Prayers

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To Mature In Our Walk

Jim & Kaye Johns

Father, I'm praying for myself and others (name one or more) in my circle of family and friends to become increasingly mature in Christ...

Some have been content not to grow. They've continued to live as infants in Christ, settling for the milk of the Word, not ready to move on to solid food—sometimes for years. Forgive them and change them; help them be willing to grow, to become more mature in their walk, their understanding, and their application of Your Word. (1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12-14)

Help all of us to see wonderful things in Your Word and be eager to live by Your rules, not ours. Direct our steps according to the Word; let no sin rule over us. (Psalm 119:18, 9, 133) Give us a genuine desire to grow beyond simple, elementary truth, becoming strong in our understanding, as we should. (Hebrews 6:1–3)

Grant us perseverance so we'll not only begin but continue to grow in Christ, so one day we'll be complete and not lack anything. Help us count the cost of time and energy and be willing to pay the price. (James 1:4; Luke 14:28)

May we choose to grow spiritually. In Jesus' name, amen.

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For Someone Who Is Ill

Anonymous

Almighty God our heavenly Father, graciously comfort your servant _______ in his suffering, and bless the means made use of for his cure. Fill his heart with confidence that, though at times he may be afraid, he yet may put his trust in you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Bedtime Prayer

Anonymous

There are four corners on my bed,
There are four angels at my head.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,
Bless the bed I sleep on.

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Prayer for Lonely People

Vienna Cobb Anderson

Loving God,
there are times in each life
when there is no one.
No one with whom to share
a word,
a laugh,
a sad remembrance,
a gentle touch,
a fond embrace,
a kiss of love.
Bless each one who suffers
from such loneliness.
Enrich life with a friend
or gentle stranger
who will spend a moment
noticing
and loving.
In those times
your love shines through,
the world is reborn,
and Christ is known.
So be it!
Amen.

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For Vocation in Daily Work

Anonymous

Almighty God our heavenly Father, who declarest thy glory and showest forth thy handiwork in the heavens and in the earth: Deliver us, we beseech thee, in our various occupations from the service of self alone, that we may do the work which thou givest us to do in truth and beauty and for the common good; for the sake of him who came among us as one that serveth, thy Son 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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Prayer for Epiphany

Anonymous

Dear Jesus, as You led the Three Kings to You by the light of a star, please draw us ever closer to You by the light of Faith. Help us to desire You as ardently as they did. Give us the grace to overcome all the obstacles that keep us far from You. May we, like them, have something to give You when we appear before You. Amen

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Prayer for Someone Who Is Dying

Vienna Cobb Anderson

O God of resurrection, who raised Jesus Christ from the dead, we pray to you on behalf of all who are dying this day. May they know the comfort of your presence, the power of your love to give life even in the face of death, and the hope of your salvation. May they be blessed with the presence of family and friends to banish their lonliness and fears, the love of those who care for them to ease their pain, and the hope of always being remembered by those who they have loved. All this we ask through the one who died for us that we might live, Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

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A Collect for Aid Against Perils

Anonymous

Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Father Hear My Prayer

Anonymous

Father in heaven hear my prayer,
keep me in thy loving care.
Be my guide in all I do,
Bless all those who love me too.
Amen.

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Prayer for Soldiers Going Off to Battle

Anonymous

O Holy Master, Almighty Father and Pre-Eternal God, Who alone made and directs all things; Who rise up quickly against the evil of the impious ones; Who, by Providence, teach Thy people preservation of Justice and the obliteration of the sword on earth; Who condescend to raise up military columns to help the people: O God, Who commanded the Forerunner John to say to the soldiers coming to him in the desert, 'Do not intimidate anyone... and be content with your wages':

We entreat Thee with compunction, that Thou gavest Thy child David the power to defeat Goliath, and as Thou didst condescend, through Judas Maccabeus, to seize victory from the arrogant pagans who would not call on Thy Name; so too, grant protection in righteousness and truth to these Thy servants against the enemies rising against them, and by Thy heavenly loving-kindness, strength and might for the preservation of faith and truth.

Condescend, out of Thy mercy, O Master, to grant them the fear of Thee, together with humility, obedience and good endurance; that they kill no one unrighteously, but rather preserve all righteousness and truth; that they may fear Thee and honor Justice; that they run in friendship to those who are scattered, extending thy love to those near them, serving the elderly with justice; and that their ranks fulfill all things righteously;

For thou art our God, and to Thee do we ascribe glory; to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

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A Thankful Yet Fretful Heart

anonymous

Dear Lord, I come with a thankful, yet fearful heart; thankful for your generous provision in the past, yet fearful of the uncertainty that surrounds me today. In the midst of this trial I ask not only for my daily bread, but also for my spiritual bread – the faith to wait patiently when your timing is not my timing – the wisdom to know the difference between my wants and my needs – and the gratitude that flows from remembering that every good and perfect gift I’ve ever received has come from your hand.

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Prayer for Renewal

Psalms 51: 9-12

Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

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Change Us, Day by Day

Soren Kirkegaard (1813-1855)

Our Father, you called us and saved us in order to make us like your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Change us, day by day, by the work of your Holy Spirit so that we may grow more like him in all that we think and say and do, to his glory. Amen.

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To Love One Another

Jim & Kaye Johns

Father, I'm praying for myself and all those in my immediate and extended family (name them)...

Help us love each other as we love ourselves. May the Holy Spirit, who has poured Your love into our hearts, give us Your selfless love, for our love falls far short of the mark. (Matthew 22:39; Romans 5:5)

May those who are married have Your perfect love especially for each other and their children. May every child be considered as Your reward, to be loved and nurtured and taught how to live lives that are obedient and pleasing to You. May we as a family be united in love. (Galatians 5:22a; Psalm 127:3; Ephesians 6:4b; 1 John 3:21–22; Colossians 2:2a)

May we submit ourselves to one another—considering others more important than ourselves, putting the others' interests ahead of our own. Help us to treat each other the way we would want to be treated in every circumstance. (Ephesians 5:21; Philippians 2:3b–4; Matthew 7:12)

May our relationships be built on these principles—for if they are, what could ever come between us? You always know what's best!

In Jesus' name, amen.

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Prayer for the Troops in Iraq

Beliefnet member tngrandma

Dear Lord, please hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them, Father, as they protect us. When they are tired, give them strength and rest. If they are wounded, Father, give them comfort. When they are lonely, may they feel you near them. Grant them strength, courage, and wisdom for their tasks. And, Lord, uplift and strengthen the families and loved ones who wait for their return. Please, Father, bring a quick end to all this conflict. I pray in the name of Jesus, our Saviour. Amen.

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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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For Those Coping With Divorce

Beliefnet member rbt_austin

Lord, be with this family as they transition into two separate households. Let your eternal light radiate throughout both homes, that this child may know your lovingkindness, as manifested by her parents, who love her, Lord. Let both this husband and wife grow strong in your love and live their lives according to Your will and not their own... I also pray for all children of divorce, that they have both their parents in their lives, and never doubt for one second that they are loved and cherished, and precious in Your sight. Thy will be done Lord, Amen.

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For Our Community and Nation

Anonymous

For our Bishop, and for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For our President, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For this city (town, village, _______), for every city and community, and for those who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

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Prayer for Those Who Govern

Muriel Marshall

Sovereign Lord we pray for our country at all times, we pray for...all those who guide and govern. Help them in every situation to know and to do the things that are right and just, with soundness of judgement in making vital decisions, praying always particularly for the peacemakers, that your Holy life-giving Spirit may ever dwell in their hearts and that the barriers of fear, suspicion and hatred may fall. We pray in the name of your Son, the Prince of Peace.
Amen.

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Psalm of Comfort

Psalms 42: 1-7

As the deer longs for the water-brooks,
so longs my soul for you, O God.

My soul is athirst for God, athirst for the living God;
when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?

My tears have been my food day and night,
while all day long they say to me, "Where now is your God?"

I pour out my soul when I think on these things;
how I went with the multitude and led them into the house of God,

With the voice of praise and thanksgiving,
among those who keep holy-day.

Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul?
and why are you so disquieted within me?

Put your trust in God;
for I will yet give thanks to him, who is the help of my countenance, and my God.

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The Greatest Parent

Beliefnet member RevVic

It seems, dear God, that my children are growing
too quickly up and away from me.
I don't know what to say to them anymore.
They are no longer the little girls I used to know.
Help me to learn to trust their judgment, and to entrust their safety to You,
The Greatest Parent of all.

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To Put Others First

Jim & Kaye Johns

Father, I'm praying that (name one or more) and others in my circle of family and friends will have servant hearts...

May they desire to have servant hearts, considering others better than themselves, putting others' needs above their own. (Philippians 2:3–4)

May they imitate Christ, who became a servant, humbling Himself to become human just like us, living a life of obedience even to death. Jesus came not to be served but to serve and to give His life. (1 Thessalonians 1:6; Philippians 2:6–8; Matthew 20:28)

May they serve one another in love, always wholeheartedly as though they are serving the Lord Jesus, not men. May they use the spiritual gifts they've received to serve others with the strength You provide, so that in all things You may be praised. (Galatians 5:13b; Ephesians 6:7; 1 Peter 4:10, 11b)

May they always be eager to serve, treating others as they would want to be treated. (1 Peter 5:2b; Matthew 7:12)

Help them to live for others, asking, "How would I want to be treated in this and every situation?"—and responding just that way.

In Jesus' name, amen.

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Prayer for Courage During Illness

Maureen Pratt

O Lord, even as I suffer from my illness,
I believe in your might.
Even as I am besieged by armies of pain,
I seek refuge in you.
Help me to feel your presence even more firmly
in my life.
Give me courage to face anything, to endure everything
--with you by my side.

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Kwanzaa for Life Prayer

www.solidgroundministry.com

O come all you faithful, rejoicing and victorious! Come, let us adore the Lord of life and goodness, as we celebrate Kwanzaa and the African American heritage. Come and give thanks and praise for the journey. Jesus, by your mercy, grant us the grace to cherish this life. Guide us to uphold the dignity and respect of life from the moment of conception to its natural end at death. Lead us to be to true to our nature as you created us. We ask these things because we have our roots in the divine origin of Creator, Savior, and Sanctifier, Jesus our Lord. Amen.

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Prayer for the Poor

Anonymous

For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and care for them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.