Prayers

[phkrause]

Help Us Grow in Love

Heather Kopp

Dear God,
I am thankful for the role I play in the family You have given us. Where I lack as a wife/husband, show me how to improve. And help us grow in love for each other and for You that you may bless us.
Amen.

[phkrause]

Father Mychal's Prayer

Father Mychal F. Judge, OFM

Lord, take me where You want me to go;
Let me meet who You want me to meet;
Tell me what You want me to say, and
Keep me out of Your way.

[phkrause]

Prayer Against Oppression

Anonymous

Almighty God, who hast created us in thine own image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

[phkrause]

Prayer for Commerce and Industry

Anonymous

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ in his earthly life shared our toil and hallowed our labor: Be present with thy people where they work; make those who carry on the industries and commerce of this land responsive to thy will; and give to us all a pride in what we do, and a just return for our labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

[phkrause]

Prayer for Those in Physical Pain

Maureen Pratt

Oh Lord, help me to feel your calming hand upon me
when I am in pain.
Let your ever-loving comfort enfold me,
And give me the heart to see
that in my suffering, I am becoming
closer to you...
and more divine.

[phkrause]

In the Face of Fertility Challenges

Jennifer Saake

Lord, help me to know that You are enough. Take my eyes off of myself. Take my eyes off of the child I desire. Help me to delight myself in You. Mold the desires of my heart to be in line with Your will. I don't want to need to be a mother more than I need to be your humble, obedient child. I don't want wanting to have a baby to be a stumbling block between You and me anymore.

Lord, I want to give this desire, this drive, this ache up to You. Help me not to snatch it back as I so often do with the burdens I place in Your hands. Help me to be truly content with Your will and Your timing.

Lord, You know that I still desire a baby - someone to mold, teach, train, shape, guide, and help to grow in You. But until the day You give me that joyous blessing, help me to grow in You. Let me reach out to those around me. Let me witness and minister to the children You place in my path.

Lord, if adoption is the path You would have us take, prepare our hearts, and prepare the child who will share our home. If adoption is not Your will for our lives, keep me from pushing ahead of Your plan. Help me to stay submitted to my husband's will, and to Your will. If we are headed in the wrong direction, change our hearts.

Thank You for lifting my burden. Help me to keep You first! Let me seek Your face daily, and let me know that You are enough!

[phkrause]

Prayer for One Who Has Passed

Anonymous

Almighty God, we remember this day before thee thy faithful servant _______; and we pray that, having opened to him the gates of larger life, thou wilt receive him more and more into thy joyful service, that, with all who have faithfully served thee in the past, he may share in the eternal victory of Jesus Christ our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

[phkrause]

Prayer During Illness

John Donne

Eternal and most glorious God... Thou alone dost steer my boat through all its voyage, but has a more especial care of it, when it comes to a narrow current, or to a dangerous fall of waters. Thou has a care of the preservation of my body in all the ways of my life; but, in the straits of death, open Thine eyes wider, and enlarge Thy Providence towards me so far that no illness or agony may shake and benumb the soul. Do Thou so make my bed in all my sickness that, being used to Thy hand, I may be content with any bed of Thy making. Amen

[phkrause]

Prayer to Do Good

F. B. Meyer

Forgive me, most gracious Lord and Father, if this day I have done or said anything to increase the pain of the world. Pardon the unkind word, the impatient gesture, the hard and selfish deed, the failure to show sympathy and kindly help where I had the opportunity, but missed it; and enable me so to live that I may daily do something to lessen the tide of human sorrow, and add to the sum of human happiness.

[phkrause]

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.

[phkrause]

Prayer for Women With Breast Cancer

Beliefnet member charity1

Father, for the strength you have given me I thank you. For the health you have blessed me with, I thank you. For the women who are going through breast cancer and their families I ask you to strengthen and to heal as you see fit. Lord we know you want us to be in good health and to prosper. Lord use us to do the work you have for us to do. For we know time is getting short on this earth. Lord be with every woman who is sick and encourage them as only you can. I know how faithful you are. You have shown yourself to be everything you say you are in your Holy Word. I praise you for you made this body and you can heal this body. In Jesus Name I pray.

[phkrause]

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.

[phkrause]

Prayer for God's Guidance

Sarum Breviary, 1085 C.E.

We beseech Thee, O Lord, let our hearts be graciously enlightened by Thy holy radiance, that we may serve Thee without fear in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life; that so we may escape the darkness of this world, and by Thy guidance attain the land of eternal brightness; through Thy mercy, O blessed Lord, Who doest live and govern all things, world without end. Amen.

[phkrause]

Give Us, O Lord, a Steadfast Heart

Thomas Aquinas

Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give us an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give us an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

[phkrause]

Bless the Lord

Psalms 134

Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
you that stand by night in the house of the Lord.

Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the Lord;
the Lord who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.

[phkrause]

The Johnny Appleseed Blessing

Anonymous

Oh, the Lord is good to me,
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need
The sun, and the rain, and the apple seed.
The Lord is good to me.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Isn't that a song that Pathfinders, Scouts, and other kids' groups sing?  (now I've got the words and tune going 'round and 'round in my head!  lol )

 

[phkrause]

Rear View Mirror

Anonymous

As drivers of automobiles, we know the rear view mirrors on cars were established to assist us in identifying blind spots while driving to eliminate accidents most of the time. We can name a few times that we may not have used that rear view mirror while driving. I know I can. Why do we use the rear view mirror more often in life than we do while driving? We often keep watch over the things that may have happened in the past more often than we should. We give those situations and circumstances more attention than we do what is happening in the present and what we are expecting to take place in the future. Why is that? Do we feel because of our past mistakes we are not worthy to have a promising future? Do we have a hard time letting go? Do we have difficulty forgiving others and ourselves? Yes, we do. How do we overcome this obstacle, take the leap of faith and move forward into what has been prepared for us? We must learn how to use the rear view mirror of life as a tool to be used to remember lessons learned, not to dwell on and get stuck reliving the same mistakes. We must begin to understand that we are not perfect people and the mistakes that are made in life can be used to make us stronger and wiser. It’s time to stop looking back in your life’s rear view mirror, turn around and look forward. Let’s start today. How can you see where you are going when you are always looking back?

Father God, give me the ability to let go of the mistakes I have made in the past, forgive myself and others. Teach me to stop looking back and start looking forward to what You have prepared for me.

[phkrause]

To Commit to Purity

Jim & Kaye Johns

Father, I'm praying that (name one or more) and others in my circle of family and friends will be committed to purity...

Keep their feet from every sinful path, from being in the wrong place at the wrong time! Help them not to associate with those who might be a bad influence, who might lead them into temptation. Turn them away from those intent on wrong living and from their own sinful ways. May they follow a path that swerves neither to the right nor the left. (Psalm 119:101; Proverbs 4:14; Acts 3:26; Proverbs 4:26–27)

Help them to trust that there's no temptation they'll ever face that is beyond their saying no, that You will never let them be tempted beyond what they can handle. When they're tempted, provide a way out—and give them the heart to run from sin in Your strength. May the fruit of the Spirit be evident in their lives, especially the fruit of self-control. (1 Corinthians 10:13; Genesis 39:12; Galatians 5:22–23a)

Help them do what You want them to do, certain that every step they take is sure and right. Clear the way for them; hold them securely so if they stumble across temptation, they won't fall. (Psalm 37:23–24)

No matter what mistakes they've made in the past, may they now choose to live in purity.

In Jesus' name, amen.

[phkrause]

Walking in the Way of Jesus

Anonymous

Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

[phkrause]

In the Face of Fertility Challenges

Jennifer Saake

Lord, help me to know that You are enough. Take my eyes off of myself. Take my eyes off of the child I desire. Help me to delight myself in You. Mold the desires of my heart to be in line with Your will. I don't want to need to be a mother more than I need to be your humble, obedient child. I don't want wanting to have a baby to be a stumbling block between You and me anymore.

Lord, I want to give this desire, this drive, this ache up to You. Help me not to snatch it back as I so often do with the burdens I place in Your hands. Help me to be truly content with Your will and Your timing.

Lord, You know that I still desire a baby - someone to mold, teach, train, shape, guide, and help to grow in You. But until the day You give me that joyous blessing, help me to grow in You. Let me reach out to those around me. Let me witness and minister to the children You place in my path.

Lord, if adoption is the path You would have us take, prepare our hearts, and prepare the child who will share our home. If adoption is not Your will for our lives, keep me from pushing ahead of Your plan. Help me to stay submitted to my husband's will, and to Your will. If we are headed in the wrong direction, change our hearts.

Thank You for lifting my burden. Help me to keep You first! Let me seek Your face daily, and let me know that You are enough!

[phkrause]

Thank You, Lord

Anonymous

We close our eyes,
We bow our heads,
We thank You, Lord,
For our daily bread.
Amen.

[phkrause]

Thanks We Offer

Anonymous

Heavenly Father, kind and good,
Thanks we offer for this food;
For Thy love and tender care,
For all the blessings that we share.
Amen.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

2 hours ago, phkrause said:

Thanks We Offer

Anonymous

Heavenly Father, kind and good,
Thanks we offer for this food;
For Thy love and tender care,
For all the blessings that we share.
Amen.

this is similar to the one I learnt as a child:

Come Lord Jesus, Be our Guest, and may this food By Thee be blessed.  Amen.

(and interestingly, that was the translation of the the meal blessing said in German at Seminar Schloss Bogenhofen, where I went to school for a year:

"Komm Herr Jesu, sei unser Gast, und segne was Du uns bescheret hast." )

[phkrause]

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.