Morning prayer · 5 December

Soft and tender heart

A soft candle flame drawn warm and steady, held safe inside a small glass lantern against a gust of wind bending the grass around it, with the words “keep my heart soft and tender” lettered by hand.

Gracious Father, keep me by your Holy Spirit. Keep my heart soft and tender now, while I’m well and busy in the world’s rush. Keep me aware of you as my Father in Jesus Christ. Keep alive in me a spirit of love and gentleness to everyone, so that I can be gentle and active and firm, all at once. Give me strength to bear pain or sickness or danger, or whatever you send, as Christ’s soldier and servant, and let my faith overcome the world every day. Complete and bless the work of your Spirit in the hearts of all your people. May your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as in heaven. I ask this, and all you see I need, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.

1 John 5:4 (BSB)

Adapted from Thomas Arnold, via Prayers Ancient and Modern (1897), in plain words. The verse is from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). Drawing: Mutter.