Praying For A Heart Like Saint Patrick

Yesterday was St. Patrick’s Day.  I hope you had fun wearing some green and enjoying the various joy-filled signs and symbols of the day. 

So much has been written about Saint Patrick and his love for God and for the people of Ireland – such a love that he was willing to return to the land where he had been enslaved to share the truth of God’s saving and forgiving love.  Saint Patrick was surely a man of action, not just words.  He knew how to put into practice the little slogan we hear so often, “Don’t just talk the talk but walk the walk.”

Well, we are each given gifts by God to be used to make a positive difference in the lives of people who are in need today.  God promises us His Spirit as He puts His agenda before us today

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  Acts 1:8

Lord, along with Saint Patrick, we pray that we would hear Your voice as You fill us with Your Holy Spirit and show us how we are meant to be Your witnesses today.  Whether it is in our city, locally in our province, across our country, or even around the world, we know that the only work that matters today is how we show Your heart and Your salvation that’s available to all.

We pray to be willing to go to people and places that are not convenient or even appealing to us, for whatever reason.  What’s Your plan for our day God?  How can we be in service of the good news of the Gospel today?

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  2 Peter 3:18

Lord, you took Patrick through years of difficult circumstances where all he knew to do was to cry out to You in full dependence on Your saving help.  Through hard times You worked on His character to make him the effective minister he was.  Give us such a love for You and Your ways that we grow willing to do the same as we follow Your call to us, whatever that is today.

And now we’ll end today’s few minutes with this blessing attributed to Saint Patrick:

May the Strength of God pilot us.

May the Power of God preserve us.

May the Wisdom of God instruct us.

May the Hand of God protect us.

May the Way of God direct us.

May the Shield of God defend us.

May the Host of God guard us

Against the snares of the evil ones,

Against temptations of the world.

May Christ be with us!

May Christ be before us!

May Christ be in us,

Christ be over all!

May Thy Salvation, Lord,

Always be ours,

This day, O Lord, and evermore.

Amen.

Having a wonderful day giving living witness to God’s amazing loving power in Your life.