Vocation – A Collection of Prayers

September 30

Eternal God, you created me to do your work among people, and to serve you now according to my abilities. Teach me to use my time wisely, to resist all temptations, and to serve my fellow Christians. As I carry out all my duties, may I glorify your name. Give me a watchful and active spirit, and wisdom as I choose my work, that I may do everything with the dignity of a Christian, and fill my time with actions of faith and charity, using and multiplying all the talents you have given me, my Lord, and finally enter my master’s happiness; for your mercy’s sake. Amen.

Source: Jeremy Taylor (1613–1667), 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.

You Have Called Us into Your Vineyard

Lord God, heavenly Father,
through your precious Word
you have called us into your vineyard.
Send your Holy Spirit into our hearts
that we may labor faithfully in your vineyard,
shun sin and all offense,
obediently keep your Word
and do your will,
and put our whole and only trust in your grace,
which you have poured on us generously
through your Son Jesus Christ,
that we may obtain eternal salvation through him;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God,
now and forever.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Septuagesima

This revision/translation of The Collects of Veit Dietrich is licensed by Paul C. Stratman under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for permission for any commercial use.

Help Us to Know Your Word, Help Us to Do Our Work

800px-lucas_cranach_d-c384-_-_martin_luther2c_1528_28veste_coburg29_28cropped29 Almighty and eternal God,
we pray that you would
uphold us
through the right knowledge
of your divine Word
through your Holy Spirit.
Grant us peace and health
as we do the work
of our callings
with your blessing;
through your dear Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Martin Luther, [Die Gebete Luthers, #41]

Original in German:

O allmächtiger, ewiger Gott, wir bitten dich, du wollest uns ja bei der rechten Erkenntnis deines göttlichen Worts durch deinen H. Geist gnädiglich erhalten, Friede und Gesundheit verleihen, daß wir die Werke unsers Berufs seliglich mögen ausrichten, durch Jesum Christum, deinen lieben Sohn, unsern Herrn.