prayers ancient and modern – Page 2 – A Collection of Prayers

September 7

Warm my cold heart, Lord. Form me after your own image. Give me grace to obey you in all things and to always follow where you lead. Teach me to be kind to others, to be gentle and unselfish, careful to hurt no one by word or deed, but eager to do good to all and to make others happy. Lord, forgive the sins of my temper. Pardon all my hasty words and unchristian thoughts. Make me watchful, so that I do not offend with my tongue. Give me a meek and loving spirit, which is of high value in your sight. I do not want to live for myself, but for you. Keep me today, Lord, from all sin, and from anything that displeases you; for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Source: Bishop Ashton Oxenden (1808-1892), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 6

Eternal and most glorious God, do not let me undervalue myself that I give away my soul for nothing, for I am your soul, your dear and precious soul. All the world is nothing, so why would I give my soul for it? Preserve my soul, Lord, for it belongs to you, and preserve my body because it belongs to my soul. You alone pilot my boat through its voyage, but a pilot has a greater concern for a boat when it comes to a narrow current, or to a dangerous waterfall. You care for the preservation of my body throughout my life. When death draws near, open your eyes wider, and watch me carefully that no illness or agony may shake or numb my soul. Prepare my bed, that in any sickness or hardship, under your hand, I may be content with any bed you make. Amen.

Source: John Donne (1573–1631), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 5

Eternal God, darkness and light are the same to you, yet you send us your mercy by day and at night your song is with me. There is no light but yours, without, within. As you lift the curtain of night, take the veil from our hearts. Let your day dawn on our souls. Awaken all our labor and our prayer. Although everything else declines, let the noonday sun of your grace and peace remain. Let us follow Jesus while it is day, just as he finished your most divine work in his few years. Amen.

Source: Adapted from James Martineau (1805-1900), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Lord, make us reflect your heavenly kingdom here through mutual love, that all hatred may be banished, and all hearts full of love, joy and gladness. Amen.

Source: Ludovicus (Juan Luis) Vives, 1492-1540, revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 4

Almighty God, since we are bathed in the new light of your eternal truth, show yourself to us clearly, that with heart and mind we follow you in word and deed. Amen.

Rowland Williams (1818-1870), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Almighty God, giver of all wisdom, enlighten my understanding with knowledge of right, and govern my will by your laws, that no deceit may mislead me, no temptation may corrupt me, that I may always endeavor to do good, and to hinder evil. Amid all the hopes and fears of this world, do not take your Holy Spirit from me, but grant that my thoughts may be fixed on you, and that I may finally enter your eternal happiness, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Samuel Johnson (1709–1784), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 3

Lord God, grant that we may enjoy health of mind and body, deliver us from our present sadness, and finally bring us to the joy of your eternal gladness; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Roman Breviary, revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Almighty God, send us your good Spirit, that we flee to your loving arms as children, filled with trust, hope, and faith. In dark times draw us to you, that we trust you when we cannot see, and we hope in you when all seems doubtful. You are our Father who does all things well, and you order all things. Knowing that all things are in your hands, we await your time. Amen.

Source: George Dawson (1821–1876), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 2

Lord, teach us to remember your almighty help and comfort promised to us, your protecting presence surrounding us, your all-seeing eye watching us, your divine heart yearning for us, that we may not be afraid of anyone’s anger, or shrink from anyone’s ridicule, but courageously do the work you have given us, and after we have suffered, enter your rest. Amen.

Source: Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-1894), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Heavenly Father, author and source of all truth, bottomless sea of all understanding, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts, and enlighten our understandings with the beams of your heavenly grace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Nicholas Ridley (1500–1555), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 1

Lord, my God! What horrors of darkness surrounded me. They covered me all over, and I saw no way out. I felt the misery of people separated from your grace, and it was heavier than I could bear. I was crushed under it. I lifted my hand, I stretched out my arm, but there was no one to help me. I looked around and was amazed. Then, in the depths of misery, Father, I heard your Word calling me your child, declaring your love to me, and quieting my soul. You delivered me. You had pity on me when no one else could help me. Your Son suffered great humiliation to save me, and you called me to follow him.

Source: Adapted from John Woolman (1720–1772).

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

Bless My Life with Growth in Grace

Blessed fountain of life, I praise you for your living breath in me! Bless my life with growth in grace, and increase my knowledge of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Lengthen my patience, strengthen my soul in humility and zeal, and set my heart and mind on things above. I hunger and thirst for your righteousness. Heavenly Father, feed me with the living bread of your Word, teach me to do what pleases you, lead me by your gracious Spirit, and renew your holy image within me. I ask and hope through Jesus Christ our Lord, in whom we have received all the fullness of your grace. Amen.

Source: Freely modified from a prayer by Philip Doddridge (1702-1751) in Prayers Ancient and Modern, p. 238 (August 25).

Original in traditional English:

O Thou ever blessed fountain of life, I bless Thee that Thou hast infused into me Thine own vital breath, so that I am become a living soul. It is my earnest desire that I may not only live, but grow; grow in grace, and in the knowledge of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. May I grow in patience and fortitude of soul, in humility and zeal, in spirituality and a heavenly disposition of mind. In a word, as Thou knowest I hunger and thirst after righteousness, make me whatever Thou wouldest delight to see me. Draw on my soul, by the gentle influences of Thy gracious Spirit, every trace and every feature which Thine eye, O heavenly Father, may survey with pleasure, and which Thou mayest acknowledge as Thine own image. I ask and hope it through Him of whose fulness we have all received — Amen.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern is available through Amazon.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.