Christian Prayer – Page 147 – A Collection of Prayers

Shine in Our Hearts

O Lord Jesus Christ,
you are the sun of the world,
evermore arising, and never going down,
which by your most welcome appearing and sight,
brings forth, preserves, nourishes,
and refreshes all things,
as well that are in heaven as also that are on earth;

We beg you mercifully and faithfully to shine in our hearts,
so that the night and darkness of sins,
and the mist of errors on every side
may be driven away;
with you brightly shining in our hearts
we may all our life go without stumbling or offense,
and may decently and seemly walk as in the day time,
being pure and clean from the works of darkness,
and abounding in all good works
which God has prepared us to walk in;
you who with the Father and with the Holy Ghost
live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.

Source: Thomas Cranmer

Source of this version: https://reformedchristianmuse.wordpress.com/2007/05/04/let-us-pray-with-thomas-cranmer/

“Sun of the world” is a reference to Malachi 4:2.

“Walk as in the day time” is a reference to John 11:9 and John 12:35.

“Works of darkness” is a reference to Ephesians 5:11.

“Good works which God has prepared us to walk in” is a reference to Ephesians 2:10.

The Voyage of Life

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Blessed are your saints, O God and King,
who have traveled over the tempestuous sea of this mortal life,
and have made the harbor of peace and happiness.

Watch over us who are still in our dangerous voyage;
and remember such as lie exposed to the rough storms of trouble and temptations.
Frail is our vessel, and the ocean is wide;
but as in your mercy you have set our course,
so steer the vessel of our life toward the everlasting shore of peace,
and bring us at last to the quiet haven of our heart’s desire,
where you, O our God, are blessed,
and live and reign for ever and ever.

Source: St. Augustine of Hippo, 354-430

Source of this version: Modified from http://www.beliefnet.com/prayers/catholic/guidance/prayer-for-protection.aspx#stAJR5WhwHibqWSQ.99

Graphic by Sandro Botticeli from Wikipedia.com.

Love, Light and Renewal

O beloved, Love eternal, my good,
happiness which knows no bounds,
I desire to grasp you with most worthy reverence.
I desire to reserve nothing for myself.

O Everlasting Light,
surpassing all created lights:
flash your lightning from above
and penetrate all the corners of my heart.

Cleanse, beautify and revive my spirit with all its powers:
that I may cling to you with highest joy.

Source: Thomas à Kempis, Imitation of Christ

Source of this version: Modified from https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/2e9b4446/files/uploaded/502%20December%206th%20Second%20Sunday%20of%20Advent.pdf

Make Us Grounded in Your Truth

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
grant, we pray, that we might be grounded
and settled in your truth
by the coming of your Holy Spirit in our hearts.
What we do not know, reveal to us;
what is lacking within us, make complete;
what we do know, confirm in us;
and keep us blameless in your service,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Source: Clement of Rome (c. 90)

Source of this version: http://christianicon.tumblr.com/post/37974365991/almighty-god-father-of-our-lord-jesus-christ

A Prayer for Unity

God the Father,
source of Divinity,
good beyond all that is good,
fair beyond all that is fair,
in you is calmness, peace and unity.
Repair the things that divide us from each other
and restore our unity of love
like your divine love.
And as you are above all things,
unite us in goodness and love
that we may be spiritually one,
with you and with each other,
through your peace which makes all things peaceful
and through the grace, mercy, and tenderness
of your only Son., Jesus Christ. Amen.

Source: Dionysius of the Syrian Jacobite Church, 9th Century

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954. (New Ancient Collects, #264)

Protection under Christ’s Cross

May the cross of the + Son of God,
which is mightier than all the hosts of Satan
and more glorious than all the hosts of heaven,
abide with you in your going out and in your coming in.

By day and by night, at morning and at evening,
at all times and in all places may it protect and defend you.
From the wrath of evildoers, from the assaults of evil spirits,
from foes visible and invisible, from the snares of the devil,
from all passions that beguile the soul and body:
may it guard, protect and deliver you.
Amen.

Source: Christaraksha, India

Source of this version: https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/texts/pastoral/healing/protectionpeace.aspx

Also found here: http://tonusperegrinus.blogspot.com/2014/09/christaraksha-powerful-prayer-of-cross.html

*We can rightly pray this prayer if we connect “the cross of the Son of God” with his blood and death, which indeed are mightier than the hosts of Satan.

Keep Us in Peace

Keep us in peace, O Christ our God,
under the protection of your holy cross;
save us from our enemies, visible and invisible,
that we may glorify + you with thanksgiving,
with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

Source: Dismissal from the Armenian Orthodox liturgy

Source of this version: Modified from http://www.oremus.org/liturgy/ccp/16p&p.html

Grant Us Your Light

Prayer Book Bible Reading Book Of Common Prayer

Lord, grant us your light,
that being rid of the darkness of our hearts,
we may come to the true Light,
which is Christ.

Source: Compline, Sarum Breviary

Source of this version: http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/1892/Compline_1892.htm

Variant:

Grant us thy light, O Lord: that the darkness of our hearts being done away, we may come to the true light, even Christ our Saviour.

Graphic: Page from an English Psalter, from Flickr, Walters Art Museum, Public Domain.

Evening Prayer

6069369723_ee697728eb_z_d Guide us waking, O Lord,
and guard us sleeping;
that awake we may watch with Christ,
and asleep we may rest in peace.

Source: Compline , Sarum Breviary

Source of this version: http://bcponline.org/DailyOffice/compline.html

Variant:

Save us, O Lord, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping;
that awake we may watch with Christ,
and asleep we may rest in peace.

Source of this version: https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/texts/daily2/night/compline.aspx

Graphic: Page from an English Psalter, from Flickr, Walters Art Museum, Public Domain.

A Gelasian Blessing

May God, the Lord, bless us with all heavenly benediction,
and make us pure and holy in his sight.

May the riches of his glory abound in us.

May he instruct us with the Word of truth,
inform us with the Gospel of salvation,
and enrich us with his love,
through + Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Source: Gelasian Sacramentary

Source of this version: http://rockhay.tripod.com/worship/benewip.htm

Similar to Bless Us

Graphic, Gelasian Sacramentary, from Wikipedia.com