This Interfaith Devotional program focuses on the idea that God dwells within us. These readings have been selected from various religious traditions. Please come and join us on Sundays at 9:30 am at the Beaverton Baha’i Center.
Opening Prayer
God, I yield myself to you in every facet of my being. I yield my spirit to You. Do with me what you want to do. I am Yours, and make myself available for Your service. I yield my soul to You. I yield my mind and will and emotions to you. I yield all of my gifts and talents to You. They are Yours, Lord. I lay them all down at Your feet. I yield my body to You for Your service. I yield my mouth, to speak Your Word. I yield my ears to hear what You want me to hear. I yield my eyes to see what You want me to see. I yield my feet to go where you want me to go. I yield all of myself to You. When people see me, let them see You in me. Show me my heart, Lord, and change me. Amen
Christianity, Catholic Prayers of the Heart
First Reading
Within the lotus of the heart He dwells, where the nerves meet like the spokes of a wheel at its hub.
Hinduism, Mundaka Upanishad
All the Prophets have striven to make love manifest in the hearts of men. Jesus Christ sought to create this love in the hearts. He suffered all difficulties and ordeals that perchance the human heart might become the fountain source of love. Therefore, we must strive with all our heart and soul that this love may take possession of us so that all humanity–whether it be in the East or in the West– may be connected through the bond of this divine affection; for we are all the waves of one sea; we have come into being through the same bestowal and are recipients from the same center. The lights of earth are all acceptable, but the center of effulgence is the sun, and we must direct our gaze to the sun. God is the Supreme Center. The more we turn toward this Center of Light, the greater will be our capacity.
Bahá’í Faith, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Music
Second Reading
The body is a dwelling of the True Lord, and the heart like a garden in bloom. Within it are fountains, within it are prayer grounds, within it, places to bow down in prayer. This body of yours is the True Lord’s dwelling, so mystic, look inside!
Islam, Sufi
Day and night I pray to Heaven for you that strength may be yours, and that, one and all, you may participate in the blessings … and enter into the Kingdom. I supplicate that you may become as new beings, illumined with the Divine Light, like unto shining lamps, and that … the knowledge of the Love of God may spread. May this boundless love so fill your hearts and minds that sadness may find no room to enter and may you with joyful hearts soar like birds into the Divine Radiance.
Bahá’í Faith, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Have Me, then, in thy heart always! Thou too, when heart and mind are fixed on Me shalt surely come to Me! All come who cleave with never-wavering will of firmest faith, owning none other Gods: all come to Me.
Hinduism, Bhagavad Gita
O Son of Spirit! My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and everlasting.
Bahá’í Faith, Bahá’u’lláh
Listen to the Teachings; enshrine them in your heart; enshrine the Lord’s Name deep within your heart. The Mansion of the Lord’s Presence is revealed within the home of one’s own heart.
Sikhism
Music
Third Reading
My earth and My heaven contain Me not, but the heart of my faithful servant containeth Me.
Islam, The Masnavi
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Judaism, Psalm 119:9-10
As the human heart, as fashioned by God, is one and undivided, it behoveth thee to take heed that its affections be, also, one and undivided. Cleave thou, therefore, with the whole affection of thine heart, unto His love, and withdraw it from the love of any one besides Him, that He may aid thee to immerse thyself in the ocean of His unity, and enable thee to become a true upholder of His oneness.
Bahá’í Faith, Bahá’u’lláh
What closes the doors of the heart is fear, confusion, depression, spite, discouragement, disappointment, and a troubled conscience; and when that is cleared away, the doors of the heart open… The sensation of joy is felt in the center of the breast, also the heaviness caused by depression. Therefore as long as the breast remains choked with anything, the heart remains closed. When the breast is cleared from whatever is choking it, the heart is open. It is the open heart which can receive reflections from the Divine Spirit within.
Islam, Sufi
O My Brother! A pure heart is as a mirror; cleanse it with the burnish of love and severance from all save God, that the true sun may shine within it and the eternal morning dawn. Then wilt thou clearly see the meaning of “Neither doth My earth nor My heaven contain Me, but the heart of My faithful servant containeth Me.” And thou wilt take up thy life in thine hand, and with infinite longing cast it before the new Beloved One.
Bahá’í Faith, Bahá’u’lláh
Music
Open Prayers
Music
Closing Prayer
Create in me a pure heart, O my God, and renew a tranquil conscience within me, O my Hope! Through the spirit of power confirm Thou me in Thy Cause, O my Best-Beloved, and by the light of Thy glory reveal unto me Thy path, O Thou the Goal of my desire! Through the power of Thy transcendent might lift me up unto the heaven of Thy holiness, O Source of my being, and by the breezes of Thine eternity gladden me, O Thou Who art my God! Let Thine everlasting melodies breathe tranquility on me, O my Companion, and let the riches of Thine ancient countenance deliver me from all except Thee, O my Master, and let the tidings of the revelation of Thine incorruptible Essence bring me joy, O Thou Who art the most manifest of the manifest and the most hidden of the hidden!
Bahá’í Faith, Bahá’u’lláh
- Cover – He Dwells Within the Heart
- Program – He Dwells Within the Heart
- Program (rtf) – He Dwells Within the Heart
- Readings – He Dwells Within the Heart
Photo by Mayur Gala on Unsplash
