Christian Prayer – Page 117 – A Collection of Prayers

Watch, Lord, with Us

Watch, Lord, with us,
lest we fall into temptation and despair
in the darkness of this world.
Watch, Lord, with us,
lest we fall into any kind of danger
in the darkness of this night.
Let your Word be the lamp to our feet
and the light for our path,
our guide through the darkness
and our hope in the midst of despair.
Keep the lamp of your Word
shining brightly in our hearts
in the dark night of the world.
You, Jesus, are the light no darkness can overcome,
and you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Paul C. Stratman, 2016

“Watch, Lord, with us” is a reference to Matthew 26:41

“Let your Word be the lamp to our feet” is a reference to Psalm 119:105

“You, Jesus, are the light no darkness can overcome” is a reference to John 1:5

This prayer is inspired in part by the poetic prayers of Georg Christian Dieffenbach (1822-1901) and some elements of prayers from the Antiphonary of Bangor (9th Century).

Latin version:

Vigilate, Domine, nobiscum,
ne incidamus in desperationem
in tentationem et tenebrarum mundi.
Vigilate, Domine, nobiscum,
ne incidamus in aliquam periculo noctis
huius caliginem destruendam.
Verbum tuum lux pedibus nostris
verbum tuum et lumen semitis nostris,
lux in medio tenebras,
spes in medio desperatio.
Effulgens custodi verbum tuum in cordibus nostris
lucerna mundi tenebris noctis excitabatur.
Tu, Jesu sis lux tenebrae non conprehendit,
etcum Patre et Spiritu Sancto vivis et regnas Deus,
per omnia sæcula sæculorum.

As Watchmen Wait for the Morning

As watchmen wait for the morning,
so do our souls long for you, O Christ.
Come with the dawning of the day,
and make yourself known to us in the breaking of bread;
for you are our God for ever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Rite

Source of this version: https://attentiontothemoment.wordpress.com/2010/04/26/the-mozarabic-sacramentary/

Also found here: http://1stholistic.com/Spl_prayers/prayer_mozarabic-morning-prayer.htm

“As watchmen wait for the morning,” is a reference to Psalm 130:6

“make yourself known to us in the breaking of bread” is a reference to Luke 24:35

The Lord is Your Strong Tower

The almighty Lord,
who is a strong tower
for those who put their trust in him,
to whom all things in heaven and earth
and under the earth bow and obey,
be our defense, now and always.
There is no other name under heaven, given to men,
in whom and through whom
we receive health and salvation,
but only in the name
of our Lord + Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Source: Visitatio Infirmorum

Source of this version: Modified from Prayers of the Ages, ed. Caroline Snowden Whitmarsh, 1868, p. 255

“Strong tower” is a reference to Psalm 61:3 and Proverbs 18:10

“in heaven and earth and under the earth…” is a reference to Philippians 2:10

“no other name under heaven…” is a reference to Acts 4:12

By Your Command the Day Arises

Almighty and everlasting God,
by your command the day arises
and the world is adorned with the splendor of light.
Receive our prayers
and show us the light of your countenance
that walking in the way of your salvation
we may follow you as our ruler and guide;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Unknown.

Source of this version: Modified from A Book of Prayers: Together with Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Ancient and Modern, Ed. Charles Leffingwell, Morehouse Publishing Company, 1921, p. 3 #3

Bring Me Near You

My Lord and my God, take everything from me that keeps me from you.
My Lord and my God, give everything to me that brings me near to you.
My Lord and my God, take me away from myself and give me completely to you.

Source: Nicholas of Flüe, d. 1487

Source of this version: Modified from http://themathesontrust.org/library/nicholas-of-flue-brother-klaus

You Give Your Kind Help

O Lord,
hear us as we pray to you
in the beginning hours of this day.
We give you thanks,
O Lord our God,
for you have redeemed us with your holy blood
and you give your kind help
in answer to the early prayers and petitions we bring you;
you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Antiphonary of Bangor, ninth century

Source of this version: Translated and reworked from the Latin text for A Collection of Prayers.

Translation of Prayer “Exaudi nos, Domine, supplices tuos / O Lord, hear us as we pray to you” by Paul C. Stratman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for any commercial usage.

Original in Latin:

27. + Item ad secundam

Exaudi nos, Domine, supplices tuos, qui in hac hora prima diei referimus tibi gratias Domino Deo nostro, qui nos redemisti de tuo sancto sanguine, ut preces ac petitiones nostras vice primitiarum tibi oblatas pie clementerque suscipias.

The Antiphonary of Bangor and The Divine Offices of Bangor is now available in paperback through Amazon.com. It is also available for Amazon Kindle. This is a new translation of the entire Antiphonary into comtemporary liturgical English.

Protect Us this Day

Protect us this day,
O Lord, holy Father,
almighty and eternal God,
and in your compassion and mercy,
help and guide us.
Enlighten our hearts
and keep our thoughts, words and works
pleasing in your sight,
that we may do your will
and walk in your path of righteousness
our whole life long.
Amen.

Source: Antiphonary of Bangor, ninth century

Source of this version: Translated and reworked from the Latin text for A Collection of Prayers.

Translation of Prayer “Esto nobis protector in ista die / Protect Us this Day” by Paul C. Stratman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for any commercial usage.

Original in Latin:

16. Collectio Ad Secundam

Esto nobis protector in ista die, Domine. sancte Pater, omnipotens aeterne Deus, et miserator et misericors, et auxiliator et dux nobis, et illuminator cordium nostrorum. Custodi, Domine, cogitationes, sermones. opera, ut possimus placere in conspectu tuo, Domine, et perficere voluntatem tuam, et ambulare in via recta toto nostrae vita; tempore.

A Morning Blessing

May the everlasting God bless us this day.
May he save and defend us from evil
and make us at last partakers of his heavenly kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Unknown.

Source of this version: Modified from A Book of Prayers: Together with Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Ancient and Modern, Ed. Charles Leffingwell, Morehouse Publishing Company, 1921, p. 5 #3

“us” can be substituted with “you”

Go Forth into the World

Prayer Book Bible Reading Book Of Common Prayer

Go forth into the world in peace.
Be of good courage.
Hold fast that which is good.
Render to no one evil for evil.
Strengthen the fainthearted.
Support the weak.
Help the afflicted.
Show love to everyone.
Love and serve the Lord,
rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit;
and the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Source: Book of Common Prayer, 1892, 1928, modified.

There’s more! Go to our Index / Contents page to access prayers by era, topic, liturgical use and author!

Put a link to the index on your computer or phone’s desktop for instant access to A Collection of Prayers as an online prayer book!

Awaken Our Hearts and Souls

Lord Jesus Christ,
our Strength, our Rock, our Fortress, our Deliverer,
our God and Lord in whom we trust,
we thank and praise you from our hearts
that you have awakened us from sleep in health and comfort.
Awaken also our inmost hearts and souls,
that today and throughout the coming week
we may serve you obediently,
and faithfully perform the duties of our callings,
and awaken at last one day with joy to the life eternal.
Amen.

Source: Bonifacius Stöltzlin, 1603-1677

Source of this version: Modified from Prayers from the collection of the late baron Bunsen, selected [from Versuch eines allgemeinen evangelischen Gesang – und Gebetbuchs] and tr. by C. Winkworth, 1871, p. 72