temptation – Page 3 – A Collection of Prayers

Watch, Lord, with Us

Watch, Lord, with us,
lest we fall into temptation and despair
in the darkness of this world.
Watch, Lord, with us,
lest we fall into any kind of danger
in the darkness of this night.
Let your Word be the lamp to our feet
and the light for our path,
our guide through the darkness
and our hope in the midst of despair.
Keep the lamp of your Word
shining brightly in our hearts
in the dark night of the world.
You, Jesus, are the light no darkness can overcome,
and you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Paul C. Stratman, 2016

“Watch, Lord, with us” is a reference to Matthew 26:41

“Let your Word be the lamp to our feet” is a reference to Psalm 119:105

“You, Jesus, are the light no darkness can overcome” is a reference to John 1:5

This prayer is inspired in part by the poetic prayers of Georg Christian Dieffenbach (1822-1901) and some elements of prayers from the Antiphonary of Bangor (9th Century).

Latin version:

Vigilate, Domine, nobiscum,
ne incidamus in desperationem
in tentationem et tenebrarum mundi.
Vigilate, Domine, nobiscum,
ne incidamus in aliquam periculo noctis
huius caliginem destruendam.
Verbum tuum lux pedibus nostris
verbum tuum et lumen semitis nostris,
lux in medio tenebras,
spes in medio desperatio.
Effulgens custodi verbum tuum in cordibus nostris
lucerna mundi tenebris noctis excitabatur.
Tu, Jesu sis lux tenebrae non conprehendit,
etcum Patre et Spiritu Sancto vivis et regnas Deus,
per omnia sæcula sæculorum.

Deliver Us from Evil

O God of peace and charity,
deliver us from all temptation,
assist us in every conflict,
console us in every trouble.
Give us patience in adversity,
and grace to worship you with a pure conscience,
and to serve you with all our strength.
We bless you, we thank you, day by day we magnify you.
Let our praises be pleasing to you,
and our prayer acceptable.
Amen.

Source: Gallican Missal

Source of this version: Freely modified from A Book of Prayers: Together with Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Ancient and Modern, Ed. Charles Leffingwell, Morehouse Publishing Company, 1921, p. 60 #1

Enlighten Us, Let Us Walk Securely

Almighty God,
by your mercy
do not let our minds be cast down by any troubles of this life,
let no hurtful temptation have dominion over them,
let no darkness of unbelief hold them captive.
But, illuminated by the light of your face shining on us,
may we always walk securely
on the sure ground of the true faith.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Rite

Source of this version: Modified from A Book of Prayers: Together with Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Ancient and Modern, Ed. Charles Leffingwell, Morehouse Publishing Company, 1921, p. 45 #2

Power to Withstand Temptations

Lord,
give your people power
to withstand the temptations
of the world,
the flesh,
and the devil,
and with pure hearts and minds
to follow you,
the only true God;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Unknown.

For Complete Love

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Lord, my God,
Light of the blind and Strength of the weak;
indeed, also, Light of those that see,
and Strength of the strong;
listen to my soul,
and hear it crying out of the depths.

O Lord,
help us to turn and seek you;
for you have not forsaken your creatures
the way we have forsaken you, our Creator.
Let us turn and seek you,
for we know you are here in our hearts,
when we confess to you,
when we cast ourselves on you,
and weep at your feet,
after all our rugged ways;
and you gently wipe away our tears,
and we weep the more for joy;
because you, Lord, who made us,
remake and comfort us.

Hear, Lord, my prayer,
and grant that I may most entirely love you,
and rescue me, O Lord, from every temptation,
even to the end.
Amen.

Source: St. Augustine of Hippo

“Light of the blind…” may be a reference to Luke 4:18 and similar passages.

“…out of the depths” is a reference to Psalm 130:1

“Let us turn and seek you” may be a reference to Daniel 9:3 and 1 Peter 3:11

“gently wipe away our tears” may be a reference to Revelation 7:17 and Revelation 21:4

Blessing from St. Patrick’s Breastplate

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May the strength of God pilot us.
May the power of God preserve us.
May the wisdom of God instruct us.
May the hand of God protect us.
May the way of God direct us.
May the shield of God defend us.
May the host of God guard us
against the snares of evil
and the temptations of the world.

May Christ be with us.
Christ before us.
Christ in us.
Christ over us.
May your salvation, O Lord,
be always ours
this day and forever more.

Source: St. Patrick, from “St. Patrick’s Breastplate”

Source of this version: http://www.oursanctuary.net/breastplate.html

Graphic: Saint Patrick stained glass window from Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, CA, from Wikimedia Commons

Deliver Our Hearts

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O most merciful and gracious God,
hear our prayers,
and deliver our hearts
from the temptation of evil thoughts,
that by your goodness,
we may be a fitting dwelling for your Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Source: Priest’s Prayer Book

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 123 #1

Strength in the Storm

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Rest on us,
O Spirit of Love,
and chase all anger, envy,
and bitter grudges from our souls.
Be our Comforter in trial,
when the storm goes over our heads;
be our Strength in the hour of weakness,
and help us to control the desires of the flesh.
Let us grow in faith and love,
in hope, patience, and humility.
See how many temptations surround us,
and preserve us from giving way to them;
show us the path where we should tread,
for if we trust our own impulses we will go astray;
but if you lead us we shall run in the way of your commandments.
Our hearts lie open before you; enter now with your rich gifts,
strengthen, establish, settle them.
Dwell in them and make them your temple,
so shall we have the pledge of the children of God,
and of our salvation.
Amen.

Source: Johann Friedrich Starck (1680-1756)

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 76 #1

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

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