a spirit of joy

“How necessary it is to cultivate a spirit of joy.  It is a psychological truth that the physical acts of reverence and devotion make one feel devout.  The courteous gesture increases one’s respect for others.  To act lovingly is to begin to feel loving, and certainly to act joyfully brings joy to others which in turn makes one feel joyful.  I believe we are called to the duty of delight.”  ~ Dorothy Day

 

Prayer for Joy & Contentment, Peace Hope and Love

Dearest Mother of God, pray this prayer alongside me, you who have borne great trials and suffering, who knows what it is to be fearful, confused, and full of anxiety. Support and encourage me to ask and receive, to knock and let it be opened, to call and be answered. Be with me in spirit and in prayer as I walk my journey of motherhood.

O my God and Savior, release me from anxiety, save me from fear. Holy Spirit fill and consume me with truth, love, faith, hope, and life. Be one with me Lord, as I sit in the quiet of morning, as I run about through the day, as I rest in the evening, and as I sleep through the night.

In my deep limitations I can only see the door as locked, my calls unanswered. Please hear the silent cries of my heart. Know my needs before I do. Know my wants before I articulate them. Be my heart so that I am truly like you. Let my heart speak this prayer ceaselessly – as I wake, as I live, as I sleep. Let every breath and every heart beat sound your praise, worship, and oneness.

Be in my meditation, sit with me on my cushion, sit with me on the floor. Be with me in my moving, my stretching and opening. Be with me in my prayer, spoken and silent. Be with me in my loving, in my caring, in my playing, in my eating, in my cleaning, in my hoping, in my reading, in my working, in my writing, in my everything.

O Christ, hear and answer me. O Lord, hear and answer me. O God, hear and answer me. O Most Holy Spirit, hear and fill me with contentment and joy.

Amen.

A Prayer for God This Day

Lord of Life,
this morning I give you
all my breaths, all my movements.
Take all my work, my thoughts, my words,
my deeds this day for your own.
I offer you even my sulking and sighs,
my selfishness and pride.

Let every bit of my goodness
be a prayer of praise,
a singing out for your glory,
every bit of my evil
a prayer of petition,
a crying out for your tenderness.

In all things I adore you,
even in my blindness
I search for you
for you are with me in all things.

You are mine
even in my weakness,
and I am yours
even in your strength.

Christ be next to me;
Holy mother of God stand beside me –
but even more –
Lord be with each of your children,
the abused and the abuser;
let your Love save and heal all,
for each of us stands in need of you.

May my living this day
pray this prayer over and again,
unceasingly.

Amen, amen.
Amen, amen, amen.