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Prayer
for When You’re Feeling
Depressed
with Renée Miller
Download this guided
prayer <mp3>
Preparation
for Prayer
As you quiet yourself for prayer, notice the deep care of the
Holy One flowing around you as you listen to the ringing of the
bell.
Chant
“#18—As now the sun shines down at noon”
When sadness o’ertakes your heart
When light and hope are hid from view,
It is God’s love that stands secure,
Love’s peace will soon descend on you.
Text:
Renée Miller
Music: "Conditor memoria, plainsong, Mode 2"
Hymnal 1982
Opening
Sentence
When
a melancholy malaise settles over our soul, we are being nudged
inward where the Holy One waits to spread light over us.
“For
I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers,
nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height,
nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate
us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
—Romans
8:38, 39
A
Psalm
“For
God alone my soul in silence waits;
Truly, my hope is in him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.
In God is my safety and my honor;
God is my strong rock and my refuge.
Put your trust in him always, O People,
Pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.”
—Psalm
62:1, 2, 8, 9
A
Reading from the Bible
“For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope.
For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not
see, we wait for it with patience.”
—Romans
8:24, 25
Reflection
followed by Silence
Now close your eyes for a time of reflection and meditation. Take
a deep breath and quiet yourself.
When our heart is as light as a feather falling on soft grass, we
find it hard to consider that the light will fade and we’ll
move into a time of interior darkness. Consequently, we are surprised
and anxious when our soul suddenly feels heavy, when tears creep
and flow unbidden and unwanted, when days and nights stretch somberly
before us without meaning and purpose. We shake like a weak timber,
wanting only to be free of the grasp of pain that seems to hold
us against our will. Rather than trying to break free of what we
fear is stealing us of life and joy, we would do better to relax
our soul into what seems so unwelcome. We will find to our great
surprise that, hidden in the shadow of sadness, is a gem that could
not be gazed upon in the light of the sun. Let the gem dazzle in
the darkness until light floods you once again.
Invitation
to Prayer
Take some moments now to offer the concerns of your heart to heaven.
Remember those who are in pain, those who are afraid, those who
are alone, those whom you love, those who are dying, and those who
are already in heaven, and pray for the needs of your own life.
(Silence)
Prayer
“O God, you know the emptiness of my heart. Sometimes I wonder
if you are there—if you hear—if there is any hope that
my situation will be different. When loneliness looms around me,
when my questions are unanswered, when no one seems to care, when
days and nights go on and on with no change, when I fall deeper
into despair, I pray that you will let your peace fall upon me as
gently as the spring rain that waters the earth. Remind me of your
unconditional and eternal love for me. Assure me of your presence.
Fill my heart with the hope that my life is held in your hand. Lift
my pain from me so that joy may flow freely again through me. I
ask this for the sake of your love. Amen.”
from Prayers for Living
Blessing
In your quiet sadness, may you feel the blessing of God working
in your soul to bring it peace.
Closing
Thought
Whatever happens this day, know that you are loved by God—boundlessly,
unconditionally, and eternally.
Chant
Let your soul be fully still, safe in God’s embrace.
Let your heart be opened, to receive God’s grace.
Joy is standing at the edge, can you see it there?
Look with eyes attentive, trust God, if you dare.
Text: Renee Miller
Music: "Adoro
devote, French church melody, Mode 5,"
Hymnal 1982
Copyright
©2007 Renee
Miller
The
music accompanying this worship session is "," by Daniel
Foster Johnson, © 2006. To learn more about Daniel Foster Johnson,
or to purchase his CD From the Attic Window, please visit
his web
site.
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