A Collection of Prayers

Guard Our Hearts

Almighty God,
our heavenly Father,
you feed the birds and clothe the flowers,
and you care for us as a father for his children.
Guard our hearts against faithlessness and anxiety.
By your Holy Spirit, help us
to live to the hallowing of your name,
the coming of your kingdom,
and the doing of your will,
so that we may cast all our cares on you
and in unwavering faith, trust in you;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Austria, 1571. Translation by Paul Zeller Strodach for Common Service Book.

“You feed the birds and clothe the flowers” is a reference to Matthew 6:26-28

“To live to the hallowing of your name…” is a reference to Matthew 6:9-13

“cast all our cares on you” is a reference to 1 Peter 5:7

“Faithlessness and anxiety” in the original is “distrust and vain over-carefulness”

This prayer is very similar to a prayer in A Book of Collects in Two Parts by John Wallace Suter, Freedom from Anxious Care:

ALMIGHTY GOD, who dost feed the birds and clothe the flowers, and who carest for us as a father for his children; Graciously guard us, we beseech thee, against distrust and vain over-carefulness, that casting all our care on thee, we may abide in thy love, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord.

Help and Shield Us

O God,
you justify the ungodly,
and you do not desire the death of the sinner.
Graciously help and shield your servants who trust in your mercy,
that no temptations may separate us from you,
and that we may serve you without ceasing;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Unknown

“You justify the ungodly” is a reference to Romans 4:5

“You do not desire the death of the sinner” is a reference to Ezekiel 33:11

To Live in Love

Prayer Book Bible Reading Book Of Common Prayer

O Lord,
you have taught us
all our deeds without love
are worth nothing.
Send your Holy Spirit
and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love,
the very bond of peace and of all virtues,
that we may always live in love before you;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Book of Common Prayer, 1549

Also found here: Prayers Ancient and Modern by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 321 #2

“That we may always live in love before you” in the original is “without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee”

“all our deeds without love are worth nothing” is a reference to 1 Corinthians 13:2-3

“Most excellent gift of love” is a reference to 1 Corinthians 12:31

Steadfast Love, Pure Desires

O God,
you make all things to work together for the good of those who love you:
Pour such steadfast love toward you into our hearts
that the pure desires your Spirit has stirred up in us
may not be turned aside by any temptation;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Unknown

The prayer quotes Romans 8:28

Faith, Hope and Love

Almighty God,
grant us a steadfast faith in Jesus Christ,
a cheerful hope in your mercy
and a sincere love for you and for one another;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Unknown

“steadfast faith… …cheerful hope… …sincere love…” is a reference to 1 Corinthians 13:13

Open the Eyes of our Mind

O loving Master,
shine into our hearts
by the pure light of knowing you,
open the eyes of our minds to reflect on your teaching,
and put into us the holy respect of your blessed commandments.
Lead us to set aside all that is worldly
that we may follow a spiritual life,
thinking and doing all things as it pleases you.
For you are our sanctification
and our illumination,
and to you we give all glory,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Eastern Church Liturgy.

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, ed. J. Manning Potts, The Upper Room, Nashville, Tennessee, © 1953 (Public domain in the U.S.), also in Ancient Collects, William Bright, p. 6#1.

This prayer may be the origin of verses from Luther’s hymn, “We now implore God the Holy Ghost”:

Shine in our hearts, O most precious Light,
That we Jesus Christ may know aright,
Clinging to our Savior, whose blood has bought us,
Who again to our homeland has brought us.
Lord, have mercy!

Keep Us From All Hurtful Things

In the evening and morning and noonday
we praise you, we thank you, and we pray:
Master of all,
let our prayers rise before you as incense.
Do not let our hearts turn away
to words or thoughts of wickedness,
but keep us from all things that might hurt us;
for our eyes look to you, O Lord,
and our hope is in you.
Do not let us be ashamed, O our God;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Eastern Church Vespers

Also found in Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 9 #1

“Let our prayers rise before you as incense ” is a reference to Psalm 141:2

“Our hope is in you” is a reference to Psalm 25:5

“Do not let us be ashamed” is a reference to Psalm 25:20

A Prayer for Peace

O God, you are the bottomless well of peace,
the heavenly sea of love,
the fountain of blessings,
and the giver of affection,
and you send peace to those who receive it.

Open to us this day the sea of your love,
and water us with the flowing streams of your grace.
Make us children of quietness, and heirs of peace.
Enkindle the fire of your love in us;
plant holy reverence for you in us;
strengthen our weakness by your power;
bind us closely to you and to each other
in one firm bond of unity;
for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Source: Syrian Clementine Liturgy, (attributed to Clement of Rome, c. 96)

Also found here: Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 80 #2

“plant holy reverence for you in us” in the original is “plant your fear in us”

When Two or Three Gather

Almighty God,
you have given us grace at this time
to make our common prayers to you,
and you promise that when two or three
are gathered together in your name
you will grant their requests.
O Lord, fulfill the desires and prayers of your servants,
as you know what is best for us,
granting us in this world knowledge of your truth,
and in the world to come, life everlasting.
Amen.

Source: St. John Chrysostom

“two or three calling your name” is a reference to Matthew 18:20

Even Two or Three

O Lord God,
you have taught us to pray all together,
and have promised to hear the united voices
of two or three calling your name;
hear now, O Lord, the prayers of your servants.
Save us, and in this world give us knowledge of your truth,
and in the world to come life everlasting;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Armenian Liturgy

“two or three calling your name” is a reference to Matthew 18:20

This prayer is similar to an early prayer by St. John Chrysostom.