Prayer for Bread

Dear Lord, we thank you for our daily bread in its many forms. For the physical bread that nourishes our body and the spiritual bread that nourishes our soul. We thank you for the hunger that reminds us of the importance of bread: the physical hunger that prompts us to get our daily supply of food and our spiritual hunger that prompts us to seek you constantly and open our hearts to you. We thank you for you yourself has become bread for us, so that our deepest hunger may be satisfied. We thank you for this wondeful miracle: that in giving, we receive and in sharing, we become richer. 

We ask you Lord this day, as always, to give us our daily bread. We ask you to make us daily bread for others in our family, our church, our community, our world. We ask you, Lord, to be our daily bread, so that we may never be hungry again. In the name of Jesus, the bread of life. 

Amen

Prayer Against Fear

Dear Lord, 

I bring before you today my individual fears - conscious and unconscious, rational and irrational - as well as the fears of an entire human race. I confess that it is often because of this fear in me that I have fallen into sin by doing, saying and thinking what was wrong in your eyes, by being selfish when I could have helped others and trying to avoid suffering at all costs. 

I bring before you fear in its many forms, both in me and in others, purge it and heal the souls that are mutilated by it. I am aware we live in an uncertain world where fear runs out of control and it can lead to all kinds of evil. I pray that you save us from this great emotional plague and strengthen us as you strengthened your people all throughout the ages. 

You know us inside out. You know our deepest secrets and our most hidden motivations and what a great role fear plays in the way we live our life. Release us from its grips, so that we can worship you and serve our neighbour with a pure, undivided heart. Let our need to help others be greater than the need to protect ourselves and our longing for your kingdom greater than our desire for comfort. 

We rely solely on you, for this is something we cannot achieve on our own. But we ask you to do it by the power of your Holy Spirit who works in us and for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ who, all throughout his life and even in death, has trampled fear under foot and showed us a new way to live. 

Amen

Prayer of Thanks

Dear God, 

Thank you for being our Father in this troubled and wounded world, where dreams are so easily crushed and hearts so easily broken. Thank you for the cool drops of grace that refresh us in this arid and lonely desert we are walking through. Thank you that, through Jesus Christ, you are not only our Father in heaven, watching us from a safe distance, but also our friend and companion on the road. We talk to you, we put our hand in yours and suddenly our burden feels so much lighter and everything seems so much easier. You have made our minds large enough to seek you and our hearts large enough to love you, but, above all, you have made yourself small enough to enter our world and change it forever. And change us forever. 

Dear Lord Jesus, we thank you for your words on the cross, when you prayed "Father, forgive them" for those who were crucifying you. These are healing words we can always turn to when we need a breath of fresh air and a new perspective in our lives. By forgiving them -- and us -- you have opened a new way for humanity, making possible that kind of love and forgiveness that seems humanly impossible. Thank you for defying the merciless laws of nature for us. For overcoming gravity by grace and death by eternal life, thus releasing an immense power for the good in our wounded world. And for giving us constant access to this power through the Holy Spirit that dwells and works in us. For all this and much more, we give you thanks and praise and surrender our hearts to you. 

Amen

Prayer for Growth and Transformation

Father God, our words are too small to contain you, our thoughts too small to comprehend you. In the silence of our hearts we contemplate your beauty, acknowledge your power, admire your wisdom and rejoice in your love. You always have new gifts to impart us, new wonders to reveal to us, new joys to fill our hearts with. 

We come before you with open minds and hearts, ready to be transformed, ready to listen and receive the wonderful gifts you have in store for each one of us. Broaden our vision and widen our horizons. Take us to places we've never been before, places from which we can see the world and all creation in a new light. Open our eyes and purify our hearts, so that we can eventually see you, our everlasting treasure, according to the precious promises of your Son Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. 

Amen

Prayer for Holiness

From Andrew Murray's book "Holy in Christ"

O Lord! the alone Holy One, Thou hast called us to be holy, even as Thou art holy. Lord! how can we, unless Thou reveal to us Thy Holiness. Show us, we pray Thee, how Thou art holy, how holy Thou art, what Thy holiness is, that we may know how we are to be holy, how holy we are to be. And when the sight of Thy Holiness only shows us the more how unholy we are, teach us that Thou makest partakers of Thy own Holiness those who come to Thee for it.

O God! We come to Thee, the Holy One. It is in knowing and finding and having Thyself, that the soul finds Holiness. We do beseech Thee, as we now come to Thee, establish it in the thoughts of our heart, that the one object of Thy calling us, and of our coming to Thee, is Holiness. Thou wouldst have us like Thyself, partakers of Thy Holiness.

If ever our heart becomes afraid, as if it were too high, or rests content with a salvation less than Holiness, Blessed God! let us hear Thy voice calling again, Be holy, I am holy. Let that call be our motive and our strength, because faithful is He that calleth, who also will do it. Let that call mark our standard and our path; oh! let our life be such as Thou art able to make it.

Holy Father! I bow in lowly worship and silence before Thee. Let now Thine own voice sound in the depths of my heart calling me, Be holy, as I am holy.

Amen.

Short Opening Prayer at the Beginning of a Service

Lord God, who by your love has brought us here today, make your presence known in us and amongst us. Speak to our hearts in ever new and transforming ways, full of power and grace. We stand before you, ready to be filled with your Holy Spirit, ready to be used as vessels for your work, each in our own unique way. We bring before you ourselves, with all we are and all we have, use us for the glory of your name and the coming of your kingdom. We ask you this in Jesus' name.
Amen

Prayer for Grace

Father God,
We thirst and hunger for grace, yet so many times our words, actions and attitudes are anything but gracious. We live in the age of grace, yet we are surrounded by news of violence, lack of caring and unforgiveness.
So often we find it hard to break the vicious circles of ungrace we get caught in. We prefer to follow the way of this world rather than your way. Forgive us, Father.
We come to you as to our only source of hope and light in a world so full of darkness and despair. Help us to live gracious lives. Help us to be an example to those who don't know you and an instrument of your love.
We surrender to you our hearts and minds, all we have and do and all we are, let your Holy Spirit live in us and carry on the revolution of grace started on this earth by your son Jesus Christ.
And let your blessings be with us today, and with all those we love, and all those in need of your love.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen

Prayer for Spiritual Clarity

(From Kierkegaard's Prayers)

Father in heaven, awaken conscience within us. Teach us to open our spiritual ears to your voice and to pay attention to what you say, so that your will may sound purely and clearly for us as it does in heaven, unadulterated by worldly cunning, undeadened by the voice of passions. Keep us vigilant in fear and trembling to work out our salvation. But also–when the law speaks loudest, when its demands terrify us, when it thunders from Sinai–let there be a soft voice which whispers to us that we are your children, so that we may cry out with joy: Abba, Father.

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Law vs. Grace

Law can control people, but it can't change their hearts. Grace can. Therefore grace is a much greater force than the law.

Justice pays evil for evil, "an eye for an eye". But to pay evil for evil means to increase evil (it's simple mathematics). To go "an eye for an eye" means to lose two eyes instead of one, therefore to increase the darkness.

To pay good for evil is to increase the good. To forgive is to open someone's eyes to the reality of grace, therefore to bring in more light.

To punish a guilty man is to identify him with his guilt. To forgive him is to reveal to him that he is more than his guilt. In the first case you set limitations. In the second case, you remove limitations.

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Prayer for becoming an answer to a prayer

Lord God, enable us to pray in a way that is pleasing to you. Not only by speaking, but also by listening. Not only by making demands, but also by opening our hearts to what you demand from us. Not only by asking for answers, but also by offering ourselves to become an answer, so that you can work through us to bring comfort and healing to a broken world.

We are all, in our own way, broken vessels. Only you can take the shattered pieces and put them back together. Only you can make the vessel whole and fit to hold the water of life, so that others can drink from it and quench their thirst. Use our brokenness to heal the brokenness of others, and in this process, heal our own brokenness too.

Help us find help in the help we offer and comfort in the comfort we bring, with you guiding us all along the way. Teach us a way of giving that doesn't leave us poorer, but enriches us and makes us grow, which doesn't leave us empty, but fills us with the very things we give. For every gift that comes from you is a perfect gift, one that is not diminished, but increased by sharing, as it flows from your infinite resources of love. Enable us to have access to those resources and to make them available to others through the powerful work of your Holy Spirit in us, and for the sake of your beloved Son Jesus Christ.

Amen

Short Prayer for Compassion

Lord, let us never forget that true joy is hidden in compassion. Help us share our wounds and our brokenness with one another. Open our hearts and our minds to the fact that we are all your children and we belong to the same family.  Help us rejoice in our shared humanity and deepen our sense of fellowship together. In the name of your beloved son Jesus. Amen

A Short Prayer for Peace and Reconciliation

Lord, give us all things that are joyful and bring people together as opposed to things that bring pain and separation. Let those who are at home be merciful to those who are strangers and those who are rich be generous to those who are poor. Let our words and deeds bring peace and comfort through the Holy Spirit. Mend broken relationships and straighten love and faith in ourselves and our neighbours. For you are the father of the orphan, the protector of the widow, the friend of the stranger, the help of the poor and downcast. Let our life reflect your unconditional love as the river reflects the sun. For you are our hope and in you alone we put our trust now and forever.

Amen

A Short Prayer of Thanks

Lord, we praise you and thank you for the wind that blows within our soul… the wind of the Holy Spirit carrying your whispers from eternity. For each trial through which we keep our longing for you alive in our hearts. For being and remaining the same, even though our own imperfect eyes often distort your image. For becoming wound to heal our wounds. For not leaving us hungry and frozen in the cold, but warmly inviting us to your dinner table. We thank you, Lord, for, by your living, you sanctified life. By your dying, you conquered death. By your suffering, you gave meaning to suffering. By your loving, you showed us the true measure of love. For becoming a spring of living water in our hearts, so that we no longer have to thirst ever again. For the certain knowledge that you will complete the work you've started in our lives.

Amen

The Royal Way

When people hate you and despise you
And distort every word you say,
Don’t fight or curse them, don’t get even,
Forgiveness is the royal way.

When burdens are too hard to bear
And pain knocks down your house of clay,
Don’t moan, don’t give in to despair,
Endurance is the royal way.

When you see suffering and fear,
When others turn their face away,
Tend to the wounds and wipe the tears,
Compassion is the royal way.

And whether you meet kings or beggars,
Great saints or sinners gone astray,
Serve all as if they were your brothers,
Humility’s the royal way.

Whatever this world has to offer,
And in your journey come what may,
You’ll conquer all if you remember
That Jesus walked the royal way.

Don’t Let Your Love Grow Cold

When conflict’s in the air
And hatred rules the world,
When no one seems to care,
Don’t let your love grow cold.

When people curse and scream
And tragedies unfold,
When hope seems just a dream,
Don’t let your love grow cold.

When clouds darken the sky
And evil calls good old,
When everyone cries “why?”,
Don’t let your love grow cold.

When faith crumbles like glass
Remember we’ve been told
These things will have to pass,
Don’t let your love grow cold.

And even if they tell you
There is no God above,
Cling to your highest value.
Fear not and choose to love.

Our Greatest Treasure

You taught us not to be afraid,
And what great strength we found in you!
Today, when all things have been said,
Your words are still so deeply true.

You promised you would be with us
And never let us walk alone.
Now, when two thousand years have passed,
Your faithful promises still hold.

For us you prayed, you cried, you died
Though mercy was your only crime,
Now, after all things have been tried,
Your love still stands the test of time.

Kingdoms and rulers come and go,
And nation rises against nation,
But when most things have said their ‘no’,
Your ‘yes’ is still our sweet salvation.

The world is older, but no wiser,
As we move closer to the end,
But when we seek you in our trial
Today, as always, you’re our friend.

Today we fly across the sky
And we invent the world anew,
But when it’s time to say goodbye,
We still have no one left but you.

We dream and learn, and go astray,
We gather riches beyond measure,
But when all things have had their say,
You still remain our greatest treasure.

Make Me An Instrument of Your Peace

A prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi

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;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen

Short Prayer of Surrender

Father God, to you we give everything we've got, everything we are. We already belong to you, but we surrender ourselves again, so that we can honor you with our choice just like you honored us with the gift of free choice. Help us use this gift wisely - always as a return ticket to you, for whom our hearts long, who gave us life and being and in whom our souls can find perfect peace. Amen

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Prayer for God's Strength

Lord God, it is in our weakness that your strength shines through, for nothing reveals your power more than the way you deal with our brokenness. For you do not discard what the world has discarded and you do not despise what the world has despised. You take the broken vessels and put the pieces back together and you fill them with living water until they overflow, and from their abundance they quench the thirst of many souls. Father, because you love us in our weakness and your love never fails, let your strength in us be our foundation for a new life and a new beginning. Ground us in you, so that from you we can draw our nourishment and never become hungry again. AMEN

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The Prayer of Jesus for Us

From the series "Bible Prayers" or "Famous Prayers in the Bible"

Nearly 2000 years ago, Jesus prayed for us. In actual fact, he was the first one who prayed for us, long before we were born into this world. Even if no one else had ever prayed for us ever since, his prayer would still be enough. All we have to do is acknowledge it, recognize it is for us and ask God to listen to it.

After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.

“I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.

“My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.

“Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

“O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

John 17 (NLT)