My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
Mary’s prayer concludes this week’s “Ancient Prayers for Today’s Cares” series. Her prayer is actually a song outpouring with awe, humility, and joy. She marvels that the God of heaven has noticed her—a young, humble girl—and chosen her for His plan. Her words echo themes of God’s mercy, justice, and faithfulness, showing that she knew her story was part of a much bigger story.
What’s powerful about Mary’s prayer is how it shifts from personal gratitude to a declaration of God’s character for all generations. It’s a reminder that praise isn’t just about celebrating what God has done for us, but about proclaiming who He is for everyone.
It’s the kind of prayer that moves from the page into our own mouths.
Prayer For Today: Praise
Lord— My soul can’t stay silent— it rises, it magnifies You. My spirit comes alive because You looked at me— ordinary, yet seen.
Mighty One— You have done great things for me. Your mercy is new every morning, it stretches wide, generation to generation, never running dry.
Here I am, just one voice. Forever I will say: God saw me. God loves me. God is faithful.
So let my life sing Your name. Let my gratitude spill over until it blesses more than just me.
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth… My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you… Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Jesus prayed for me. Jesus prayed for you. Let that sink in!!
In His final hours before the cross, Jesus prayed—not for Himself alone, but for His disciples and for all future believers. His words carry the weight of eternity: a plea for protection from evil, for sanctification in truth, and for unity that reflects the oneness of the Father and the Son.
What’s remarkable is that Jesus knew the challenges His followers would face—opposition, division, temptation—yet His request was not for escape, but for strength to remain in the world as lights of truth and love.
This prayer reminds us that our faith is part of something much larger than ourselves; we are bound together across generations, cultures, and nations by the love of God.
It’s the kind of prayer that moves from the page into our own mouths.
Prayer For Today: Protection & Unity
Jesus— When You prayed that night, You saw ME! Before I ever spoke Your name, You spoke mine to the Father. I’m so grateful.
Protect me from the evil that prowls, not by pulling me out of the world, but by keeping me steady in it. Shape me by Your truth until my heart aligns its beats with Yours.
And Lord, Dismantle the walls we build to separate, Erase the lines we draw, so that love speaks louder than division ever could.
Let my life be the living testimony that the Father sent the Son, that the Son loves His own.
And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: ‘Lord, the God of Israel … open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God…. Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.’”
When King Hezekiah received a threatening letter from the Assyrian king, he didn’t let fear dictate his next step—he took the letter straight into the temple and laid it before God.
His prayer teaches us to bring our threats—whether words, circumstances, or fears—directly into God’s presence. It’s a reminder that deliverance isn’t just about removing danger; it’s about making God’s name known in the process.
It’s the kind of prayer that moves from the page into our own mouths.
Prayer For Today: Deliverance
Lord— You are God over all kingdoms, all powers, all voices that rise against me.
You made the heavens and the earth; there is nothing beyond Your reach.
Hear me now. See the weight I carry, the threats that echo in my mind, the situations that mock my faith.
I lay them before You— not to tell You what You don’t already know, but to remind my own heart that You are still in control.
Deliver me, Lord. Not just so I can breathe easier, but so the watching world will know— You alone are God.
Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night… Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.
When Nehemiah heard about the broken walls and burned gates of Jerusalem, he blended confession, remembrance of God’s promises, and a bold request for favor in his prayer as he prepared to speak to the king.
Nehemiah’s example shows us that before seeking human permission, we should seek God’s approval. His prayer asking for favor isn’t just about gaining opportunity; it’s about aligning the mission with God’s heart so that God’s hand is evident in the outcome.
It’s the kind of prayer that moves from the page into our own mouths.
Prayer For Today: Favor
God of heaven— Before I move, before I speak, I come to You first.
You see the broken places that break my heart. You hear the cries of my spirit before my lips form the words.
I confess my failings, the ways I’ve fallen short, And I lean on Your covenant love that never breaks.
Open Your ears to my prayer, and open the doors no hand can shut.
When I stand before those who hold the power to say “yes” or “no,” let their ears be open, let their hearts be softened, let their decisions tilt in the direction of Your will for me.
Grant me favor— not for my glory, but so that Your work can be done through my hands.
My heart rejoices in the Lord…. There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God…. He will guard the feet of his faithful servants.
Hannah’s prayer rises out of a season of deep pain—years of longing for a child, enduring misunderstanding and ridicule. When God answered her cry and gave her a son, she didn’t just rejoice quietly; she poured out her gratitude in a song of PRAYse that exalted God’s power, sovereignty, and faithfulness.
What stands out is that Hannah’s focus isn’t solely on her personal blessing. She praises God for who He is, not just for what He’s done for her. Her prayer reminds us that gratitude lifts our eyes from the gift to the Giver, turning personal victory into public worship.
It’s the kind of prayer that moves from the page into our own mouths.
Prayer For Today: Gratitude
Lord— My heart sings, not because life is perfect, but because You’ve proven Yourself faithful.
You took the ache that lived in my chest, the silent prayers only You could hear, and turned them into joy I can’t contain.
There is no one like You— no other place I can run, no other Rock I can stand on when the ground shakes beneath me.
You lift up, You bring down. You close doors, You open them wide. You write the ending before I see the beginning.
So I will boast, not in my strength, but in Your deliverance. I will praise You, not just for the gift, but for being the Giver.
My mouth will tell the story: God heard me. God helped me. God is faithful.
Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain! And God granted what he asked.
This prayer is just one verse tucked away in a long list of genealogies—you could easily miss it, but when you read it — it’s impossible to forget. Jabez, whose name means “because I bore Him in pain”, makes a bold, faith-filled request for MORE. He asked God for expansion beyond “things” to a greater sphere of influence; for God’s presence to guide and protect; and for deliverance to reverse the label placed on him so that he would not cause pain.
And perhaps the most compelling part? “And God granted his request.” A reminder that God listens, and He answers.
What makes this prayer powerful isn’t its length or eloquence—it’s the courage to ask God for more and for being gracious to others while living in the blessings.
It’s the kind of prayer that moves from the page into our own mouths.
Prayer For Today: More
Oh God, my Father— Bless me… Not in the small ways I can imagine, but in the wild, immeasurable ways only You can design.
Stretch me beyond my borders. Push back the walls of my comfort zone until my life spills into territories I never thought I could walk, places my feet have never dared to tread.
Let Your hand be heavy on me— guiding, covering, steadying my steps when the ground feels like it’s breaking beneath me.
Keep me from harm, Lord. Not just the harm I can see coming but the hidden snares, the silent traps, the pain that would leave scars deeper than skin.
Let my story be a testimony of love, not a tale of wounds I caused.
Oh God, my Father— do this, and I will know it wasn’t luck, it wasn’t chance, it was You.
And like You did before, grant me my request. Not because I am worthy, but because You are faithful.
I’ll be running a series this week reflecting on ancient prayers recorded in the Bible and applying them to the cares of life today.
The Bible is filled with prayers—some whispered in desperation, some shouted in joy, others spoken in quiet trust. They were born in ancient times, but they beat a timeless heart.
I’ll begin each post with the original prayer, pause to reflect on its meaning, before sharing my own prayer in spoken word poetry.
It’s an invitation to slow down, listen, and let these ancient words shape our modern prayers.
So join me in this week where we’ll reflect, pray, and then release it all into God’s hands:
Before-word: This is a paraphrase of a psalm penned by my best-Bible-friend, David (King of ancient Israel), as recorded in Psalms 139.
Dear God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to You; even from a distance, You know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of Your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and You’re there, then up ahead and You’re there, too— Your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful— I can’t take it all in! Is there anyplace I can go to avoid Your Spirit? to be out of Your sight? If I climb to the sky, You’re there! If I go underground, You’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, You’d find me in a minute— You’re already there waiting! Then I said to myself, “Oh, He even sees me in the dark! At night I’m immersed in the light!” It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to You; night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to You. Oh yes, You shaped me first inside, then out; You formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank You, High God—You’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! Like an open book, You watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before You. The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day. Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful! God, I’ll never comprehend them! I couldn’t even begin to count them— any more than I could count the sand of the sea. Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with You! Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life.
http://www.wsj.com // 21 victims May their souls rest in perfect peace. Amen.
Today I cry Cry for lives massacred, 19 children, 2 teachers scared Scared, minds shocked with horror before Before bullets shattered their bodies Bodies ripped apart from ammunition designed for war War on the innocent calls Calls to 911: “send cops” Cops—19 armed, trained, vested—stood waiting Waiting for key to enter a classroom Classroom where frantic children and teachers brave Brave enough to call while While armed forces wait OUTCRY
Afterword: How many more?! If the massacre of a nation’s children is not enough to initiate change, what will!? 365 days later, NOTHING’S changed. OUTCRY!!!
The more I think on why I pray, the more I come to realize that my prayers are really but fragments of my heart.
Like when I’m compelled to stop in acknowledgement that the normalcy and routine of my life has been interrupted by the supernatural.
Like when my eyes open in the morning and I realize that I’m alive, the fragment of gratitude from my heart escapes upon my lips: “thank you Father for waking me up”.
WITH ALL THERE IS TO SAY TO GOD—
—the thanksgiving, the praising, the adoration, the questioning …
—the joy, the sorrow, the loss, the longing, the hurting …
—the wonderings and what-ifs, the near-misses and could-have-been …
My prayers are unending conversations taking place with:
—eyes-wide-open, eyes-tightly-closed …
—standing-up or kneeling-down …
—hands clasped or held high …
My prayers are often filled with emotions seen in:
—tears of joy or tears of sadness …
—unending smiles and abandoned laughter …
—sometimes loud and sometimes soft …
—sometimes no words at all just groans
Shabbat Shalom. May you find the peace, the joy, the release, the assurance that comes with praying.
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Not every opportunity is a blessing. Not every open door is for us to walk through. Not every closed door is a missed opportunity.
When we come to know, understand and accept that our lives are not a game of luck and chances but rather the accumulation of decisions and choices, then we want to be careful, thoughtful and prayerful about the decisions and choices we make.
Amen!
Shabbat Shalom! May you be observant and discerning of the circumstances of your life, and be open to hear God’s leading and be willing to follow.
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Today’s Shabbat Shalom post focuses on prayer and the rationale for prayer from my own experiences in praying.
The one thing most of us are taught as children is to pray. Who remembers:
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.
And before too long we recited that prayer each night before bed. Or other similar ritual prayers at the appropriate time, like before we eat.
For health and strength and daily food we praise thy name, Oh Lord.
Is prayer then a ritual, an obligation or an activity?
The more I think on prayer and why I pray, the more I’ve come to realize that my prayers are really but fragments of my heart.
Like when I awake from sleeping, open my eyes and I realize I’m alive—the fragment of gratitude from my heart escapes upon my lips: “thank you Father for waking me up”.
With all there is to say to God—
the thanksgiving, the praising, the adoration, the questioning …
the joy, the sorrow, the loss, the longing, the hurting …
the wonderings and what-ifs, the near-misses and could-have-been …
—my prayers are unending conversations taking place with
eyes-wide-open, eyes-tightly-closed …
standing-up, kneeling-down …
hands clasped or held high …
—my prayers are filled with emotions seen in
tears of joy or tears of sadness …
unending smiles and abandoned laughter …
sometimes loud and sometimes soft …
sometimes no words at all just groans and tears …
—my prayers transpire while I’m
folding laundry …
washing dishes …
walking …
jogging …
So, prayer then is not an activity or an obligation nor is it a ritual—it’s a way of being.
In prayer I find:
Surrender. To let go off of whatever is burdening me and this is spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically healing and restorative.
Gratitude. To be in a state of thankfulness.
Reflection. To see myself as if looking in a mirror. For when I go before God, there’s no need to hide any part of me for He sees me in my all-ness. In prayer I safely bare my soul.
Relationship is the greatest benefit of praying. In being in constant communication with God, He becomes as real to me as my best-forever-friend.
So prayers are fragments of what my heart feels in that moment and I share it with my God.
There are things I’ve prayed for and the answers I want are not the ones I got and I’ve been hurt and disappointed. But after grappling with the “why” and the hurt and disappointment, I remember that I serve a God who loves and cares for me explicitly and that the objective of my prayer isn’t to change God. For as C.S. Lewis reminds us, prayer doesn’t change God. It changes me.
Shabbat Shalom. May the revelations of your heart be expressed in fragments of prayer.
In the moments when you’re still, you’ll win Quiet the noise—the distractions—within That’s when the listening of your heart begins
Listen to your heart, it’s calling to you Listen to your heart, it’s telling you what to do Listen to your heart, it’s giving you the better view
Other voices are loud Silence every sound It’s the virtue best bestowed
Listen to your heart, it’s your spiritual guide Listen to your heart, take your intellect on the ride Listen to your heart, it’s the place where God resides
Beforeword: This prayer was written for the christening of my Goddaughter based on the meaning of her names—Diana Elizabeth.
Diana It is decreed in your name: Heavenly, Divine Heavenly angel you are, dispatched from the Divine May your spirit never wander from the righteousness of God And your footsteps stay anchored in the pathway of His love May your eyes see unknown tomorrows and lived yesterdays And your spirit be discerning of thoughts and intentions of hearts May your hands be never idle And your feet bring tidings of good news May your mouth always say gentle and kind words And your heart overflow with joy, peace and love
Elizabeth It is decreed in your name: God is abundance In you is everything God created you to be You will be the head, and never the tail A lender, and never a borrower You will be above and never beneath Who ever intends to curse you, shall bless you instead You will be exalted in your coming in and in your going out Whatever may intend to bring you harm will be subjected under your feet
As it is said, so shall it be Diana Elizabeth This is our prayer for you
Nothing in my experiences prepared me for what the last three weeks threw at me.
Prior to going to the hospital I was unwell for about 9 days. I was self-medicating for the flu because all the symptoms felt like the flu except for the constant headache.
Thankfully I’m working from home. During a zoom staff meeting colleagues commented on how sick I sounded. That was Monday three weeks ago. I kept working, pushing through. The headache was a constant and I lost my appetite. By the following Monday in the staff meeting colleagues again commented on how sick I sounded in my voice. I was starting to feel as sick as I was sounding but still pushed through. By about 2:00 pm I was spent. I stopped, slept for about 2 hours got up and returned to working. Around 6:00 pm I physically could do no more and informed my office I would be on sick leave starting Tuesday.
The rapidity from feeling unwell to feeling sick made me realize this was not the flu. But how could it be Covid-19? I worked from home. I only went out for grocery. When I jogged it’s never in close proximity to anyone and I always wore a mask. I took all the precautions. Groceries were cleaned off before they’re packed away. Mail was opened in the garage. I always wore my mask. I have hand sanitizer everywhere and use it all the time. I’m the one customer who will walk down an aisle I need nothing from to follow the grocery store directional markings. I was that deliberate in following the rules.
On Tuesday I emailed the medical unit of my organization to request the Covid test which they administered and the result was negative. Yet by Wednesday my body started to feel foreign to me. My temperature was spiking. If it’s not Covid and it doesn’t feel like the flu, what could this be? By Thursday my energy level is low. My head hurts so much it’s tender to the touch. I’ve completely lost my appetite. Now I haven’t eaten anything substantial for 3 days. Though on sick leave I was still monitoring emails and listening in on meetings.
By Friday I was too sick to stay home. I went to the hospital. Another Covid test and this time the result is positive.
The ER doctor is kind. In her consult she was deliberate to touch my hand. The humanity of just that one gesture in the midst of the worst pains I’ve experienced and coming to terms with knowing I’m the carrier of an infectious disease, being touched made the difference.
What followed were 4 hellish days which spiraled downward so quickly I still cannot distinguish one day from the other. Day flowed into night and night into day and I suffered under a fog—a fever between 102 and 103.5. Fatigue. Complete loss of energy, appetite and the ability to swallow. I would chew but my throat wouldn’t open up to allow me to swallow. My breathing was shallow. Every joint in my body ached. I had an acute and constant head pain. I couldn’t touch my own head, it felt like a ton on my shoulders, I couldn’t keep it upright for more than a few minutes at a time. My stomach was queasy. The best way to describe it: it’s as if a truck drove across my body, stopped at every joint then parked on the top of my head and just hung out there. Then there’s that debilitating dry cough—if I’m standing when it comes I have to bend over or if it comes while I’m lying down I have to get in the fetal position.
I live alone so all of this I experienced alone except for family members and a couple of friends on the phone. I was scared. I was besides myself with worry. The worse possible scenarios passed through my mind.
In the height of a delirious moment I was on the phone with my brother, a respiratory therapist (who lives in Florida), I’m in pain, I’m crying and hysteria is setting in. And my brother switches from family to medical professional and he calms me and coaxes me with affirmations and actions I needed to take for my own care and told me if I couldn’t he’d need to call 9-1-1.
I dug deep. Prior to getting sick I exercised regularly—yoga or running or walking. And I practiced daily devotion and meditation time with God. My faith kicked in—I took control of my mind. I prayed. I willed myself out of bed and forced myself up and down stairs, one painful step at a time. I sat up more than I lay down and propped up my head when it became too difficult to keep it upright. I practiced breathing exercises even when it felt impossible to hold my breath for even a second or to exhale from my mouth. I forced myself to swallow and slowly started eating. By day 6 the fever broke.
Today is Thanksgiving and I’m now 4 days fever free. My energy level is getting back up. I’m able to breathe deeper. My appetite is slowly returning, I’m able to eat (not a lot) and to taste a bit. The head pain remains but I can hold my head up. And the cough is still severe. My voice is strong but after a bout of coughing I’ll be hoarse again.
My lifestyle has been one of gratitude. Everyday that I wake up I routinely thank God for the gift of life. And on this Thanksgiving, having survived a disease that’s killed so many, I’m especially grateful for:
The medical team that cared for me at NY Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital.
My family who kept me grounded through phone calls and care packages and especially my mom who I knew was extremely stressed and worried but was my tower of strength.
My friends who delivered food with such love, care and attention.
My partner who sat outside my window, hand-to-hand separated by windowpane connected by cell, so he could console me.
Medical professionals, who are now friends, who provided daily advice and care.
Faithful family and friends who prayed with me and for me, who entered into fasting periods to stand in the gap for me when I couldn’t stand for myself.
My faith in God that kept me especially during those valleys of the “shadow of death” moments and gave me bouncebackability.
My GP asks a lot of questions and I know doctors and researchers are doing their best to find answers. In the spirit of gratitude I’m already researching how to donate plasma and to contribute to the fight against this virus.
If I can share a couple insights from this ordeal:
Be a kind human. It’s possible to do all the right things and still get the virus. Nonetheless wear a mask, social distance and wash your hands. Be gentle. Be kind. Don’t judge.
Healthcare professionals are truly superheroes. From the time I got to the ER to the time I was discharged, I felt cared for. I was in so much pain, I was in tears, I needed to be held. The ER doctor touched my hand and I knew she did it deliberately. My brother and a friend activated their health networks and got help to me including a pulse oximeter and an incentive breathing exerciser.
Don’t let your guard down, take care of your immune health as a routine. Prior to Covid this was my immune building routine: vitamins D3 and C, zinc, iron, krill oil, oregano oil, elderberry. When I knew it was Covid I kept my routine but increased the Vitamin C. Tylenol was included to help manage the pain and reduce the fever. I also added natural remedies—an elixir of honey, onion, garlic; nightly diffuser with eucalyptus oil; and fever grass and vervine teas (thanks to my mom who expressed the two plants from Florida).
Manage your emotional capital. Getting well is more of a mental and a willpower “game” than it is anything else. You will need all your mental fortitude. For this reason I had to be selective in sharing my diagnosis. I activated my I.C.E (In Case of Emergency) system. I know my friends love me and from that place of love I know they would call, text, give advice and share the stories/experiences of others etc. in their efforts to help me. I knew I didn’t have the emotional capital to care for myself and receive all my friends would offer. I prioritized me and my care.
Be grateful. Stay grateful. Live in an attitude of gratitude.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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This blog, titled "Empowering Leadership: Building a Harmonious Partnership Between School Management and Principals," explores the essential factors that foster a strong and effective relationship between school management and principals. Drawing on historical context, philosophical principles, Indian legal frameworks, and mythological analogies, the blog offers insights into creating a balanced dynamic where principals are empowered yet accountable. It provides practical strategies for ensuring the administrative, academic, and financial health of educational institutions through clear communication, shared vision, and mutual respect.
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