Christ in Me, Christ Beneath Me, Christ Above Me
As St. Patrick’s Day approaches this week, I’m reflecting on the blessings of Christ.
Just a few years ago, I discovered (through a simple gift of an Ancestry.com membership kit) that I was not 100% Dutch as I’d always believed. I was also Irish. 34% was the initial report.
Growing up, we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by wearing green so we wouldn’t get pinched by our friends at school. Nobody ever explained to me who he was and what he did. I’m grateful to George Hunter and his book The Celtic Way of Evangelism for the things I’ve learned about St. Patrick. Here are three things you should know about him:
- Patrick was a Christian.
- Patrick was a Missionary.
- Patrick started a Missionary Movement.
(If you’d like to learn more about him, I’d encourage you to explore a short article I wrote about St Patrick a few years ago)
I appreciate this prayer attributed to St Patrick – often known as St. Patrick’s Breastplate:
I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me,
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s hosts to save me
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.
Christ shield me today
Against wounding
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.
I have written this prayer in my daily journal, and I often read through these words as I start my day. I hope this prayer inspires you to live each day in the reality that Christ dwells in you – the hope of glory. (Col 1:27)
Christ be with you, before you, behind you, in you, beneath you, and above you,
Dave DeVries
Vinia Executive Director
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This blog post is from the March 14, 2023 Vinia Newsletter.
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