A notification from WordPress that my blog has passed 100,000 all-time views gives me reason to take a moment to give thanks. I give thanks to those of you who have read some of my blog posts, and I give thanks to God for the privilege of serving in this way. That is the sole purpose of my blog – to serve God, by sharing my sermons, devotions, poems, and other “pastoral ponderings” along the way. And each post that I publish is done so with the prayer that it is both pleasing to God and a blessing to those who read it. Along those lines, I wrote and shared a prayer for my blog last year that seems appropriate to share it again here:

Gracious and Loving God,

I give thanks to you for the privilege of serving you through this blog, 
    for the opportunity to share my faith in this way, 
    and I pray for each and every person who visits these pages. 
I ask you, Lord, to bless all who read these words, 
    praying that you would draw them closer to you as they do so. 
Guide me and help me as I seek to share your life and love 
    with those who visit here. 
There is nothing I want more, Lord, 
    than to be faithful to you in thought, word, and deed, 
    but I can only do this with your steadfast help.
Lead me in right pathways, Lord,  
    as I write and as I live. 
Help me to ponder your word and its implication for our world 
    with persistence, faithfulness, and always with prayer. 
Help me to abide in you, 
    for apart from you I can do nothing of value in your sight. 
May all my words be acceptable and pleasing to you, 
    my strength and my redeemer. 
Where I have written something that is not pleasing in your sight, 
    I beg forgiveness. 
Where I have written something that brings you honor, 
    I ask you to help others to find it. 
I pray, too, for all my fellow bloggers, 
    as they share their faith and proclaim on their pages 
    the good news of your love in Jesus. 
Bless their efforts and encourage them 
    as they serve you in this way. 
May some of the seed we cast in faith
    land on good soil and bring forth grain.
But since we do not always see the fruit of our labors,
    I pray, dear Lord, that you would help us
    not to concern ourselves with numbers, or success, 
    but only with faithfulness to you. 
The truth is that we all see in this mirror of life so dimly, 
    and know only in part. 
Teach us and guide us, 
    until that blessed day when we will know fully, 
    even as we have been fully known. 
I ask these things, and whatever else you know we need, 
    in the name of your son, Jesus. 
Amen.