Today’s prayer-poem is different than previous ones; it is a set of song lyrics I wrote for my newest little friend, baby Karis Rose, to celebrate her life, and to encapsulate the hopes and wishes I have for her. So, it is therefore a prayer of blessing upon another person, asking for God to guide them from the cradle to the grave. I hope that these words might bless you, reader, and you would feel free to speak or sing this prayer over children (or other people) in your own life, as it seems appropriate. The lyrics were written to be sung to the tune of Erin Shore, an Irish tune that goes by several names, and which I first heard so beautifully recorded by The Corrs in the 1990s (link to the musical recording at the bottom of the post).

The Lord guard your sleep, His angels surround you,
His peace be your light and shield.
Through thunder and windstorm, through shadows so dark,
Through every gray current of fear.
Till morning light triumphs with bright rays of dawn,
And mercy, as promised, appears.
The Lord guard your sleep (a gift to His loved ones)
And carry you in His will.
~
The Lord guard your mind, His wisdom surround you,
His grace be your foremost thought.
His Word answer questions, instruct and uphold;
His truth drown all lies that may come.
His thoughts, which are higher, help your mind to grow,
To better see what He has done.
The Lord guard your mind, lift you from temptation,
And carry you in His will.
~
The Lord guard your heart, His kindness surround you,
His love give you eyes to see.
With goodness may you help each person He sends,
With strength He provides, meeting needs.
With faithfulness, too, may you dance in the light
Which only our Good Father brings
The Lord guard your heart, with purity fill you,
And carry you in His will.
~
The Lord guard your steps, His goodness surround you,
Your path smooth as it should be.
A way laced with landmarks of comfort and joy,
Reminding you where you have been
Was never too far from the help of His hand,
His presence there time and again.
The Lord guard your steps, lead upward to glory,
And carry you in His will.
~
The Lord guard your soul, His salvation reach you
And keep you till your last day.
Then, homeward to Heaven you’ll happily fly
To bask in His light evermore.
The tears that you shed will forever be dried,
And you will rejoice in our Lord.
The Lord guard your soul with His sovereign mercy
And carry you in His will.

(Credit to these musicians for their performance of the classic tune I borrowed to go with my lyrics.)

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Storms rolled in today, O Lord of the waves;

Even though I know You saw, I find I need to pray,

“Replace all the chaos in my mind, in my heart.

Envelop my frustration in the blessed calm You are.”

Now, no matter what I feel, let me somehow know:

In the peace, after the thunder, You inhabit this glow.

There’ll come a moment when my mind will meet You here.

You’ll lift my burdens, help me relax without these cares.

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The Lord looks down from places high,

So lofty, so unreachable

And lifts the lowly, freed from pride

To heights so unattainable.

Yes, He alone can do this feat

So gracious, so unthinkable

And lead us to His mercy seat

So blood-tinged, so unchangeable.

When things of life would lay me low,

Help me, then, not begrudge my pride’s melting.

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It’s time for some honest reflection, Lord God.

The need hits my heart while my eyes watch the News.

So much corruption,

Such anguished cries.

I realize that I’ve never doubted Your love

Nor doubted that You’ll keep all this in view.

But the temptation

Has clouded my eyes:

To doubt You’ll know when to deem it “enough”–

That You’ll keep Your promise to make all things new.

Grant me redirection;

Help my trust thrive.

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