O Lord,
may all who contend for the faith
never injure it by discord and impatience,
but speaking your precious truth in love,
present it that it may be loved,
and that people may see your truth
as goodness and beauty. Amen.
Source: William Bright
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 107 #2
O my Lord,
give me that purity of conscience
which alone can receive your inspirations.
My ears are dull,
so that I cannot hear your voice.
My eyes are dim,
so that I cannot see your presence.
You alone can quicken my hearing,
and purge my sight,
and cleanse and renew my heart.
Teach me, like Mary,
to sit at your feet,
and to hear your Word
Source: John Henry Newman
Source of this version: Modified from https://pollypilgrim.wordpress.com/prayer-page/a-prayer-from-john-henry-newman/
Also found in context here: http://www.newmanreader.org/works/meditations/meditations11.html
Take from us
all impurity of thought and desire,
all envy, pride and hypocrisy,
all falsehood and deceit,
all covetousness, arrogance and laziness,
all malice and anger,
everything that is against your will,
O most holy Lord.
Enlighten our understanding
that we may know
the greatness of your love in Christ,
the mysteries of your kingdom,
and the riches of your eternal glory.
Teach us what you would have us do,
and uphold us with your mighty power,
that in everything we do
we begin, proceed, and end
with your blessing.
Amen.
Source of this version: A Book of Common Order of the Church of Scotland, 1896, p. 263 #3
“that in everything we do…” in the Book of Common Order is “that every work of ours may begin always from Thee, and in Thee be happily ended.”
O God,
with you there is no darkness,
but the night shines like the day.
Keep and defend us and all your saints
in soul and body
during the coming night.
May we rest knowing your favor,
in the peace of a clear conscience,
in the hope of your blessing,
in faith in your providence,
in the love of your Spirit.
May we rise again
diligently carrying out our callings,
to do God’s work while it is day,
for the night comes when no one can work.
Whether we wake or sleep,
we live together with Christ.
Amen.
Source of this version: A Book of Common Order of the Church of Scotland, 1896, p. 193 #4
“No darkness” may be a reference to 1 John 1:5
Variant:
O God, with whom there is no darkness, but the night shines as the day: keep and defend us and all your children, we beseech you, throughout the coming night. Renew our hearts with your forgiveness and our bodies with untroubled sleep, that we may wake to use more faithfully your gift of life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Source of this version: http://ourladyofloreto.org/bulletins_2014/Mar_16.pdf
“Work while it is day…” is a reference to John 9:4
Almighty and eternal God,
you are the comfort of the sorrowful
and the strength of the weak.
Graciously hear the prayers of those
who call out to you in any trouble or distress,
that in all their needs
they may receive your abundant help
and know your immeasurable comfort;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Modified from Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, Board of Publication of the United Lutheran Church in America, Philadelphia, 1919, p. 223 #62
Lord God almighty,
everlasting and gracious God,
grant me and all Christians
a heart that will daily understand your Word through the Holy Spirit,
and sumbit to the easy yoke and light burden of Jesus Christ,
obedient to his holy Word.
Amen.
Source: Wilhelm Löhe. Freely adapted from Seed Grains of Prayer, A Manual for Evangelical Christians, Wartburg Press, Chicago, 1914 (#344)
“easy yoke…” is a reference to Matthew 11:30
Lord God, heavenly Father,
you command your angels concerning us to guard us in all our ways
against the tyranny of the devil
and against the evils in this dark world.
Continue to guard us with your holy angels.
Strengthen us by your Spirit,
that your will is done by humanity on earth
as it is done by the angels in heaven,
that we may live to please you here,
and forever praise you in heaven.
Amen.
Source: Wilhelm Löhe. Freely adapted from Seed Grains of Prayer, A Manual for Evangelical Christians, Wartburg Press, Chicago, 1914 (#314)
“You command your angels” is a reference to Psalm 91:11
“Your will is done…” is a reference to Matthew 6:10
Lord Jesus Christ,
you have come to comfort and save all troubled souls.
Come also to me and stay with me in my distress.
Fill my troubled heart with the Word of your promise,
“I am with you always.”
Fill my home with your blessing,
and my whole life with Christian humility.
Amen.
Source: Wilhelm Löhe. Freely adapted from Seed Grains of Prayer, A Manual for Evangelical Christians, Wartburg Press, Chicago, 1914 (#241)
“Fill my troubled heart with the Word of your promise, ‘I am with you always.'” in the original is “Fill my miserable heart with the beauties of Thy comforting presence…”
The Lord will keep me from all evil;
he will keep my life.
The Lord will keep
my going out and my coming in
from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 121:7-8 ESV, modified)
Lord God, heavenly Father,
whether we wake or sleep,
live or die, we are yours.
Take care of me.
Do not let me fall into destruction by the works of darkness.
Let the light of your face arise in my heart,
that by faith, true knowledge of you may increase in my soul,
and that I may continually do your will.
Guard and defend me against every deception of the evil one.
Preserve me from all evil visions and horrid dreams,
and let me rest peacefully in you this night,
and arise tomorrow in joy and health to fulfill my calling,
to the glory of your holy name.
Amen.
Source: Wilhelm Löhe. Freely adapted from Seed Grains of Prayer, A Manual for Evangelical Christians, Wartburg Press, Chicago, 1914 (#227)
“whether we… live or die” is a reference to Romans 14:8
“Let the light of your face arise…” may be a reference to 2 Peter 1:19
Eternal Lord,
Mighty Son of God,
you came to crush the head of the serpent
and to destroy the works of the devil.
We thank you
for delivering us from the devil
through your Word and holy Baptism,
and for making us temples of your Holy Spirit.
With your almighty arm defend us.
Do not let Satan desecrate your house
or defile your temples,
or have any power over us.
Continue to bless us with your love and defend us,
for you are our unconquerable God and Lord,
praised forever.
Amen.
Source: Wilhelm Löhe. Freely adapted from Seed Grains of Prayer, A Manual for Evangelical Christians, Wartburg Press, Chicago, 1914 (#145)
“Crush the head of the serpent” is a reference to Genesis 3:15
“Temples of your Holy Spirit” is a reference to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“almighty arm” may be a reference to Psalm 89:13
A Collection of Prayers 