain
Pastoral Care Department
A prayer during sickness.
Lord,
Transform my suffering into growth,
My tears into prayer,
My discouragement into faith,
My fears into trust,
My expectations into hopes,
My anger into closeness,
My bitterness into acceptance,
My guilt into reconciliation,
My loneliness into contemplation,
My silence into peace,
My deaths into resurrection.
Amen.
Author Unknown
Submitted by Phil Groos, Chaplain
Hospice of East Tennessee
In a quiet place today
I heard a doctor praying for his patient.
He told of all the things he had found,
The test he had done
and had scheduled.
He prayed for the anxiety of the patient's loved ones.
Then he prayed a plea for guidance:
"God, you created this body that is broken.
What a mystery!
Guide me to know how to bring its healing."
In my mind stands a picture of a doctor
speaking in the ear of the
Great Physician.
Written and submitted anonymously.
A Prayer for Children
We pray for children
who like to be tickled,
who stomp in puddles and ruin their new pants,
who seek Popsicles before supper,
who can never find their shoes.
And we pray for those who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire,
who never squeaked across the floor in new sneakers,
who are born in places we wouldn't be caught dead,
who live in an X-rated world.
We pray for children
who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money,
who cover themselves with Band-Aids and sing off-key,
who squeeze toothpaste all over the sink,
who slurp their soup.
And we pray for those
who watch their parents watch them die,
who have no safe blanket to drag behind,
who can't find any bread to steal,
whose pictures aren't on anybody's dresser,
whose monsters are real.
We pray for children
who spend all their allowance before Tuesday,
who like ghost stories,
who get visits from the tooth fairy,
who squirm in church and scream in the phone,
whose tears we sometimes laugh at and whose smiles can make us cry.
And we pray for those
whose nightmares come in the daytime,
who will eat anything,
who have never seen a dentist,
who aren't spoiled by anybody,
who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,
who live and move, but have no being.
We pray for children
who want to be carried, and for those who must.
For those we never give up on, and for those who never get a chance.
For those we smother, and
for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to offer.
Written by Ina Hughs
Submitted by Donna Saunders, RT
A Prayer for someone who has a loved one who is ill
Lord, I know that You love us with "an everlasting love" and
that You have given us many promises to help us in times of need.
I come to You now to ask for a special outpouring of Your love in this
trying time to help me deal with the illness which has afflicted my loved
one.
I feel so frail and helpless in dealing with this, but I am comforted
by Your promise that in times of difficulty I can lean on Your strength
and it will see me through. There are many things about this illness which
confuse me.
You have promised that if I don't "lean on my own understanding"
but rather, put my faith in You - You will care for me. Even though I
am often afraid and feel out of control in dealing with this situation,
You have said, "fear not" and You promised to "be with
me always."
Lord, help me to lean on Your strength, to have faith in You as the source
of all knowledge, and to rely on Your continuing presence to calm my fears.
Give a special blessing to those who are involved in the care of my loved
one and give them special insight into those things which will be the
most effective in dealing with the illness. Help all of us as family and
friends to be a help and comfort in every way possible.
Lord, I know that You can do all things and I humbly pray that, if it
be Your will, You will allow this illness to be overcome and my loved
one's health be restored.
Thank You, Lord, for loving us and for Your promises to us. In all things,
may You receive praise, glory, and honor.
Amen.
Written and submitted by Dale Collins, CEO
Baptist Health System of East Tennessee
The Prayer Concerns Book in the Chapel receives many prayers written by guests of the chapel. The following is a combination of a few of these prayers.
Dear Lord,
It's me again.
I come to you and ask for your hand to guide the people who are caring
for my mother.
Guide me as well; as many of these decisions are beyond anything I've
ever been asked. Today looks so bad that a miracle is our only hope. I
pray for our family that we can remain close during these difficult days.
Amen.
Heavenly Father,
As people turn to sleep, please bless all those who cannot sleep tonight.
Comfort those who are sad.
Forgive those who have done wrong.
Calm those who are worried.
Help those who are in pain.
And grant your peace to every troubled heart.
Prayer from The Lion Book of Children's Prayers
(1977) Published by Lion, England.
Submitted by Carol Smucker, Coordinator of Parish Nurse Program.
You Are There
When through life's deep waters we find we must go
- You are there.
When in our sorrow our tears overflow
- You are there.
When we think no one knows the pain we bear
- You are there and You care.
Thank You, Heavenly Father.
Written and submitted by Mary L. Emanuel, Volunteer Chaplain.
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