Category: Christian Prayer

For the Aged

O God our Father,
be merciful
to those who suffer more weakness,
distress or isolation
as each year passes.
Provide homes for them
that treat them with dignity
and give them peace.
Give them understanding helpers,
and the willingness to accept help.
As physical strength diminishes,
strengthen their faith
and assure them of your love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Source: Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.

Original from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.

Look with mercy, O God our Father, on all whose increasing years bring them weakness, distress, or isolation. Provide for them homes of dignity and peace; give them understanding helpers, and the willingness to accept help; and, as their strength diminishes, increase their faith and their assurance of your love. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (Book of Common Prayer, U. S., 1979, p.  830, #49)

Draw Our Children to You

Blessed Lord Jesus,
you have taught us
that we must become
like little children
to enter your kingdom,
and you loved children
and blessed them.
Draw our children to you
by your Holy Spirit
and keep them in your service,
so that they may follow you,
declare your praise,
and be one with us
in the confession of your holy name.

Source: Common Service Book, #47

Original in traditional English:

Blessed Lord Jesus, Who hast taught us that we must be as the little children in order to come to Thy Kingdom, and Who didst love and bless them most tenderly: Grant that our children may be drawn unto Thee by Thy good Spirit and ever kept in Thy service, so that walking in Thy way, they may ever show forth Thy praise and be one with us in the confession of Thy holy Name; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen. (Common Service Book, # 47)

After Communion

O Lord Jesus Christ, you have richly fed and refreshed my soul. Help me to love you with all my heart, truly believe in you, and live according to your will. Finally, grant me a blessed and joyful end that I may live and remain with you forever.

Source: Pomeranian Agenda, possibly by Johannes Bugenhagen, 16th century.

Original in German:

O Herr Jesu Christ, der du meine Seele gar reichlich gespeiset und getränket hast, ich bitte dich, gib, daß ich dich von Herzen recht möge lieben, an dich wahrhaftig gläuben, und nach deinem heiligen Willen leben, beschere mir auch endlich ein selig und frölich Ende, auf daß ich mit dir in Ewigkeit leben, und bei dir bleiben möge, der du mit dem u. (Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 381.2)

Before Communion

Lord 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 our heavenly homeland to see you face to face and dwell with you through all eternity.

Wilhelm Loehe, Samenkoerner des Gebets, p. 139, #88

Original in German:

Herr Jesu Christe, mein einziger Trost, meine Hoffnung, mein Leben, meine Gerech tigkeit, meine Stärke und meine Burg, ich bitte dich, du wollest mein Herz entzünden mit herzlichem Verlangen, Hunger und Durst nach der ewigen Speise meiner Seele, nach deinem wahren Leibe und Blute, daß ich in wahrer Erkenntniß meiner Sünden und starker Zuversicht zu dir dies dein hochwürdiqes Sakrament oft und ohne Ueberdruß möge gebrauchen, daß ich damit ohne Unterlaß meine Seele und Gewissen möge stärken und versichern, bis ich dermaleins meine Reise vollende, das rechte Vaterland erlange, zu du komme, dich von Angesicht zu Angesicht schaue, und ewig bei dir bleibe. Amen.

Early translation in traditional English:

Lord Jesus Christ, our only comfort, our hope, our righteousness, our strength and sure defence, we beseech Thee, kindle in our breasts a fervent desire, hunger, and thirst for that eternal food of the soul,—Thy true body and blood,— that we may gladly and frequently receive the glorious Sacrament in true realization of our sins and strong reliance upon Thee, unto the strengthening and assurance of our souls, until at last life’s pilgrimage ended, we come to Thee in the true Fatherland, to see Thee face to face, and abide with Thee through all eternity. Amen. (Wilhelm Loehe, Seed Grains of Prayer, English edition, #88.)

Before Communion

Lord, I am not worthy to be a guest at your holy table, yet I have heard the sweet words of your invitation, and you have promised me forgiveness of my sins through your body and blood which I eat and drink in this sacrament. O dear Lord, I know that your divine Word and promise are true. I do not doubt them, and resting on them, I eat and drink with you. Let it be to me according to your Word.

Source: Attributed to Martin Luther, no German original found in Die Gebete Luthers, from The Collection of Baron Bunsen, p. 182 #3 Tr. Catherine Winkworth.

Version in traditional English by Catherine Winkworth:

Lord Jesu Christ, though of a truth I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof, yet am I in sore need of Thy help, and desirous of Thy grace, that I may attain godliness and salvation.  I come now in no other confidence than this, that I have heard the sweet words wherewith Thou invitest me to Thy table, and dost promise me, unworthy though I be, forgiveness of my sins through Thy body and blood, which I eat and drink in this Sacrament. O dear Lord, I know that Thy Divine word and promise are true; I doubt them not; and, resting on them, I eat and drink with Thee. Be it unto me according to Thy word. Amen.

For Obedience to God’s Word

Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank you for giving us your holy Gospel and revealing your love to us. In your boundless mercy, help us hold on to this blessed light of your` Word, and through your Holy Spirit govern and guide our hearts, so that we may never stray from it, but hold fast to it and finally be saved; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Source: Pomeranian Agenda, possibly by Johannes Bugenhagen, 16th century.

Original in German:

Wir danken dir, Herr Gott himmlischer Vater, daß du uns dein heiliges Evangelium gegeben, und dein väterliches Herz hast erkennen lassen; wir bitten deine grundlose Barmherzigkeit, du wollest dies selige Licht deines Worts bei uns gnädiglich erhalten und durch deinen heiligen Geist unsere Herzen also leiten und führen, daß wir nimmermehr davon abweichen, sondern fest daran hallen und endlich dadurch selig werden, durch Jesum Christum, deinen Sohn u.

For Hearing the Word

O Lord, our Maker, Redeemer and Comforter, we are gathered in your presence to hear your holy Word. Open our hearts by your Holy Spirit, that through the preaching of your Word we may be taught to repent of our sins, to believe in Jesus in life and in death, and to grow day by day in grace and holiness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Source: The Lutheran Hymnary, 1913, p. 7.

As it appeared in The Lutheran Hymnary in traditional English:

O Lord our Maker Redeemer and Comforter we are assembled in Thy presence to hear Thy holy word. We pray Thee so to open our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit that through the preaching of Thy word we may be taught to repent of our sins, to believe on Jesus in life and in death, and to grow day by day in grace and holiness. Hear us for Christ’s sake. Amen.

A Personal Confession of Sin

Almighty God, I am sorry for my many sins. I am proud and corrupt. I do not fully know my sins, and can never be sorry enough for them. Father of all comfort, do not deal with me in judgment, but in your great mercy. Give me your Holy Spirit so that I hear your Word, realize my sins, learn humility, seek you in truth, and be relieved in heart and conscience by the promise of our Lord Jesus. O Lord Jesus Christ, my Redeemer, by your bitter death and suffering and with your righteousness and innocence, cover my sin and evil. May I not only hear your Word, but keep it in my heart and live by it.

Source: Johannes Bugenhagen in  Gebetbuch, enthaltend…,  # 60.

Ich armer Sünder bekenne mich Gott dem Allmächtigen, daß ick leider viel gesündigt habe und mich in Sünden alfo vertiefet und verderbet, daß ich meine Sünde und fündlich Leben weder erkenne, noch genugsam beweine. Darum, allmächtiger Gott, ein Vater alles Trostes, ich bitte dich, du wollest mit mir thun nicht nach der Menge meiner Sünden, sondern nach deiner mannigsaltigen Bannherzigkeit, und sende mir zu deinen heiligen Geist in Verkün digung deines Wortes, damit ich komme zur Erkenntniß meiner Sünde und sündlichen Lebens und daß ich mich möge wahrlich demüthigen, dich in Wahrheit suchen, und in tröstlichen Zusagen in unserm Herrn Jesu mein Herz und Gewissen wiederum zufrieden stellen. O Herr Jesu Christe, mein Erlöser, ich bitte dich durch dein bitter Sterben und Leiden, daß du wollest sein mein Fürbitter und Mittler bei Gott, deinem himmlischen Vater, und mit deiner Gerechtigkeit und Unschuld vertreten meine Sünde und Bosheit; dazu verleihe mir nicht allein zu hören das Wort, sondern auch das im Herzen zu behalten und darnach zu leben. Amen. Vater unser.

Remembrance of Baptism

Lord God, heavenly Father, we give you thanks for the wonderful gift of baptism and the many gifts that come with it: forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit, and eternal life through your Son Jesus Christ. In your grace and mercy, preserve us in faith that we may never doubt your promise, but find our comfort in you in all temptations. Send us your Holy Spirit that we may renounce sin and always continue in the righteousness given us in baptism, until we receive eternal salvation by your grace.

Source: Adapted from two German prayers, one by Martin Luther and one from the Pomeranian Agenda.

Original in German:

Herr Gott himlischer Vater, wir danken dir je billich das du die selige gnadenreiche Tauf durch den heiligen Tauffer Johannem hast erstlich angerichtet, und uns auch dazu lassen kommen, in welcher du uns umb dienes Suns Christi Jesu willen zusagest vergebung der suenden, den heyligen Geyst und das ewige leben. Wir bitten dich, erhalte uns inn sochem vertruqen auff dein gnad und barmhertzigkeyt das wir an socher zusagung nymmer mehr zweyffelen, sonder der selben inn allerley anfecchtun uns troesten, und gib durch deinen heyligen Geyst das wir fuer suenden uns hueten, unnd in solcher unschuld dazu wir durch die Tauffe kommen sind, bleyben moegen, Oder ja wo wir fallen. Unnd menschlicher schwacheiyt halb nicht koennen bestehen das wir inn suenden nicht ligen bleyben, sonder durch rechtschaffene Buss uns bekehren und deiner gnad unnd zusagun uns wider troesten und also durch din genad ewig selig warden.

Prayer of Good Courage

Lord God,
you have called your servants
to ventures of which
we cannot see the ending,
by paths as yet untrodden,
through perils unknown.
Give us faith to go out
with good courage,
not knowing where we go,
but only that your hand
is leading us
and your love
supporting us,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Eric Milner-White, Daily Prayer, p. 14. Originally published: Oxford University Press, 1941.

Original in traditional English:

The call of Abraham

O Lord God, who hast called thy servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown: Give us faith to go out with a good courage, not knowing whither we go, but only that thy hand is leading us, and thy love supporting us; to the glory of thy Name.