Almighty God,
our heavenly Father,
you feed the birds and clothe the flowers,
and you care for us as a father for his children.
Guard our hearts against faithlessness and anxiety.
By your Holy Spirit, help us
to live to the hallowing of your name,
the coming of your kingdom,
and the doing of your will,
so that we may cast all our cares on you
and in unwavering faith, trust in you;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: Austria, 1571. Translation by Paul Zeller Strodach for Common Service Book.
Source of this version: Modified from The Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, United Lutheran Church in America © 1918, #30
“You feed the birds and clothe the flowers” is a reference to Matthew 6:26-28
“To live to the hallowing of your name…” is a reference to Matthew 6:9-13
“cast all our cares on you” is a reference to 1 Peter 5:7
“Faithlessness and anxiety” in the original is “distrust and vain over-carefulness”
This prayer is very similar to a prayer in A Book of Collects in Two Parts by John Wallace Suter, Freedom from Anxious Care:
ALMIGHTY GOD, who dost feed the birds and clothe the flowers, and who carest for us as a father for his children; Graciously guard us, we beseech thee, against distrust and vain over-carefulness, that casting all our care on thee, we may abide in thy love, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord.
A Collection of Prayers 