Psalm 46
Psalm 46:1-2 says that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear." Fear is the one of the strongest feelings most Christian’s have right now. Why is this happening? Where is God in all of this? Who allowed this to get so bad? Not having the answers can leave us feeling confused and anxious. This Bible verse reminds us that we are not alone. We can seek refuge in God’s arms, and He will give us the strength to keep pushing forward. We do not have to fear the state of the world because we have Him on our side.
What We Do
In solidarity with one another, all Daughters everywhere make the same promises upon their admission to the Order:
To obey the two Rules of The Order: the Rule of Prayer and the Rule of Service.
To offer at all times loyal aid to our clergy and parish to spread Christ’s kingdom.
To wear faithfully the cross of The Order.
To work for the purposes of The Order as God may give us the opportunity.
The Prayer of the Order
O Eternal Father, you have sent us your Son to teach us things pertaining to your heavenly Kingdom. Give your blessing to our Order wherever it may be throughout the world. Grant that we, your Daughters, ever may discern your truth and bear the cross through the battles of our earthly life. Give us strength to overcome temptation and the grace to work to spread your Kingdom and to gather your scattered sheep within your fold. Pour out upon us the sevenfold gift of the Holy Spirit that we may always remember it is your work we are called to do, that all we think, do or say may be pleasing in your sight. We ask it all For His Sake, our King and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
A Prayer for Victim of Fire
Gracious God, you led your people through the wilderness and into the promised land by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Be now with all those who have been evacuated due to the recent fires in California, especially those who have already lost their homes to the fire. Give them comfort in the knowledge that even though the fires rage and the earth gives way You will never leave them nor forsake them. Be their Rock and their Refuge. Into Your loving hands we commend them and all others who suffer in any way, for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Prayers During this Time of the Pandemic
Dear Lord, I am so frustrated. I want to make sure I have what my family needs during this time. I see people not taking this pandemic seriously, and I see other people hoarding supplies so that others can’t get what they need. Help me with my attitude towards these people. Help me to hold my tongue on social media, to be a light and an encourager, not a sharp-tongued slanderer. Remind me that we all want to keep our families safe, and we all react differently to fear. Remind me to pray for those who are causing frustration, not to be angry with them. Help me to be an example by following the guidelines set forth by our authorities, and also by putting the needs of others before my own by offering to help my neighbors if they are in need. Amen.
A Prayer for Those Infected
Gracious God, I never imagined that I would get this virus. I trust you, but I confess I’m afraid of the unknown. I don’t know how bad my symptoms will get, and I hate knowing I might have infected other people before I knew I was sick. You are the Great Physician, and so I pray for healing. I pray I don’t end up in the hospital and I pray that I didn’t spread this to other people. Give me courage to face the day. Give me the self-discipline to rest and take care of my body while I’m recovering. Help me to praise you, even in this storm. Help me to glorify you with my attitude even in this trial. Help me to spread hope, not fear. Remind me that while I don’t know what my future holds, I know who holds my future. Amen.
A Prayer for Those Who Live in Fear
A Prayer for the Unemployed
Almighty Father. You are our provider. Everything we have comes from You. But right now I feel like everything is being taken from me. I’ve been laid off from work, and if I can’t make money, how will we pay our bills? How will I feed my family? I’m usually the strong one, but even I feel anxiety now. Please be with us. Please help me to point my family to you, even though I feel so lost and confused. Help me to demonstrate trust in you to my family. Give me the discipline to lead my family in worship since we can’t gather with our church family. Give me peace. I trust you Lord! Amen.
A Prayer for Our Healthcare Workers
Loving Father, I’m exhausted. There are so many people relying on me, and I’m not sure I can be stretched any thinner. I honestly didn’t know I could keep going on such little sleep, so I give you praise for keeping me going! Please, Lord, keep me safe. Keep me healthy so that I can continue caring for the sick. I ask that you protect all the healthcare workers. We need them to be healthy and available. I know that you are the great physician. You are the healer. I ask that you would put your healing hand on our patients. I ask that you would work through us to give them the best care possible. Give us strength when we are weak, endurance to push through the long hours, and tongues that offer hope and compassion to these people who are sick and scared. Some of our patients won’t survive this virus. Lord, don’t let us become numb. Allow us to mourn with those who mourn, but also give us the strength to keep going, to keep working. Give us opportunities to share the hope that is found in you. Help us not to be afraid. Remind us to praise you in this storm. Amen.
A Prayer for Our Country
2 Chronicles 7:14 says “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven,” Daughters, we are commanded by God to pray for our leaders so that as a country our collective hearts will turn back to God!
Let us Pray. God our Loving Father, Giver of life, we entrust the United States of America to Your loving care. Send Your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation's leaders. Open their minds to the great worth of human life and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom. Remind Your people that true happiness is rooted in seeking and doing Your will and grant us the courage to reject and speak out against all that brings chaos, hurt and pain to all people whether native or foreign. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Reflection
Isaiah 55:6 says “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.”
I have been reflecting a lot lately trying to make sense of our current reality. I don’t know about you but I am really exhausted. I’m tired of watching Humanity regress rather than evolve. Tired of how we have been treating our planet. Tired of the wars we create and the violence associated with it. There is so much judgment, criticism, and complaining. Too much jealousy and envy for others’ accomplishments. The Ego has been in charge for way too long. There is no gratitude dedicated to what we do have. Instead, we focus on what we don’t have.
I know this may be hard to grasp, but I am passionate about waking people up and helping them understand that the time for change is NOW. It is essential to begin shifting and transforming our actions into renewed healing, into seeing each other as the same and not the other and we must pray for God to deliver us from our biases and hate towards people of color and those whose way of living is different than our own.
God created everyone equal, but we walked away from God’s word and interpreted the Word of God found in our bibles our way and today, we are calling out to God to come and fix this crisis, this uncomfortable situation, this financial uncertainty all of which is the byproduct of our behavior. My question to you and all Daughter’s is what are you going to do about it? Isaiah 55:6 says “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.” Let us seek God today and ask Him to change our hearts, minds and souls to reflect Him and His Love that he has for all people. Let’s do that today, because, tomorrow is not promised. Amen.
For Faithfulness in Service
O Lord, Jesus Christ, head of the mystical body of the church of which we are members, cleanse our eyes to see you, quicken our ears to hear you, open our lips to show forth your praise, give our hands skill to do your bidding, and make our feet swift to go where you guide, that your Kingdom may come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, all for your dear sake. Amen.
For a Daughter Who Has Died
Dear Heavenly Father, we bless You for all those who have departed this life in Your faith and fear. Through their loving service to others and the Order and their way of prayerful living they endeavored to perfect Your will in their life. May their deep faith be an inspiration to all and so illumine the hearts of women and girls to find You along their earthly pilgrimage. Grant that the light of Your presence and Your eternal peace be their great and everlasting reward. Amen.
For Members Who are Ill
O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers, mercifully accept our prayer and grant to all the help of your power, that their sickness may be turned to health and our sorrow to joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Healing
Our Heavenly Father, by whose loving kindness and mercy our souls and bodies are renewed, look upon your children for whom we pray. Knowing you are interested in personal needs, we bring to your altar those who are perplexed or afraid, as we ask you to take away fear; those who face physical suffering, as we ask you to give them courage to endure; those who seem burdened with indecision, as we ask you to lift the pall of confusion. We also bring those who are lonely, for whom we ask companionship. We ask guidance and comfort for those to whom death has brought sorrow and despair. Amen.
Prayer for Peace in Troubled Times
Dear Lord, in these troubled times make your presence known to all the peoples around the world so that they may see peace as the only way to salvation. Replace the anger and violence in our hearts with joy and tranquility and help us to seek the good in everyone. Cause us all to realize that without you we can do nothing that will bring us peace and joy. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayers. Amen.
The Holy Cross
Almighty God, whose beloved son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption: Give us courage to take up our cross and follow Him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Nehemiah Prayer Litany by Nancy Severin
Intimate and loving God, we assemble across this nation in our homes hedged in by saints seen and unseen, to join voices and heartbeat – to witness to the power of Your Light and Truth. Breathe into us the holy expectation of Your longing, inspiring our commitment to Your Word.
Here is my life. Here is my holy intention.
Like Nehemiah awakened, open my eyes and heart to fully see the reality in front of me.
I confess my sleeping complicity, O Lord. Grant me the inward grace to see.
Like Nehemiah awakened, give me insight to know the path before me.
I repent of my indolence O Lord. Show me what stones need to be moved in my life.
Like Nehemiah awakened, grant me the strength to challenge my thoughts and assumptions of injustice and inequality.
I repent of my partialities O Lord. Cleanse me from my hardness of heart.
Like Nehemiah awakened, stir me from my silences when hatred, racism and violence leave me speechless.
I repent of my timidity in the face of cruelty, O Lord. By confession, strengthen me for the task ahead.
I acknowledge my personal responsibility and I pray for a reordering of my life. May the Truth of the Gospel transform my life.
Like Nehemiah empowered, may I stand in the breech between crumbling wall and foundational faith, holding civility and compassion in outstretched arms.
Restore this holy work O Lord. May I make the place where I live “the city of God.”
Like Nehemiah empowered, may I attempt to do good work for the greatest number of people.
Restore a fullness of trust in my heart, O Lord. May I turn from those who engender opposition to Your Word.
Like Nehemiah empowered, fill my sleeping spirits with unceasing desire for spiritual, physical and mental healing.
Restore new life in the barren and hungry places of my life, O Lord. May Your Holy Spirit breathe deep and long in me.
Like Nehemiah empowered, free me from doubt and fear as I meditate on Your Word with Ezra fervor and commitment.
Restore within me an empathetic spirit O Lord. May I lead with compassion and mercy in my every conversation.
I acknowledge my hesitancy in stepping out and I pray for a life of conviction. I will start rebuilding – the God of heaven will give me success.
Like Nehemiah on fire, reignite Your Spirit within me that calls up Ezra perseverance and determination.
Revive my soul O Lord. May Scripture become the Living Word in every moment.
Like Nehemiah on fire, gather me in! Joining with my sisters bind us together in a united voice of love.
Revive my heart O Lord. May I sing Your praises and follow Your ways.
Like Nehemiah on fire, encourage Your Daughters to live fully in God’s grace, keeping the Sabbath Holy and seeking rest that heals the soul.
Revive my very being O Lord. May I uplift this country to Your Providence asking that You cover us in peace and protection.
Like Nehemiah on fire, open the gates of heaven and unleash the power of Your righteousness – sheltering me – delivering me from all evil intent.
Revive and guard my thoughts O Lord. May I encircle my being with prayer - hedged, protected and loved. Impenetrable.
I acknowledge that our nation is at a crossroad. It is upon me to proclaim that it is the road to the cross - the only road to salvation. But equally yoked spiritually we travel the narrow Way together.
As Daughters of the King, we turn to our vows made before You and our families of faith, recalling the claim they had on our hearts when we first uttered them. Vows to put You first in our lives.
We recommit ourselves to love You with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
As Daughters of the King, we entrust the healing of our country to You as we lay our prayers daily before You. We trust that this deep prayer will lead us to serve boldly or quietly as You so deem.
We commit ourselves to a Vigil of Prayer spanning 52 days, believing that the power of prayer cannot be contained or thwarted.
As Daughters of the King, we ask in the name of Jesus to expand our hearts and purify our intents and desires. We consent to letting go of outcome, trusting in Your supreme goodness. We are Your faithful remnant.
We recommit to live out our motto asking, “Lord, what will You have me do?” For there has never been a time that a Daughter has asked, “What can one person do?” In Jesus’ name and For His Sake, AMEN.
The Motto of the Order
For His Sake...I am but one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
What I can do, I ought to do.
What I ought to do, by the grace of God I will do.
Lord, what will you have me do?
Closing Prayer
Lord, your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.
Thank you that we can live in Your light and walk in Your truth.
May the things that you have revealed and thoughts that we have shared
dwell in our hearts and stir us to action. We ask all this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
Daughters, may the Lord Almighty grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end. AMEN.
