Category: Christian Prayer

Say the Word and I Shall Be Healed!

wilhelm_loeheLord Jesus Christ,
I am not worthy that you should enter my sinful heart,
yet you know my poverty and need.
I desire your presence
to nourish, comfort and strengthen my poor soul.
Say the word and I shall be healed!
Amen.

Source: Wilhelm Löhe. Freely adapted from Seed Grains of Prayer, A Manual for Evangelical Christians, Wartburg Press, Chicago, 1914 (#89)

This prayer paraphrases Matthew 8:8 and is similar to a prayer in the Latin Mass, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” See this article in America: National Catholic Review about the return of the prayer  in the most recent revision of the Mass.

See also “I Come to You at Your Holy Table” attributed to Martin Luther.

 

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Strengthen and Assure Us until Life’s Journey Ends

wilhelm_loeheLord Jesus Christ,
our only comfort, our hope,
our righteousness, our strength and sure defense,
kindle in our hearts a desire, hunger and thirst
for the eternal food of the soul,
your true body and blood,
that we may gladly and frequently receive the Sacrament,
knowing our sins, but relying on you
to strengthen and assure us until life’s journey ends
and we come to you in the true Fatherland,
to see you face to face
and dwell with you through all eternity.
Amen.

Source: Wilhelm Löhe. Freely adapted from Seed Grains of Prayer, A Manual for Evangelical Christians, Wartburg Press, Chicago, 1914 (#88)

 

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Help Us Retain All We Have Heard

wilhelm_loeheLord Jesus, you said,
“Blessed are they who hear the Word of God and keep it.”
As we have heard your Word, so also empower us to keep it.
Help us, so that in pure and honest hearts
we may retain all we have heard,
and bring forth fruit with patience.

May we consider your Word diligently,
repeat it at home,
and speak of it with our families,
that we may govern our whole lives by it,
and finally, in our last hour,
die in peace with the comfort of your Word.

Source: Wilhelm Löhe. Freely adapted from Seed Grains of Prayer, A Manual for Evangelical Christians, Wartburg Press, Chicago, 1914 (#80c.)

 

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Your Unfailing Goodness

wilhelm_loeheWe give you thanks, heavenly Father,
for creating all things by your limitless power,
governing all things by your inexpressible wisdom,
and feeding and prospering all things by your unfailing goodness.
Let us, your children,
at last drink the cup of everlasting life
which you have promised and prepared for all who love you,
with your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Wilhelm Löhe. Freely adapted from Seed Grains of Prayer, A Manual for Evangelical Christians, Wartburg Press, Chicago, 1914 (#27)

 

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You Sustain Us with Your Fatherly Kindness

wilhelm_loeheGlory to you, O God most holy!
Glory to you, O God most high!
Glory to you, O King of heaven and earth!
You sustain us with your fatherly kindness.
Fill us with joy and gladness in the Holy Spirit,
that we may be blameless in your sight
through Jesus Christ our Lord
on the day when you reward each according to his deeds.
Amen.

Source: Wilhelm Löhe. Freely adapted from Seed Grains of Prayer, A Manual for Evangelical Christians, Wartburg Press, Chicago, 1914 (#26)

Also found in The Lutheran Hymnal, p. 106 #45

The repeated doxologies suggest that Löhe may have obtained this prayer from an Eastern Orthodox source.

 

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Sustain Our Souls and Bodies

wilhelm_loeheLord God, heavenly Father,
we give you praise and thanks
for all your gifts and blessings.
Sustain our souls in true faith and knowledge of you,
just as you have now sustained our bodies.
Amen.

Source: Wilhelm Löhe. Freely adapted from Seed Grains of Prayer, A Manual for Evangelical Christians, Wartburg Press, Chicago, 1914 (#25)

Note: Seed Grains of Prayer… has the note after this prayer, “(1562.)”

 

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Move Us to Reflect Your Faithfulness

Lord God, heavenly Father,
we praise and bless you
for the many blessings you share with us.
Move us to reflect your faithfulness,
since you have abundantly fed and nourished us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely adapted from Seed Grains of Prayer, A Manual for Evangelical Christians, Wartburg Press, Chicago, 1914 (#24)

Note: Seed Grains of Prayer… has the note after this prayer, “(1564.)”

Fill all of Our Needs

wilhelm_loehePraise God
who has sustained us from birth
and gives food to every living thing.
May he fill our hearts with joy and gladness,
filling all our needs,
and satisfying us with what he provides.
Amen.

Source: Wilhelm Löhe. Freely adapted from Seed Grains of Prayer, A Manual for Evangelical Christians, Wartburg Press, Chicago, 1914 (#21)

“who has sustained us from birth” is a reference to Ecclesiasticus 50:22  (Apocrypha)

“and gives food to every living thing” is a reference to Psalm 145:16

This prayer is likely a translation or adaptation of “Joy and Gladness”

 

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Feed and Nourish Our Bodies and Souls

wilhelm_loeheGracious Father,
you feed and nourish every creature.
Feed and nourish our bodies and souls.
Do not let us forget your benefits,
but strengthen us with your blessings
that we may glorify your name,
do good and honest work,
and live and move before you
in righteousness and innocence.
Amen.

Source: Wilhelm Löhe. Freely adapted from Seed Grains of Prayer, A Manual for Evangelical Christians, Wartburg Press, Chicago, 1914 (#20)

Also found here: Morning and Evening Prayers for All Days of the Week  by Dr. John Habermann, Wartburg Publishing House, Chicago, 1918

“feed and nourish every living creature” is a reference to Psalm 145:15-16

“Do not let us forget…” is a reference to Psalm 103:2

“live and move” is a reference to Acts 17:28

Note: Both Seed Grains of Prayer…  and Morning and Evening Prayers… have the note after this prayer, “(1562.)”

Original in German:

O barmherziger Vater, Du speisest und ernährt alle Creaturen, speise und tränke auch uns leiblich und geistlich also, daß wir Deine Gaben nicht mißbrauchen, sondern durch sie zu Deiner Ehre, zu aller ehrlichen Arbeit und zu allem Guten gestärkt werden, fromm und unschuldig vor Dir zu wandeln und zu leben! Amen

https://books.google.com/books?id=yw5kAAAAcAAJ&pg=PR12&dq=Samenk%C3%B6rner+des+Gebets&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwijxLn63v7UAhXKPz4KHax4C9UQ6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

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