Category: Time to Pray

  • 2 Peter 2 20-22

    For if
    having escaped the pollutions of the world
    by the knowledge of the Lord
    and Saviour, Jesus Christ,
    they (the false teachers?)
    having been entangled
    are defeated again
    by them (the pollutions) –
    The last (condition)
    would be worse for them than
    the first. 1
    For it was better for them
    not to have come to know
    the way of righteousness,
    than to turn from
    the holy command,
    that has been given (to them).
    The true proverb has happened to them
    A dog returns to its vomit,2
    and
    A sow washes herself (by) wallowing in the mud.

    Lord God,
    you feed us with the living bread from heaven;
    you renew our faith,
    increase our hope,
    and strengthen our love.

    Teach us to hunger
    for Christ who is the true and living bread,
    and to live by every word
    that comes from your mouth,
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
    Amen.

    1. Matthew 12:45 ↩︎
    2. Proverbs 26:11 ↩︎
  • 2 Peter 2 17-19

    These people are waterless springs,
    and mists propelled by a storm,
    for whom the gloom, that is the darkness,
    has been kept.
    For speaking boastful words of folly,
    they ensnare
    by fleshly desires
    by sensuality
    those who are barely escaping
    from those who live in error,
    promising freedom to them
    they are slaves of corruption.
    Because
    whatever/ whoever defeats one,
    to this, one is enslaved.

    O Lord Jesus Christ,
    stay beside me to defend me,
    within me to guide me,
    before me to lead me,
    and above me to bless me,
    that with you and in you,
    I may live, and move and have my being,
    for ever and ever.
    Amen.

    (unknown)

  • 2 Peter 2 13-16

    …(in their destruction
    will be destroyed with them [the evil angels].)
    when they suffer harm
    that is the reward of wrongdoing:
    considering it pleasurable
    to be self-indulgent
    in the day(light).
    (they are) spots and blemishes
    indulging in their lusts
    eating together with you.

    having eyes full of an adulteress
    insatiable sin
    enticing unsteady souls
    having hearts trained in greed,
    – children of cursing.

    leaving behind the straight way
    they have gone astray,
    following the way of Balaam (son) of Bosor
    who loved the reward of wrongdoing
    A rebuke he had regarding his transgression,
    – a mute donkey,
    speaking with a human voice
    restrained the madness of the prophet.

    Eternal God and Fatther,
    you create us by your power,
    and redeem us by your love,
    guide and strengthen us by your Spirit,
    that we may give ourselves in love and service
    to one another and to you;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.

  • 2 Peter 2 10b-12

    Bold! Arrogant!
    They [the false teachers]do not tremble
    when slandering the glorious ones [evil angels].
    – whereas [good] angels
    being greater in might and power [than evil angels]
    do not use (bear)
    a slanderous judgement
    against them [evil angels]
    from the Lord.

    But these
    as irrational animals
    born by nature
    to be caught and killed (destroyed)
    slandering
    those of whom they are ignorant
    in their destruction
    will be destroyed with them [the evil angels].

    O Lord, in whom is our hope,
    remove far from us, we pray thee,
    empty hopes and presumptuous confidence.
    Make our hearts so right with thy most holy and loving heart,
    that hoping in thee we may do good;
    until that day when faith and hope
    shall be abolished by sight and possession,
    and love shall be all in all.

    Christina Rossetti (1830-94)

  • 2 Peter 2 4-10

    For if God did not spare angels
    who sinned
    but gave them over to pits of gloom
    having held them captive in Tartarus
    who held them until judgement…
    and
    did not spare the ancient world
    but protected
    Noah the eighth
    (and seven others)
    a preacher of righteousness
    when he brought
    a flood
    upon an ungodly world,

    and if he
    having reduced to ashes
    the cities of Sodom, and Gomorrah
    he condemned {them to destruction]
    having set a warning-example
    a sign
    of the things to come
    for the ungodly
    and
    if he rescued righteous Lot
    having been troubled
    by the lawless lifestyle
    of the wicked people
    (for, the righteous man
    living among them
    tormented his righteous soul
    daily
    by what is seen and what is heard
    by lawless deeds)
    (if so…) the Lord knows how to deliver
    the godly from trial,
    and how to keep the ungodly
    for punishment

    at the day of judgement
    especially those who go after
    the flesh in its corrupt lusts
    and those who despise authority (of the Lord).

    Keep us, O Lord, while we tarry on this earth,
    in a serious seeking after thee,
    and in an affectionate walking with thee,
    every day of our lives;
    that when thou comest,
    we may be found not hiding our talent,
    nor yet asleep with our lamp unfurnished,
    but waiting and longing for our Lord,
    our glorious King, for ever and ever.

    Richard Baxter (1615-1691)

  • 2 Peter 2 1-2

    And also there were (became) false-prophets
    among the people
    as also there will be false-teachers
    among you all
    who will bring in destructive opinions
    even denying the master
    who bought them-
    bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

    And many will follow their indecencies,
    through whom the true way will be blasphemed

    And  in their greed
    by made up words
    they will exploit you
    -about whom
    the ancient judgement is not idle
    and their destruction is not sleeping.

    Eternal Light, shine into our hearts;
    Eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil;
    Eternal Power, be our support;
    Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance:
    That we may seek your face
    with all our heart and mind and soul and strength. Amen.

    Alcuin

  • 2 Peter 1 20-21

    Of first order
           know this:
                   that every prophecy of scripture
                         comes about not
                                by (the prophet’s) own interpretation.
    For no prophecy was 
           ever brought about 
                                 by the will of a human, 
    but by those
          carried by the Holy Spirit
    -they spoke from God. 
                   

    Eternal Light, shine into our hearts;
    Eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil;
    Eternal Power, be our support;
    Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance:
    That we may seek your face
    with all our heart and mind and soul and strength. Amen.

    Alcuin

  • 2 Peter 1 19

    And we have the prophetic word,

    confirmed,

    which you would do well

    to pay attention to

    as a lamp shining in a dark place,

    until day dawns,
    and (the) morning  star rises

    in your hearts.

    God, give me grace to accept with serenity
    the things that cannot be changed,
    Courage to change the things
    which should be changed,
    and the Wisdom to distinguish
    the one from the other.

    Living one day at a time,
    Enjoying one moment at a time,
    Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
    Taking, as Jesus did,
    This sinful world as it is,
    Not as I would have it,
    Trusting that You will make all things right,
    If I surrender to Your will,
    So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
    And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

    Amen.

  • 2 Peter 1 16-18

    For we did not follow cleverly devised myths
    when we made known to you 
    the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 
    For when he received honour and glory
    from God the Father,
    and the voice was borne to him
    by the Majestic Glory, 
    “This is my beloved Son, 
    with whom I am well pleased,” 
    we ourselves heard this very voice
    borne from heaven,
    for we were with him
    on the holy mountain. 

    Eternal Light, shine into our hearts,
    Eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil,
    Eternal Power, be our support,
    Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance,
    Eternal Pity, have mercy upon us;
    that with all our heart and mind
    and soul and strength we may seek thy face
    and be brought by thine infinite mercy
    to thy holy presence;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.

    Alcuin (735-804)

  • 2 Peter 1 12-14

    Therefore
    I shall be ready to remind you
    always
    about these things
    although
    (you) know (them)
    and have been established
    in the truth
    that you have.

    And I think it right,
    as long I am in this tent,
    to awaken you in remembrance
    knowing that
    the taking off of my body
    is soon
    also Our Lord Jesus Christ
    has made clear (it) to me.
    So I will also do my best
    to see that
    after my departure
    you might always have a remembrance of these things.


    Lord, you have given me so much,
    I ask for one more thing –
    a grateful heart.

    George Herbert