The Totally Other

I know that the Immovable comes down;
I know that the Invisible appears to me;
I know that He who is outside the whole creation Takes me within Himself
and hides me in His arms,
And then I find myself outside the whole world.
I, a frail, small mortal in the world,
Behold the Creator of the world,
all of Him, within myself;
And I know that I shall not die,
for I am within the Life,
I have the whole of Life springing up as a fountain within me.
He is in my heart, He is in heaven:
Both there and here He shows himself to me with equal glory.
- St Symeon the New Theologian

Thanks to Carsten at www.dailybeard.co.uk for this

Sunset on mars

How wonderful is your creation

the heavens cry out your glory

you are beyond our comprehension

We praise you.

Amen.

Forgive

Father

forgive my arrogance

remove my pride

fill me with the humilty

that enables me to kneel before your throne

and submit to your will

In the name of Christ

Amen

Robert Nelson (1656 – 1715)

Most gracious God,
Who governest the world with infinite wisdom and goodness,
Teach me contentedly to submit to the dispensations of Thy Providence,
How contrary soever they may be to flesh and blood.
Thou knowest the surest ways of making me happy,
and art infinite in loving-kindness and mercy;
therefore let Thy blessed will in everything be my choice and satisfaction.
Let all my dangers awaken me to a careful performance of my duty;
that I may serve Thee quietly with a devout mind,
through Jesus Christ.
Amen

Mazorabic (pre 700AD)

Give strength, O Lord,
To those who seek Thee,
and continually pour into their souls the holy desire of seeking Thee;
that they who long to see Thy face
may not crave the world’s pernicious pleasure.
Amen

George Matheson (1842 –1906)

O Thou divine Spirit that,
in all events of life,
art knocking at the door of my heart,
help me to respond to Thee.
I would not be driven blindly as the stars over their courses.
I would not be made to work out Thy will unwillingly,
to fulfil Thy law unintelligently,
to obey Thy mandates unsympathetically.
I would take the events of my life as good and perfect gifts from Thee;
I would receive even the sorrows of life as disguised gifts from Thee.
I would have my heart open at all times to receive Thee
- at morning, noon, and night;
- in spring summer, and winter.
Whether Thou comest to me in sunshine or in rain,
I would take Thee into my heart joyfully.
Thou art Thyself more than the sunshine,
Thou art Thyself compensation for the rain;
it is Thee and not Thy gifts I crave;
knock, and I shall open unto Thee.
Amen

Gerhard Tersteegen (1697-1769)

O Lord,
Thy hands have formed us,
and Thou hast sent us into this world,
that we may walk in the way that leads to heaven and Thyself,
and may find a lasting rest in Thee
Who art the Source and Centre of our souls.
Look in pity on us poor pilgrims in the narrow way;
let us not go astray,
but reach at last our true home where our Father dwells.
Guide and govern us from day to day,
and bestow on us food and strength for body and soul,
that we may journey on in peace.
Forgive us for having hitherto so often wavered or looked back,
and let us henceforward march straight on
in the way of Thy laws,
and may our last step be a safe and peaceful passage
to the arms of Thy love,
and the blessed fellowship of the saints in light.
Hear us, O Lord,
and glorify Thy name in us
that we may glorify Thee for ever and ever.
Amen

Gregorian Sacramentary (590 AD)

Almighty God,
unto Whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from Whom no secrets are hid;
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love Thee,
and worthily magnify Thy holy Name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)

Give us grace, O Lord,
to work while it is day,
fulfilling diligently and patiently whatever duty Thou appointest us;
doing small things in the day of small things,
and great labours if Thou summon us to any:
rising and working,
sitting still and suffering,
according to Thy word.
Go with me,
and I will go;
but if Thou go not with me,
send me not:
go before me,
if Thou put me forth;
let me hear Thy voice when I follow.
Amen

George Dawson (1821-1876)

Grant unto us,
Almighty God,
the knowledge of Thy way,
and the spirit of obedience thereunto,
that,
being conformed in thought and words unto Thy way,
Thy peace may rule in our hearts.
Help us to cast out all those things which are contrary to Thy peace,
Or that are not according to Thy will,
so that ours may be the quiet life of trust,
and faith,
and obedience,
living lowly,
longing for Thy truth,
and walking in the light thereof,
that Thy blessing may be upon us,
and the light of Thy countenance our perpetual delight.
Hear us of Thy mercy,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

F B Pusey (1800-1882)

O Lord,
make us to love Thee,
and each other in Thee,
and to meet before Thee
to dwell in Thine everlasting love.

Amen

Roman Breviary

O God,
the Consolation of all such as be sorrowful,
and the Salvation of all them that put their trust in Thee,
grant unto us,
in this dying life,
that peace for which we humbly pray,
and hereafter to attain unto everlasting joy in Thy presence,
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen

Thomas Wilson (1663-1755)

Grant, gracious father,
that I may never dispute the reasonableness of Thy will,
but ever close with it,
as the best that can happen.
Prepare me always for what Thy Providence shall bring forth.
Let me never murmur,
be dejected, or impatient,
under any of the troubles of this life,
but ever rest and comfort in this,
THIS IS THE WILL OF MY FATHER,
AND OF MY GOD:
grant this for Jesus Christ’s sake.
Amen

Liturgy of St Mark

We earnestly beseech Thee,
O Thou Lover of mankind,
to bless all Thy people,
the flocks of Thy fold.
Send down into our hearts the peace of heaven,
and grant us also the peace of this life.
Give life to the souls of all of us,
and let no deadly sin prevail against us,
or any of Thy people.
Deliver all who are in trouble,
for Thou art our God,
Who settest the captives free;
Who givest hope to the hopeless,
and help to the helpless;
Who liftest up the fallen;
and Who art the Haven of the shipwrecked.
Give Thy pity, pardon and refreshment to every Christian soul,
whether in affliction or error.
Preserve us,
in our pilgrimage through this life,
from hurt and danger,
and grant that we may end our lives as Christians,
well-pleasing to Thee and free from sin,
and that we may have any portion and lot with all Thy saints.
Amen

Sarum Breviary (1085)

O God,
Who through the grace of Thy Holy Spirit,
dost pour the gift of love into the hearts of Thy faithful people,
grant unto us health,
both of mind and body,
that we may love thee with our whole strength,
and with entire satisfaction
may perform these things which are pleasing unto Thee,
through Christ our Lord.
Amen

R L Stevenson (1850-18994)

The day returns and brings us
the petty round of irritating concerns and duties.
Help us to play the man,
help us to perform them with laughter and kind faces,
let cheerfulness abound with industry.
Give us to go blithely on our business this day,
bring us to our resting beds
weary and content and undishonoured,
and grant us in the end the gift of sleep.
Amen

Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)

O Lord,
fill us, we beseech Thee,
with adoring gratitude to Thee
for all Thou art for us,
to us,
and in us;
fill us with love, joy, peace,
and all the fruits of the Spirit.
Amen

Henry VIII’s Primer (1545)

O most dear and tender father,
our Defender and Nourisher;
endue us with Thy grace,
that we may cast off the great blindness of our minds,
and carefulness of worldly things,
and may put our whole study and care in keeping
of Thy holy law;
and that we may labour and travail for our necessities
in this life,
like birds of the air and lilies of the field,
without care.
For Thou hast promised to be careful for us;
and hast commanded that upon Thee we should cast our care,
Who livest and reignest,
world without end.
Amen

James Martineau (1805-1900)

Eternal God,
Who committest to us the swift and solemn trust of life;
since we know not what a day may bring forth,
but only that the hour for serving Thee is always present,
may we wake to the instant claims of Thy holy will;
not waiting for tomorrow,
but yielding today.
Lay to rest,
by the persuasion of Thy Spirit,
the resistance of our passion, indolence or fear.
Consecrate with Thy presence the way our feet may go;
and the humblest work will shine,
and the roughest places be made plain.
Lift us above unrighteous anger and mistrust
into faith and hope and charity by a simple and steadfast
reliance on Thy sure will.
In all things draw us to the mind of Christ,
that Thy lost image may be traced again,
and Thou mayest own us as at one with Him and Thee.
Amen

Thomas à Kempis (1379-1471)

O Lord,
if only my will may remain right and firm towards Thee,
do with me whatsoever it shall please Thee.
For it cannot be anything but good,
whatsoever Thou shalt do with me.
If it be Thy will I should be in darkness,
be Thou blessed;
and if it be Thy will I should be in light,
be Thou again blessed.
If Thou vouchsafe to comfort me,
be Thou blessed;
and if Thou wilt have me afflicted,
be Thou ever equally blessed.
Amen

Chritina Rossetti (1830-1894)

O Lord,
Whose way is perfect,
help us, I pray Thee,
always to trust in Thy goodness:
that walking with Thee and following Thee
in all simplicity,
we may possess quiet and contented minds;
and may cast all our care on Thee,
for Thou carest for us.
Amen

George Dawson (1821-1876)

Almight God,
Maker of heaven and earth,
Giver of light and life,
so teach us those things which belong to the heavenly kingdom,
and those duties which are of the earth,
that we,
stirred by the light and life of the peace of God,
may be enabled faithfully
to do the things committed to us,
looking ever unto Thee for light and life,
that,
being lifted above ourselves,
the life of God in the soul of man may be ours,
and the peace of God,
which passeth all understanding,
may then keep our hearts and minds,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Gelasian (492)

We beseech Thee,
O Lord,
make us subject unto Thee with a ready will,
and evermore stir up our wills
to make supplication unto Thee.
Amen

John Harris

Take us, O Lord,
with all our doubts and weaknesses,
and send us out.
And when we fail you,
send us out again.
Let us witness by word
and by life
that through your death and rising,
you alone can lift us from darkness to light,
from despair to hope
and from death to life.
Amen

Taken from Encounter with God
Available from Scripture Union

Roman Breviary

O God,
the Author of peace and Lover of concord,
grant unto us to be so firmly established
in the love of Thyself,
that no trials whatsoever
may be able to part us from Thee.
Amen

Henry Alford (1810-1871)

O Lord, succour, we beseech Thee,
us who are tempted.
May nothing induce us to distrust Thy care over us,
nor to use thy gifts to the denial of Thee,
their Giver.
May we never presume upon Thy protection
when we are forsaking Thy paths,
and tempting Thee.
May we never,
for the sake of any supposed gain or advancement,
quench the testimony of Thy Spirit,
or prove disloyal to Thy service.
Do Thou so support us in all temptations that,
when we have tried,
we may receive the crown of life,
which Thou hast prepared for them that love Thee.
Amen

Blaise Pascal (1623–1662)

O Lord,
let me not henceforth desire health or life,
except to spend them for Thee,
with Thee,
and in Thee.
Thou alone knowest what is good for me;
Do, therefore, what seemeth Thee best.
Give to me, or take from me;
conform my will to Thine;
and grant that,
with humble and perfect submission,
and in holy confidence,
I may receive the orders of Thine eternal Providence;
and may equally adore all that comes to me from thee;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)

O Thou who chastenest whom Thou lovest,
grant us grace,
we pray Thee,
to discern Thy love in whatever suffering Thou sendest us.
Support us in patient thankfulness under pain,
anxiety,
or loss,
and move us with pity and tenderness
for our afflicted neighbours.
Amen

Roman Breviary

O God,
the Shepherd of all Thy people,
deliver the same from all sins which do assail them,
that so they may ever be pleasing in Thy sight,
and safe under Thy shelter;
for Christ’s sake.
Amen

F B Pusey (1800-1882)

O God, my God,
I am all weakness,
but Thou art my Strength;
I am ever anew bowed down by any trial,
but Thou canst and willest to lift me up.
Let me not fail, O God, my Strength;
let me not be discouraged, O God, my Hope.
Draw me each day,
if it be but a little nearer unto Thee;
make me, each day,
if it be but a little less unlike Thee;
let me do or bear each day something,
for love of Thee,
whereby I may be fitter for Thee.
Let no day pass without my having done something pleasing unto Thee.
Thus alone would I live,
that I may live more unto Thee;
thus would I die,
longing to love Thee more.
Amen

Johann Arndt (1555-1621)

O Thou gracious and gentle and condescending God,
Thou God of peace,
Father of mercy,
God of comfort;
see,
I lament before Thee the evil of my heart;
I acknowledge that I am too much disposed to
anger, jealousy, and revenge,
to ambition and pride,
which often give rise to discord and bitter feelings
between me and others.
Too often have I thus offended and grieved both Thee,
O long-suffering Father,
and my fellow-men.
Oh forgive me this sin,
And suffer me to partake of the blessing
which Thou hast promised to the peacemakers,
who shall be called children of God.
Bestow on me,
O Lord,
a genial spirit and unwearied forbearance;
a mild, loving, patient heart;
kindly looks,
pleasant, cordial speech and manners
in the intercourse of daily life;
that I may give offence to none,
but as much as in me lies live in charity with all men.
Amen

Thomas Arnold (1795-1842)

O Lord,
give Thy blessing,
we pray Thee,
to our daily work,
that we may do it in faith and heartily,
as to the Lord and not unto men.
All our powers of body and mind are Thine,
and we would fain devote them to thy service.
Sanctify them,
and the work in which they are engaged;
let us not be slothful,
but fervent in spirit,
and do Thou,
O Lord,
so bless our efforts
that they may bring forth in us the fruits of true wisdom.
Teach us to seek after truth,
And enable us to gain it;
but grant that we may ever speak the truth in love;
that, while we know earthly things,
we may know Thee,
and be known by Thee,
through and in Thy Son Jesus Christ.
Give us this day Thy Holy Spirit,
that we may be Thine in body and spirit
in all our work and all our refreshments,
through Jesus Christ Thy Son,
our Lord.
Amen

Gelesian Sacramentary (492 AD)

O God,
deliver us from earthly desires,
that no sin may reign in us,
but that we may with free spirits serve Thee,
our only Lord;
through Jesus Christ.
Amen

Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667)

O Eternal Purity!
Thou art brighter than the sun,
purer than the angels,
and the heavens are not clean in Thy sight;
with mercy behold Thy servant,
apt to be tempted with every object,
and to be overcome by every enemy.
I cannot, O God, stand in the day of battle and danger,
unless Thou coverest me with Thy shield,
and hidest me under Thy wings.
Thou didst make me after Thine image;
be pleased to preserve me so pure and spotless,
that my body may be a holy temple,
and my soul a sanctuary to entertain Thy divinest Spirit,
the Spirit of love and holiness.
Amen.

Gregorian (590 AD)

Almighty God,
who seest that we have no power of ourselves
to help ourselves,
keep us both outwardly in our bodies
and inwardly in our souls,
that we may be defended from all adversities
which may happen to the body,
and from evil thoughts
which may assault and hurt the soul;
through Jesus Christ our lord.
Amen

George Dawson (1821-1876)

Almighty God,
of Thy fullness grant to us who need so much,
who lack so much,
who have so little,
wisdom and strength.
Bring our wills unto Thine.
Lift our understandings into Thy heavenly light;
that we thereby beholding those things which are right,
and be drawn by Thy love,
may bring together to Thy service,
until at last,
body soul and spirit may be all Thine,
and Thou be our Father and Eternal Friend.
Amen

James Martineau (1805-1900)

O God,
Ever blessed and holy!
None but the angels and the redeemed
can serve Thee with a perfect joy.
Called in our measure to be perfect as Thou are perfect,
we have been most unlike Thee,
and are not worthy to be deemed Thy children.
Thirsting with momentary desires,
we have forsaken the living springs of heavenly wisdom,
of which he that drinketh shall never thirst again.
We have been slow to the calls of affection,
heedless of the duties,
hard under the sorrows,
which are Thy gracious discipline;
yet are oppressed with cares Thou layest not on us,
with ease Thou dost not permit,
and wants Thou wilt never bless.
Visit us with the wrestlings of Thy Spirit:
and lay on us the cross,
if we may but grow into the holiness,
of Christ.
Amen

James Martineau biog

Charles How (1661-1745)

My adorable God,

I humbly beseech Thee to accept the sacrifice I here,

in all humility,
desire to make to Thee,

of the remainder of my life;

to be entirely employed,

with the utmost vigour both of my soul and body,

in Thy service and adoration.

Pardon all the sins and offences of my life past,

and be pleased to bestow upon me

a steadfast faith,

an ardent love,

an humble and perfect obedience,

and a will capable of no other inclination

than what it shall continually receive

from the absolute guidance of Thy divine will;

to which I beg it may ever be perfectly subservient,

with all readiness and cheerfulness.

As all my thoughts and actions are continually before Thee,

so I humbly beseech Thee,

that they may never be unworthy

of Thy divine Presence,

for Jesus Christ’s sake.

Amen

Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)

O Lord,
give us all,we beseech Thee,
grace and strength to overcome every sin;
sins of besetment,
deliberation,
surprise,
negligence,
omission;
sins against Thee,
our self,
our neighbour;
sins great,
small,
remembered,
forgotten.
Amen

Liturgy of St Mark

O God of Light,
Father of Life,
Giver of Wisdom,
Benefactor of our souls,
Who givest to the faint-hearted who put their trust in Thee
those things into which the angels desire to look;
O Sovereign Lord,
Who hast brought us up from the depths of darkness to light,
Who hast given us life from death,
Who hast graciously bestowed upon us freedom from slavery,
and Who hast scattered the darkness of sin within us;
do Thou now also enlighten the eyes of our understanding,
and sanctify us wholly in soul,
body,
and spirit.
Amen

John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

I need Thee to teach me
day by day,
according to each day's opportunities and needs.
Give me,
O my Lord,
that purity of conscience which alone can receive,
which alone can improve Thy inspirations.
my ears are dull,
so that I cannot hear thy voice.
My eyes are dim,
so that I cannot see Thy tokens.
Thou alone canst quicken my hearing,
and purge my sight,
and cleanse and renew my heart.
teach me to sit at Thy feet,
and to hear Thy word.
Amen

Mozarabic pre 700AD

Guide us in Thy way,

O Lord,

and mercifully show

the fountain of wisdom to our thirsting minds;

that we may be free from sorrowful heaviness,

and may drink in the sweetness of life eternal.

Amen

Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667)

Most merciful and gracious Father,
I bless and magnify Thy name
that Thou hast adopted me into the inheritance of sons,
and hast given me a portion of my elder Brother.
Thou who art the God of patience and consolation,
strengthen me that I may bear the yoke and burden of the Lord,
without any uneasy and useless murmurs,
and inneffective unwillingness.
Lord, I am unable to stand under the cross,
unable of myself,
but be Thou pleased to ease this load by fortifying my spirit,
that I may be strongest when I am weakest,
and may be able to do and suffer every thing that Thou pleasest,
through Christ Who strengtheneth me.
Let me pass through the valley of the shadow of death
with safety and peace,
with a meek spirit,
and a sense of the divine mercies,
through Jesus Christ.
Amen

Rowland Williams (1818-1870)

O Thou hope of all the ends of the earth;
Thou on Whom our fathers hoped,
and were not confounded;
Thou, Who knowest whereof we are made,
and whereby our shortcoming,
have pity on us,
O Lord.
O Helper of the helpless,
and Stonger than the strong,
remember all who are in distress of
mind, body, or estate;
succour them according to their need.
It is meet and right,
in all things, for all men,
in joy and sorrow,
alone and all together,
to remember and worship The,
to trust in Thee,
and praise Thee,
Lord and Father, King and God,
Fountain of life and immortality,
Source of everlasting good.
Thee all the heavens hymn,
and higher spirits praise,
crying to each other,
or going on the work which Thou givest them,
and so perfecting praise.
Blessed be the Dweller of Eternity,
my Strength and my Deliverer,
my Salvation and my Refuge for ever.
Amen

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

O merciful God

full of compassion, long-suffering and of great pity,
make me earnestly repent,
and heartily to be sorry for all my misdoings;
make the remembrance of them so painful
that I may flee to Thee with a troubled spirit
and a contrite heart;
and,
O merciful Lord,
visit, comfort, and relieve me;
excite in me true repentance;
give me in this world knowledge of Thy truth
and confidence in Thy mercy,
and,
in the world to come,
life everlasting.
Strengthen me against sin,
and enable me so to perform very duty,
that whilst I live I may server Thee
in that state to which Thou hast called me;
and,
at last, by a holy and happy death,
be delivered from the struggles and sorrows of this life,
and obtain eternal happiness,
for the sake of our Lord and Saviour,
Thy Son Jesus Christ.
Amen

A F Stark (1680-1756)

Rest upon us, O spirit of Love,
and chase all anger, envy, and bitter grudges
from our souls.
Be our Comforter in trial,
when billows go over our heads;
be our Strength in the hour of weakness,
and help us to control the desires of the flesh.
Let us grow in faith and love,
in hope, patience, and humility.
See by how many temptations we are surrounded,
and preserve us from giving way to them;
show us the path wherein we should tread,
for if we trust to our own impulses we shall go astray;
but if Thou lead us
we shall run in the way of Thy commandments.
Our hearts lie open before thee;
enter now with Thy rich gifts,
strengthen, stablish, settle them.
Dwell in them and make them Thy temple,
so shall we have the pledge of our sonship,
and our salvation.
Amen