Christian Prayer – Page 146 – A Collection of Prayers

The Full Armor of God

Give to us, O God,
the girdle,
the helmet,
the breastplate,
the shield,
the sandals,
the sword—
and above all things, prayer.
Grant to us the power and opportunity of well-doing,
that before the day of our departure comes,
our efforts may have produced good fruit.
Allow us to behold your presence in righteousness
and be fulfilled with your glory,
for Christ’s sake.
Amen.

Source: Lancelot Andrewes

Source of this version: https://prayerandverse.com/2016/05/26/give-to-us-o-god/

Prayer is based on Ephesians 6:13-18.

Strength and Grace in Adversity

girolamo_savonarola Lord, I pray not for tranquility,
nor that my tribulations may cease;
I pray for your spirit and your love,
that you grant me strength
and grace to overcome adversity;
through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Source: Girolamo Savonarola

Source of this version: Modified from https://www.hymnary.org/hymn/UMH/531

Holy Spirit, Illumine and Preserve Me

0940_Cranach_nR 001 Almighty and Holy Spirit,
the comforter, pure, living, true—
illumine, govern, sanctify me,
and confirm my heart and mind in the faith,
and in all genuine consolation;
preserve and rule over me so that,
dwelling in the house of the Lord,
all the days of my life,
I may behold the Lord and praise him with a joyful spirit,
and in union with all the heavenly church. Amen.

Source: Philip Melanchthon (in some sources, titled “Melanchthon’s Last Prayer”)

Source of this version: http://www.lcr-yardley.org/content/adulted/Luther_theology.pdf

Also found here: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 168 #2

Grant Me Rest in You above All

Grant me, O most sweet and loving Jesus,
to rest in you above every creature,
above all health and beauty,
above all glory and honor,
above all power and dignity,
above all joy and exultation,
above all fame and praise,
above all sweetness and consolation,
above all hope and promise,
above all desert and desire,
above all gifts and presents which you are able to bestow or infuse,
above all joy and gladness which the mind is capable of receiving and feeling;
finally, above angels and archangels,
and above all the host of heaven,
above all things visible and invisible,
and above all that falls short of yourself, O my God.

Source: Thomas à Kempis, Imitation of Christ

Source of this version: Modified from http://tomwills.typepad.com/thenewchristianyear/thomas_kempis/

Thanks Leads to Praise

220px-sandro_botticelli_050 O my God,
let me, with thanksgiving, remember,
and confess to you your mercies on me.
Let my bones be drenched with your love,
and let them say to you, ‘Who is like you, O Lord?’
You have broken my bonds,
I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving.
And how you have broken them, I will declare;
and all who worship you, when they hear this, shall say,
“Blessed be the Lord, in heaven and in earth,
great and wonderful is his name.“

Source: St. Augustine of Hippo, 354-430

Source of this version: Modified from http://www.ccel.org/ccel/augustine/confess.ix.i.html

Graphic by Sandro Botticeli from Wikipedia.com.

The Lord’s Prayer

Matthew 6 (ESV)
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
¹⁰Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹Give us this day our daily bread,
¹²and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Luke 11 (ESV)
Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
³Give us each day our daily bread,
⁴and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory
forever and ever. Amen.

Source: U. S. Book of Common Prayer, 1789

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and forever. Amen.

Source: Alternative Service Book 1980

Here is the Alternative Service Book 1980 text of the Lord’s Prayer with a melody modified from Braunschweig-Wolfenbuetteler Kirchenordnung, 1543. In some sources this melody is attributed to Johannes Bugenhagen. This is the melody used on the album Praetorius: Mass for Christmas Morning. Here it is without the doxology…

Lord's Prayer (Text, ASB 1980, no dox)

…and with the doxology:

Lord's Prayer (Text, ASB 1980)

Here is the Book of Common Prayer text of the Lord’s Prayer with a melody modified from Braunschweig-Wolfenbuetteler Kirchenordnung, 1543. This is the melody used on the album Praetorius: Mass for Christmas Morning. Here it is without the doxology…

Lord's Prayer (Text, BCP, no dox).png

…and with the doxology:

Lord's Prayer (Text, BCP)

Source of musical setting: Modified from Schatz des liturgischen Chor- und Gemeindegesangs… Goettingen, Bandenhoeck & Ruprecht’s Verlag, 1865.

A Prayer for the Church

Gracious Father,
we humbly pray for your holy universal Church,
fill it with all truth; in all truth with all peace.
Where it is corrupt, purge it;
where it is in error, direct it;
where it is superstitious, rectify it;
where in anything it is amiss, reform it;
where it is right strengthen and confirm it,
where it is in want, furnish it;
where it is divided and rent asunder, make up the breaches of it,
O Holy One of Israel.

Source: William Laud

Source of this version: Modified from http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/church_prayer.html

Also found here: http://sbabbey.com/our-mission.html

Lord’s Prayer as a Paraphrase for Use in Worship

This Prayer of the Church, based on the Lord’s Prayer, is adapted from Luther’s Deutsches Messe in which he recommends, “After the sermon shall follow a public paraphrase of the Lord’s Prayer … in this or a better fashion.” (LW Vol. 53, p. 78-79). The words of the Lord’s Prayer are printed in italics. Since this prayer includes the Lord’s Prayer in it, the Lord’s Prayer need not be used elsewhere in the service.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH / LORD’S PRAYER

M: Dear friends in Christ, since we have come in the name of the Lord to receive his holy Supper, I invite you to lift up your hearts to God and pray with me as Christ has taught us and graciously promised to hear us.

M: God, our Father in heaven, look with mercy on us, your needy children on earth. Grant us grace, so that your holy name be hallowed by us and all the world, through the pure and true teaching of your Word; graciously turn from us all false doctrine and evil living, by which your precious name is being blasphemed and profaned. Lord, in your mercy,

C: Hear our prayer.

M: Your kingdom come to us and expand, that all transgressors who are blinded and bound in the devil’s kingdom be brought to know Jesus Christ, your Son, by faith, and that the number of Christians may grow. Lord, in your mercy,

C: Hear our prayer.

M: May we be strengthened by your Spirit to do and to respect your will, both in life and death, in good times and bad, and always to break, slay, and sacrifice our own wills. Lord, in your mercy,

C: Hear our prayer.

M: Give us our daily bread, preserve us from greed and selfish cares, and help us to trust that you will provide for all our needs. Lord, in your mercy,

C: Hear our prayer.

M: Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us, so that our hearts may rest and rejoice in a good conscience before you, and that no sin may ever frighten or alarm us. Lord, in your mercy,

C: Hear our prayer.

M: Lead us not into temptation but help us by your Spirit to subdue our sinful desires, despise the sinful world and its ways. Lord, in your mercy,

C: Hear our prayer.

M: Lastly, O heavenly Father, deliver us from all evil of both body and soul, now and forever. Lord, in your mercy.

C: Hear our prayer.

Special prayers and intercessions may follow.

M: We trust, O Lord, in your great mercy that you will hear and answer us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C: Amen.

Source: Martin Luther

Source of this version: Modified from Luther’s Works, American edition, Vol. 53, p. 78-79

Keep Your Scriptures in Our Minds

Lord God, let us keep your Scriptures in mind
and meditate on them day and night,
persevering in prayer, always on watch.
We beg you, Lord, to give us real knowledge of what we read,
and to show us not only how to understand it,
but how to put it into practice,
and to obtain spiritual gifts
enlightened by the teaching of the Holy Spirit,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
whose power and glory will endure throughout all ages.
Amen.

Source: Origen of Alexandria

Source of this version: http://www.hebronpc.com/Cover.10.05.08.Bulletin%5B1%5D.pdf

“Meditate on them day and night” is a reference to Psalm 1.

“Persevering in prayer” is a reference to Romans 12:12.

“Put it into practice” is a reference to James 1:22.

“Obtain spiritual gifts” in the original is “obtain spiritual graces.” In the ancient church, sometimes grace was understood as undeserved love, sometimes it was understood as a specific gift from God, or something that enables us to please him.

“Enlightened by the teaching” original is “enlightened by the law.”

Help Us Recognize Your Voice

File:Praying Hands - Albrecht Durer.png - Wikimedia Commons

O God in heaven, have mercy on us!
Lord Jesus Christ, intercede for your people,
deliver us at the opportune time,
preserve in us the true genuine Christian faith,
collect your scattered sheep with your voice,
your divine Word as Holy Writ calls it.
Help us to recognize your voice,
help us not to be allured by the madness of the world,
so that we may never fall away from you,
O Lord Jesus Christ.

Source: Albrecht Dürer. The classic etching “Praying Hands” is also by Albrecht Dürer.

Source of this version: http://www.historyofpainters.com/durer.htm