Christ Be With Me

Christ be with me and within me, Christ behind me and before,

Christ beneath me and above me, Christ to comfort and restore,

Christ in quiet and in danger,

Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in the mouth of friends and strangers,

Christ in every heart that’s broken, Christ in every joy and pain,

Christ in every word that’s spoken, Christ in sun and moon and rain,

Christ to guide and to shield me, Christ protecting me in strife.

-Excerpt from the Breastplate of St. Patrick

Patrick was captured at 16, and lived as a slave for 6 years, before escaping back to his family. Patrick then trained to become a priest, and traveled back to the unchurched land of Ireland to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the very people who had enslaved him in his youth. Patrick surely face challenging days living in Ireland. Patrick likely had days that he could have thought, this is too hard, I am going home. He likely had moments where he wondered how can I ever do what I have been called to do? Or will I even be safe as I seek to do it?

It was from a man who knew slavery, pain, loneliness, and deep struggles that this prayer was born out of. Patrick’s prayer is a reminder to us right out of Psalm 139: 2, 8-10: “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me.”

You will have days and even seasons of life just like Patrick. My encouragement to you is to memorize his prayer. Say it each morning as you wake up, remind yourself throughout your day, that wherever you go, whatever you do, God is there with you.

Pastor Bill

Discussion

1. Where is one place that you it’s hard to remember God is part of in your life?