Prayers

PRAYERS

If you feel drawn to pray, you might like to use one of these prayers:

Lord thank you….

for your presence here with me,

 for the opportunity to pray,

for the promise of peace,

for the beauty of the world,

for the kindness of people…. 

for all those whom I love….. and who love me….

for your love towards me (and especially for ….).        

Help me to show my gratitude in deeds as well as words.

Lord I am sorry…..

for the times when I have been hasty or unkind (especially to .…) 

for  the thought or act itself,

for my failure forgive or ask forgiveness,

for having forgotten your presence, or taken your love for granted. 

 I thank you for your promise to forgive all those who turn back to you in penitence. 

We all have short comings, failures and sins.  These can be barriers preventing us from being at peace with ourselves, with one another and with God.  Tell God the way it is and be assured that he is working for your good.

Lord I am troubled

I am anxious and distressed for myself…..

for others….

especially about …..

Help me to trust your love, for you carry our sorrows,

teach me to act and speak in the way you want. 

Give me the wisdom to know when not to interfere. 

Calm my fears, for all things are in your hands. 

Lord I pray for…..

my family….. and friends, my neighbours,

those at home, at work, the ones I like…. and dislike….

for those who are ill ……

for those who are troubled or who mourn,

for the oppressed,

for those involved in disaster or war. 

Bless them Father in their various troubles and show me how I can help.

Here are more prayers you could pray which people have found helpful over the years:

Our Father who art in heaven

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come,

thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread

and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; 

and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory

for ever and ever. 

Amen. 

God be in my head, and in my understanding.

God be in my eyes, and in my looking. 

God be in my mouth, and in my speaking. 

God be in my heart, and in my thinking. 

God be at my end, and in my departing.

O Lord forgive what I have been,

bless what I am;

and direct what I shall be.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change:

the courage to change the things I can

and the wisdom to know the difference. 

Reinold Niebuhr

Wait for the Lord;

be strong and he shall comfort your heart;

wait patiently for the Lord    (Psalm 27 v 17)

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.  (Psalm  46, v. 1)

Be still, and know that I am God.  (Psalm 46, v. 10)

Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,

for all the benefits which thou has given me,

for all the pains and insults which thou has borne for me,

O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,

may I know thee more clearly,

love thee more dearly

and follow thee more nearly day by day.

St Richard Bishop of Chichester

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon,

Where there is doubt, faith,

Where there is despair, hope,

Where there is darkness, light,

Where there is sadness, joy. 

St Francis of Assisi