Prayers for Lent by Desmond Tutu.

Today I am posting two prayers associated with Desmond Tutu. The first is adapted from an original prayer by Sir Francis Drake. I first posted this prayer a couple of years ago and it continues to be one of the most popular on my blog. I like to post it each year as it is so appropriate for the season of Lent.

Disturb us, O Lord

when we are too well-pleased with ourselves 
when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little, 
because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, O Lord

when with the abundance of things we possess, 
we have lost our thirst for the water of life 
when, having fallen in love with time, 
we have ceased to dream of eternity 
and in our efforts to build a new earth, 
we have allowed our vision of Heaven to grow dim.

Stir us, O Lord

to dare more boldly, to venture into wider seas 
where storms show Thy mastery, 
where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.

In the name of Him who pushed back the horizons of our hopes 
and invited the brave to follow.

Amen

The second prayer is from Desmond Tutu’s An African Prayer Book.

Victory is Ours
Goodness is stronger than evil;
Love is stronger than hate;
Light is stronger than darkness;
Life is stronger than death;
Victory is ours through Him who loves us.

This has been adapted and put to music by John Bell.
The words for the song are:

Goodness is stronger than evil, Love is stronger than hate;
Light is stronger than darkness, life is stronger than death;
Victory is ours, Victory is ours
through God who loves us.
Victory is ours, Victory is ours
through God who loves us.

Music by John Bell
GIA (c) 1996 Iona Community

And much to my delight later found this delightful rendition of the song.

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