O Lord, give us
wise, self-controlled,
patient, understanding,
devout, faithful,
and courageous hearts.
Fill our souls with
devotion to your service,
and strength against all temptations;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Give unto us, O Lord, we humbly beseech thee, a wise, a sober, a patient, an understanding, a devout, a religious, a courageous heart; a soul full of devotion to do thee service, strength against all temptations, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
John the Baptist has two commemorations. The Nativity of St. John the Baptist, June 24, his ‘birthday,’ is six months before Jesus’ ‘birthday,’ December 25. Saints are usually remembered on their ‘birthday to life eternal.’ The Christian Church also observes the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist on August 29.
Dear Lord God,
we thank and praise you for giving us the blessed John the Baptist
and for his joyful preaching and blessed pointing
to Christ the Lamb of God,
that we may know where to find salvation and eternal life
so that we may have comfort
and redemption against sin and death
and that God’s goodness and grace may comfort us forever.
God grant this to us all. Amen.
Lord,
you alone are God,
the gracious and merciful.
You command those who love your name
to cast away all fear and care,
and to lay their burdens on you.
Keep us under your protection,
and give us now and always
that everlasting rest,
which you have promised
to those who obey your word;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Lord, who alone art God, the gracious and merciful; who commandest them that love thy Name to cast away all fear and care, and to lay their burden upon thee: Receive us under thy protection, and give us now and evermore that everlasting rest, which thou hast promised to them that obey thy word; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Almighty and eternal God, we thank you for this your blessing of the birth of a healthy child. O Lord Jesus Christ, receive this child into your care forever, for you have commanded that the little children be brought to you. So we pray, moved by your Word that you would make this child your own through your precious blood. Give this child grace, blessing, strength, power and prosperity so that we might bring this child to you with joy to enter your kingdom through holy Baptism, and give thanks for your grace with all God-fearing hearts. Amen.
Lord God, heavenly Father,
you prepared your Son
to be our Savior,
a light for the gentiles
and the glory of Israel.
We pray,
enlighten our hearts
that we may know
your grace
and fatherly will
toward us
in Christ,
and through him
be saved forever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Herr Gott, himmlischer Vater, der du deinen Sohn uns zum Heiland bereitet hast, daß er der Heiden Licht und der Juden Preis sein soll: wir bitten dich, erleuchte unsre Herzen, daß wir deine Gnade und väterlichen Willen gegen uns in ihm erkennen, und durch ihn ewig selig werden, durch denselben deinen Sohn Jesum Christum, unsern Herrn. Amen.
Dear God,
lead us with the Wise Men
by the star of your holy Word
to your Son, Christ Jesus,
and always protect us
from every attack.
Then we will return
to our home country
by another route,
that is, to God
by whom we are created,
and finally come to the source again,
as in a great golden ring.
God help us,
through Christ,
our King and Priest,
forever and ever.
Amen.
Lieber Gott, führe uns mit den Weisen durch den Stern deines heiligen Worts zu deinem Sohn Christo Jesu, und bewahre uns vor allem Anstoß in Ewigkeit, so kommen wir recht in unser Vaterland, da wir herkommen sind, das ist zu Gott, von dem wir geschaffen sind, und kommt das Ende mit dem Ursprung wieder zusammen, wie ein goldener Ring; das helf uns Gott durch Christum, unsern König und Priester in Ewigkeit. Amen.
We thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, that you are the Word and living image of the eternal Father, our Immanuel. You took on yourself our human nature, and you support and protect your Christendom against your enemy, the devil. Give us us the light of your holy Word. Forgive us our sins and give us eternal life. Be our mediator and intercessor, and plead for us. Hear and help us as you have promised: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Have mercy on us. Pray for us before your everlasting Father, sanctify and rule in us with your Holy Spirit. Protect us against all treachery and terror, and the lies and murder of the devil so that with pure and joyful hearts we may serve you; with the Father and the Holy Spirit, you live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
“lies and murder of the devil” is based on John 8:44.
Original in German
Wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christe, du Sohn des lebendigen Gottes, der du bist das Wort und Ebenbild des ewigen Vaters und unser Immanuel, daß du menschliche Natur hast angenomme, und erhältst und beschirmst deine Christenheit, wider die Teufel, deine Feinde, gibst uns und erhältst das Licht deines heiligen Worts, vergibst uns unsere Sünde und gibst uns das ewige Leben und bist unser Mittler, Fürbitter, und Fürsprecher und willt uns erhören und helfen wie du gesprochen hast; Kommet her zu mir Alle die ihr mühselig und be laden seid ich will euch erquicken; wir bitten dich, erbarme dich unser, bitte für uns deinen ewigen Vater, heilige und regiere uns mit deinem heiligen Geiste, beschirme uns wider alle List und Gewalt, Lügen und Mord des bösen Geistes, auf daß wir mit einem reinen und fröhlichen Herzen dir allezeit dienen mögen, der du mit dem Vater und dem heiligen Geiste lebest und regierest von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit, Amen.
Dear Lord God,
awaken us,
that we may be ready
when your dear Son comes,
that we may receive him with joy
and serve you with pure hearts;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Lieber Herr Gott, wecke uns auf, daß wir bereit sind, wenn dein lieber Sohn kömmt, ihn mit Freuden zu empfahen, und dir mit reinem Herzen zu dienen, durch denselbigen deinen Sohn Jesum Christum, unsern Herrn. Amen.
Awaken us,
O Lord God,
with your grace for the future.
As you graciously forgive our sins,
protect and strengthen us
from all danger
of future sins,
so that we may serve you
with a clear conscience,
and joyfully receive
our Lord Jesus Christ
when he comes again in glory;
he lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God forever and ever.
Amen.
Erwecke uns, O Herr Gott, mit der Zukunft deiner Gnaden, und wie du uns gnädiglich unsere Sünden verzeihest, also bewahre und stärke uns für aller Gefährlichkeit der zukünftigen Sünden, auf daß wir dir mit reinem Gewissen dienen, und unsern Herrn Jesum Christum, wenn er in seiner Herrlichkeit kommen wird fröhlich empfangen mögen der mit dir lebet und regieret, in Einigkeit des heiligen Geistes wahrer, Gott immer und ewiglich, Amen.
This prayer is from Prayers from the Evangelical-Lutheran Heritage, available from Amazon.com, and also available for Amazon Kindle. It is a collection of prayers from the history of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church from Luther to Loehe. The collection includes prayers by Johannes Bugenhagen, Georg C. Dieffenbach, Veit Dietrich, Matthias Flacius, Wilhelm Loehe, Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, Joachim Mynsinger, Johann G. Olearius, Johann Jacob Rambach, and the early agendas and prayer books of the Austrian, Brunswick, Hamburg, Lueneberg, Norwegian, Nuremberg, Pomeranian, Riga, Russian, Saxon, Schleswig-Holstein, and Swedish Evangelical-Lutheran churches.
Dear God, protect us and keep us in your grace that we may be that little flock, which gladly receives Christ, singing, “Hosanna! God be praised,” that we receive him as our King, and that we may be Christians. We know why we are called Christians, namely, after our King Christ, since we are baptized in his name and washed in his blood. Help us remain in him. Amen.
O dear God, heavenly Father, give prosperity and salvation to the Son of David, your dear Son Christ Jesus, and to his kingdom. Let him also come to us in your name, that we also may be blessed. Amen.
553 Lieber Gott, behüte uns und gieb uns deine Gnade, daß wir das Häuflein sind, die Christum gern wollen annehmen und singen: Hosianna, Gott sei gelobet, daß wir diesen König haben und Christen sind und heißen: wir wissen, warum wir also heißen, nämlich von unserm König Christo, daß wir in seinen Namen getauft und in seinem Blut gewaschen sind; hilf daß wir dabei bleiben. Amen. Luther.
554 Ach du lieber Gott, himmlischer Vater, gieb Glück und Heil dem Sohne Davids, deinem lieben Sohne Christo Jesu, zu seinem Königreich. Laß ihn auch bei uns einreiten in deinem Namen, daß es gebenedeiet sei und wohl gehe Amen Luther.
Lord God, heavenly Father,
Dear God,
![Prayers from the Evangelical-Lutheran Heritage by [Stratman, Paul]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51J%2B7A9TWnL.jpg)
A Collection of Prayers 