Prayers

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A Prayer for Our Family

Vienna Cobb Anderson

O Loving God,
bless our family with your love.
Guard us from all danger and harm;
deliver us from anger that leads to division;
empower us to forgive as we have been forgiven;
and send us into the world
to witness to your love and grace;
in the name of Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.

 

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Source of All Good

James Martineau

Source of all good! Day by day are thy blessings renewed to us; and again we come with thankful hearts to seek the sense of thy presence. O that we could be reborn like the morning, and our love rise as fresh as the dawn, and our obedience be as sure as the path of the sun.

For even as we seek to commune with thee, shadows from our past dim the joy of our aspiration. We remember our thoughtless lives, our impatient tempers, our selfish aims; and yet we know that thou has neither made us blind like the creatures that have no sin, nor left us without holy guidance--thy still, small voice speaking in our inmost conscience and thine open word, having dwelt among us full of grace and truth, appealing to us to choose the better part.

Take us now to serve thee in newness of spirit, and sweep away with a holy breath every dust of care, every trace of fear, every taint of an uncharitable mind.

 

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Prayer for Students

Anonymous

Father of Light and Wisdom,
thank you for giving me
a mind that can know
and a heart that can love.

Help me to keep learning every day of my life--
no matter what the subject may be.
Let me be convinced that all knowledge leads to you
and let me know how to find you and love you
in all the things you have made.

Encourage me when the studies are difficult
and when I am tempted to give up
Enlighten me when my brain is slow
and help me to grasp the truth held out to me.

Grant me the grace to put my knowledge to use
in building the kingdom of God on earth
so that I may enter the kingdom of God in heaven.
Amen.

 

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Blessing for Many Occasions

Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

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Prayer for the Sick

Anonymous

Heavenly Father, giver of life and health: Comfort and relieve thy sick servants, and give thy power of healing to those who minister to their needs, that those for whom our prayers are offered may be strengthened in their weakness and have confidence in thy loving care; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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Prayer for Help With Finances

Lynn Robinson

Dear God,

I surrender my financial affairs and concerns about money to your Divine care and love.

I ask that you remove my worries, anxieties, and fears about money, and replace them with faith.

I know and trust that my debts will be paid and money will flow into my life.

I have only to look to nature to see proof of the abundance you provide.

I release all negative thoughts about money, and know that prosperity is my true state.

I commit to being grateful for all that I now have in my life.

I learn to manage my finances wisely, seeking help where needed.

And finally, I ask you to help me understand my purpose in life and to act on that purpose with courage and strength. I know that prosperity will come, in part, by doing work I love. Please help me use my skills and knowledge to be of service in the world.

Thank you, God.

 

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In Time of Need

Anonymous

Heavenly Father,
in my present need,
help me to believe
that you are aware of my anxiety
and will do what is best for me.
Give me the strength to trust you
and put the present and future in your hands.
Grant this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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In Remembrance of John Paul II

Beliefnet member tejohns

Thank you heavenly father for Pope John Paul II. He has been a great inspiration and one of the greatest men to have walked this earth. Keep him in your graces forevermore. God bless you Pope John Paul II. You will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.

 

ps:Interesting prayer I'd say!

 

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Prayer of Thanksgiving

Rev. Lynn James

We gather today, Lord of abundant life, as grateful children. Delighted and humbled by our bounty, we celebrate gifts of food and shelter, of colors that dance at dawn and dusk; we relish the scent of cooking foods, of burning leaves and summer's wet grass, of snowflake, of animal fur. We marvel at the intricacy of spiders' webs and fish bones, newborn babies and lines etched on faces of grandparents come for a visit today. All gifts from Your hand. When our meal is completed, leftovers stashed, and naps taken, we will leave replete, energized, and eager to go generously into the world and share our good fortune.

 

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Night Prayer of a Wife and Mother

Anonymous

Lord, bless the man with whom I sleep
And in Your constant care him keep.
Bless our children as they grow,
Keep them safe from head to toe.
Bless all those in heaven with You
Give them the peace and rest they're due.
Bless all my family and my friends
Help them with means to their good ends.
And Lord, please bless me with sleep divine
To mend and soothe a weary mind. Amen.

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A Prayer for Our Economic Times

anonymous

O Lord God, As I survey the stormy economic seas troubling our nation, Troubling me, my family, my friends, my community, I ask Lord that we may steady ourselves in these winds of change, By reaching out to you, being stronger servants. O Lord God, You banished Adam from the garden for disobedience. You told him to work with the scare resources of the earth. I ask Lord that we may learn to manage our resources more wisely, By reaching out to you, being wiser stewards. O Lord God, You told the rich young ruler to give everything up and follow, You understand the material walls we build to shut you out, I ask Lord that we may constantly seek to break down the barriers, By reaching out to you, being better disciples. O Lord God, You provide all that we need to live a life fulfilled, You never abandon us even when we are selfish and foolish, I ask Lord that we may see the wealth we have in you, By reaching out, being dependent only on you. O Lord God, You sustain your faithful people through good times and bad, You know when we fail and when we are faithful to your will, I ask Lord that we may show the Gospel in the midst of economic confusion, By reaching out to you, being beacons of your Word.

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Prayer for Soldiers Killed in the Iraq War

Beliefnet member shaner

May all soldiers who fell in Iraq be blessed and praised for giving the ultimate sacrifice. May our Lord be holding all in his arms, and bring peace and comfort to their families.

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Prayer of the Aging

Genesis 1:28

May Christ keep me ever young to the greater glory of God.
For old age comes from Him, old age leads to Him,
and old age will touch me only insofar as He wills.
To be "young" means to be hopeful, energetic, smiling --- and clearsighted.
May I accept death in whatever guise it may come to me in Christ,
that is, within the process of the development of life.

A smile --- inward and outward --- means facing with mildness
and gentleness whatever befalls me.

Jesus, grant me to serve You, to proclaim You, to glorify You,
and to manifest You, to the very end through all the time
that remains to me of life, and above all through my death.

Lord Jesus, I commit to your care my last years, and my death;
do not let them impair or spoil the work I have so dreamed of achieving
for You. Amen.

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Prayer for the Beginning of the Day

St. Philaret of Moscow

O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace, help me in all things to rely upon your holy will. In every hour of the day reveal your will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all that comes to throughout the day with peace of soul and with firm conviction that your will governs all. In all my deeds and words, guide my thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events, let me not forget that all are sent by you. Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others. Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring. Direct my will, teach me to pray. And you, yourself, pray in me. Amen.

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Celebration of Freedom in America

Anonymous

Lord God Almighty, in whose name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant, we beseech thee, that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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I Am Afraid of Death

Maureen Pratt

O Lord, I am human and I am afraid of death.
Help me calm my soul and heart
and prepare my spirit for moving from this life
into the glorious eternity that you have promised,
into the heaven where I will dwell with you forever!

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Prayer for Victims of Terrorism

Anonymous

Loving God,
Welcome into your arms the victims of violence and terrorism.
Comfort their families and all who grieve for them.
Help us in our fear and uncertainty,
And bless us with the knowledge that we are secure in your love.
Strengthen all those who work for peace,
And may the peace the world cannot give reign in our hearts.

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Prayer for Children's Values

Marian Wright Edelman

God help us to weave a tapestry of love and not hate in our children, a spirit of tolerance and caring, a dedication to freedom for all and not just some. God help us to sow seeds of peace and justice in our children's hearts today.

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To Be Content Alone

Jim & Kaye Johns

Father, I'm praying for (name one or more) and others in my circle of family and friends who are single...

For these who are not married and may find it troubling, I ask You to help them learn to be content with being single, as well as with any other issues or circumstances of life they find themselves in. (Philippians 4:11b)

Help them delight in You, for You have said when we do, You'll give us the desires of our heart. May their desires match Your desires, Your will and plan for their lives; then fulfill Your purpose for them. (Psalm 37:4; 57:2; 138:8)

If Your plan is for them to be married, give them the grace to wait on You, to be strong and take heart. As they wait, help them to keep Your ways, discerning what is best, keeping pure and blameless in Your sight. (Psalm 27:14; 37:34; Philippians 1:10)

I ask Your special touch on those who are single parents, because managing a home without a spouse can be difficult. May they put their hope in You, continuing night and day in prayer. May others in the body of Christ respond to their needs as they would want to be helped if they were alone. (1 Timothy 5:5; Matthew 7:12)

May they be fulfilled in Christ. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Prayer for the Chronically Ill

Beliefnet member Laurel_crowned

O Lord, through the passion of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I beseech Thee to watch over and guide all those who suffer from chronic illness. Grant to us the courage to face our situations so that others may see Your perpetual light shining through us, as a beacon of strength that overcomes setbacks, and reaffirms Your Precious Love for ALL the sheep among Your flock. We are all Your children in spite of our physical situation, and Your Loving Son shepherds those of us who believe. Grant us the spiritual and mental strength to endure so that we may live in Your Divine Shadow. In the name of Jesus Christ, King of Kings, please hear and bless this prayer O Heavenly Father. Amen

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For Our Nation

Jim & Kaye Johns

Father, I'm praying for our nation that was founded on Your principles and was once devoted to You...

Father, You have promised in Your Word that if we, Your people who are called by Your name—we Christians, the church—will humble ourselves and pray, seek Your face and turn from our wicked ways, You will hear and heal our land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

It is we, Your children, who must come in repentance, for those who are lost cannot even understand their sins; such things must be spiritually discerned. Grant us repentance. Show us where our hearts have turned away from You. Give the lost to Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:14; Acts 5:31; Ezekiel 6:9; John 18:9)

You are a refuge for the poor and needy, a shelter from the storm, a shade from the heat. But You are also our God who deals with Your people as Your vineyard. When we go our own way, bearing bad fruit instead of good, You have said You will take away our hedge and break down our wall. (Isaiah 25:4; 5:1–6)

Have mercy on Your wayward people. We pray in hope because of Your great love, knowing that Your compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Help us examine and test our ways—and return to You. (Lamentations 3:22–23, 40)

In Jesus' name, amen.

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A Father's Prayer

Author Unknown

This is the best dowry of hopes, wishes and prayers I would be able to offer:

May God give you the grace of wit and wisdom to understand that rainbows are only the result of showers, dust, and hope.

May you always have joy in the morning and trust in the evening and may your sorrows be short and without scars.

May your lives have a spirit neither bent by belligerence nor broken by failure; may you simply love each other.

May you share with each other spring flowers, dirty dishes, music, rain, death, mushrooms, a measure of boredom, strawberries, and God.

May that God never make you immune to the wonderful afflictions of real love, making you instead farsighted to each other's faults, tongue-tied to criticism, and short of memory to petty hurts and slights.

May God provide the confidence and serenity that comes only from the assurance of each other's fidelity and the tolerance, as years go by, of wrinkles and gray hairs, short tempers, curlers, and Monday mornings.

May no one steal from you laughter at the top of the stairs or giggles and whispers in a dark room.

May you keep a hunger for each other, the appetite to taste tomorrow, and deep knowledge of and devotion to your past, heritage and families.

May you perpetuate trust, the radiation of vitality, kind answers to sharp questions and sharp humor to unkind attitudes.

May your fights be fierce and short, and may each truce be warm and long and held in each other's arms before the sun comes up.

May you walk with wise men, sing loud songs at late hours, share secrets, have healthy children, and provide smiles for lonesome strangers and prayers for those without hope.

May you never forget small things; smiles, birthdays, holding hands, family, old friends, the neglected, and the simplicity of saying please and thank you.

May you keep a warm, generous, and happy house where love is the insulation and God is present. May your children be friends of God's child, Jesus.

May your union bring a smile to the face of the Holy Spirit and may he live in your pots and pans, in your hope and aspirations.

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Prayer of Praise at Sundown

Anonymous

O gracious light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!

Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praised, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of Life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.

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Our Father

Matthew 6:9-13

Our Father,
Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy Will be done,
On earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

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By the Passion of Your Blessed Son

Anonymous

O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.