Jan 3, 2024

Anonymous (Good digestion)

It has never occurred to me to pray for good digestion.
Why not?

We read in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, “Don’t worry about anything but instead, pray about everything” (Phil. 4.6). The origins of today’s prayer are obscure. It appeared years ago on a tablet found in Chester Cathedral in England; the Ginter Park Women’s Club in 1935 included it in their Famous Recipes from Old Virginia cookbook. (You probably think I’m making this stuff up!) A newspaper in Wales frequently published the prayer as early as the 1920’s. It has been attributed to multiple authors, including Thomas More, as early as the sixth century.

This wide-ranging prayer intrigues me because the person who originated it prayed not only for good digestion but also for healthy bodies, sound minds, and a good sense of humor. Really? A sense of humor?

Jesus said, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh” (Luke 6.21). Did you catch that? You will laugh! Weeping will end, but not laughter.

Now, I’m all in!

We read in Proverbs, “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Prov. 17.22).

The following prayer is certain to cheer you:

“Give me a good digestion, Lord,
And also something to digest.
Give me a healthy body, Lord,
With sense to keep it at its best.
Give me a healthy mind, Good Lord,
To keep the good and pure in sight,
Which seeing sin, is not appalled
But finds a way to set it right.
Give me a mind that is not bored,
That does not whimper, whine, or sigh;
Don’t let me worry overmuch
About the fussy thing called “I.”
Give me a sense of humor, Lord,
Give me the grace to see a joke,
To get some pleasure out of life
And pass it on to other folk.”

Thomas More, “Daily Prayers”

Rev. Dr. Peter James served 42 years as the senior of Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, VA — 21 years in the 20th century and 21 years in the 21st century. He retired in 2021 and now serves as Pastor-in-Residence at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Even as a pastor, prayer came slowly to Pete. Read Pete’s story.