O Clavis David
O Key of David,
O royal power of Israel,
controlling at your will the gate of heaven:
come, break down the prison walls of death
for those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death;
and lead your captive people into freedom.
Amen.
O Radix Jesse
O Flower of Jesse’s stem,
you have been raised up
as a sign for all peoples;
kings stand silent in your presence;
the nations bow down in worship before you.
Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.
Amen.
O Adonai
O sacred Lord of ancient Israel,
who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush,
who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain:
come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free. Amen.
O Sapientia
O Wisdom,
coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other mightily,
and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.
Amen.
Breath of Heaven
hold me together;
Be forever near me,
Breath of Heaven.
Breath of Heaven,
lighten my darkness;
Pour over me Your holiness,
for You are holy,
Breath of Heaven.
(excerpt from "Mary's Song," a prayer by Amy Grant and Chris Eaton)
To Approach That Day on Tiptoe
Lord Jesus, the day of your nativity approaches,
the day on which we commemorate
your birth,
your condescension,
your humble incarnation.
Please help me and mine
to approach that day on tiptoe,
with reverence and awe,
mindful of your holiness and beauty,
and grateful for the privilege
of finding
and approaching
and kneeling at
your manger, amen.
Jonah Prayer
Lord God Adonai, incline my heart
to run to your will
and not from it...
when it pleases me,
and when it doesn't...
when I am at peace,
and when I am in turmoil...
when you call me to ease
and when you call me to sorrow,
for in your will
is your wisdom,
and in obedience
is my peace. Amen.
A Prayer for More
More patience in suffering, more sorrow for sin.
More faith in you, Jesus, more sense of your care.
More joy in your service, more purpose in prayer.
More gratitude give me, more trust in you, Lord.
More zeal for your glory, more hope in your Word.
More tears for your sorrows, more pain at your grief.
More meekness in trial, more praise for relief.
More purity give me, more strength to o’ercome,
More freedom from earth-stains, more longings for home.
More fit for the kingdom, more faithful and true,
More blessèd and holy, more, Savior, like you.
(a prayer of Philip Bliss, slightly revised)
Blessed Trinity
O God the Father, of heaven, who marvelously created
the world out of nothing,
who governs and upholds heaven
and earth with your power,
who delivered to death
your only-begotten
for us:
O God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
who willed to be incarnate of a virgin,
who has washed us from our sins
by your precious blood,
who rising from the dead
ascended victorious to heaven:
O God the Holy Ghost, the Comforter,
who descended upon Jesus in
the form of a dove,
who coming upon the apostles
appeared in fiery tongues,
who visits and confirms with your grace
the hearts of the saints:
O sacred, highest, eternal, blissful,
blessed Trinity,
always to be praised, yet always
unspeakable:
O Father good -
O Son loving -
O Spirit kind -
whose majesty is unspeakable,
whose power is incomparable,
whose goodness is inestimable:
whose work is life,
whose love is grace,
whose contemplation is glory:
Deity, Divinity, Unity, Trinity:
I worship you, I call upon you,
with the whole affection of my heart
I bless you now and forever:
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.
(a prayer of Lancelot Andrewes, slightly updated)
Ingenuity
to have thought of the Sabbath...
and snow...
to have created two sexes....
to have created growth itself,
and sleep,
and so many other wonderful things
that we take for granted as though they have always existed...
but once they were not,
and then they were formed in your mind,
and now they are.
How wonderful you are. Amen.
Spare Me
Save me from getting all I pray for,
from receiving all I ask,
until I learn to ask only according to your will.
Break me of my desire to have my desires.
Spare me any pleasure that will halt or delay my progress
in becoming more like you,
in Jesus' name, amen.
(based on a Puritan prayer, found here)
from receiving all I ask,
until I learn to ask only according to your will.
Break me of my desire to have my desires.
Spare me any pleasure that will halt or delay my progress
in becoming more like you,
in Jesus' name, amen.
(based on a Puritan prayer, found here)
Fast
I hold fast to you.
I will not depart from following you,
but will keep your commandments,
by your grace.
Please be with me
wherever I go;
bless me,
prosper me,
and make me a scourge
to all who oppose you,
for the sake of your kingdom,
and for the glory of your name,
in Jesus' name, amen.
(Based on 2 Kings 18:6-7)
Enter
with thanksgiving in my heart, Lord;
I will enter your gates
with praise.
I will enter with anticipation.
I will enter with faith.
I will enter humbly,
expectantly,
adoringly,
grateful simply for the privilege
of entering,
and hopeful of giving you the honor
that is due you,
and whatever I may receive from you
is added blessing.
Amen.
From This Misty Lowland
O God, I have tasted Thy goodness and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune god, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.” Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. In Jesus’ name, Amen.(a prayer of A. W. Tozer)
For Pastor Saeed Abedini
Please free him.
Open the gates of stubborn hearts.
Cut through the red tape of politics.
Guard him from other prisoners.
Sustain his health and spirit as he waits.
Free him, Lord.
Amen.
(a prayer of author Lisa T. Bergren)
A Confession
Lord, have mercy.
I confess to eating too much because I can.
Lord, have mercy.
I confess to giving too little because I can.
Lord, have mercy.
I confess to losing my temper with children...and adults.
Lord, have mercy.
I confess to the selfishness of wanting to be noticed and admired.
Lord, have mercy.
I confess to smugness and self-righteousness.
Lord, have mercy.
I confess to being ungracious and unmerciful toward others.
Lord, have mercy.
I confess to enjoying comfort and plenty as if I am entitled to them.
Lord, have mercy.
I confess to lustful glances and unclean thoughts.
Lord, have mercy.
I confess my envy and jealousy.
Lord, have mercy.
I confess my impatience and insensitivity.
Lord, have mercy.
I confess my covetousness.
Lord, have mercy.
I confess my hypocrisy.
Lord, have mercy.
Thank you for your promised forgiveness
and the cleansing and restoration that is mine
in Christ Jesus,
amen.
A Prayer of Moses, Adapted
Even if you're not pleased with me,
teach me your ways so I may know you
and continue to find favor with you,
for you are my strength,
my life,
my only hope.
(Based on Exodus 33:13)
teach me your ways so I may know you
and continue to find favor with you,
for you are my strength,
my life,
my only hope.
(Based on Exodus 33:13)
Incarnation of Divine Love
You are the incarnation of Divine Love,
you are the expression of God's infinite compassion,
you are the visible manifestation of the Father's holiness.
You are beauty, goodness, gentless,
forgiveness, and mercy.
In you all can be found.
Outside of you nothing can be found.
Why should I look elsewhere or go elsewhere?
You have the words of eternal life,
you are food and drink,
you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
You are the light that shines in the darkness,
the lamp on the lamp stand,
the house on the hilltop.
You are the perfect Icon of God.
In and through you I can see the Heavenly Father,
and with you I can find my way to him.
O Holy One, Beautiful One, Glorious One,
be my Lord, my Savior, my Redeemer, my Guide,
my Consoler, my Comforter, my Hope, my Joy, and my Peace.
To you I want to give all that I am.
Let me be generous, not stingy or hesitant.
Let me give you all--
all I have, think, do and feel.
It is yours, O Lord.
Please accept it and make it fully your own.
Amen.
(a prayer of Henri Nouwen, from A Cry for Mercy)
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