Almighty and most merciful Father; We have erred and strayed from thy ways, like lost sheep.  We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.  We have offended against they holy laws.  We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders.  Spare thou those, O God, who confess their faults.  Restore thou those who are penitent; According to they promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord, and grant, O most merciful Father, for His sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy name.  Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer)

Give me the wisdom and prudence, O Lord, to carry out my life's mission according to Your will.  (Three Minutes a Day, Vol. 9, 29 August)

Today I will do my best, then let it go.  God, help me stop criticizing myself so I can start appreciating how far I've come.  (Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go, 30 August)

Grant joy and peace to us, and to all we meet today.

Bishop Brooke Foss Westcott (1825-1901)

Almighty and most merciful God, who hast given us a new commandment that we should love one another, give us also grace that we may fulfill it.  Make us gentle, courteous, and forbearing.  Direct our lives so that we may look to the good of others in word and deed.  And hallow all our friendships by the blessing of thy spirit; for his sake who loved us and gave himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Take My Life and Let It Be

Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise;
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for thee.

Take my voice and let me sing.
Always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every power as thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is thine own;
It shall be they royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At they feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for thee. (Frances Ridley Havergal)

Praise be to God, who has not withheld his love from me!

Lord, teach me patience and endurance when faced with adversity.  (Three Minutes a Day, Vol. 38, 6 May)

Transform my beliefs and thinking from negative to positive.  (Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go, 16 March)

Thank You, Lord, for helping me in any difficult relationship.  (Larry W. Wilson, Daily Fellowship with God, 26 August)

I am grateful for the gifts my problems bring to me.  Help me always be aware of what they are.  (Perry Tilleraas, The Color of Light, 26 August)

May I use Your gifts wisely.

Thank You, Lord, for sustaining me through adverse situations.  (Daily Fellowship with God, 25 August)

Father, do not let me take advantage of anyone because I know them so well. (Wisdom from the Bible, 25 August)

God, when I am discouraged strengthen my resolve and calm my fear.  (Three Minutes a Day, Vol. 38, 26 August)

 

William Booth

Work as if everything depended upon work and pray as if everything depended upon prayer.

Thank You, Lord, for Your many blessings.  Help me find ways to pass them on. (Three Minutes a Day, Vol. 38, 23 April)

O God, give me greater patience.

Help me to live to my fullest potential.  (Three Minutes a Day, Vol. 38, 17 April)

Guide me in the choices I make everyday.

Let me do small acts of goodness to those around me, O Lord, even if they do not recognize what I am doing or why. Teach me to trust that You will bring these acts of goodness to fruition in Your own time.

Thou that has given so much to me,
Give one thing more, a grateful heart.
Not thankful when it please me,
As if they blessings had spare days;
But such a heart whose very pulse may be Thy praise.
George Herbert (1593-1633)

Morning Prayer

Father, I come to You this morning, asking You in Jesus' name, to take me, just as I am.
Please send Your Holy Spirit to guide me throughout this day.
Oh Lord, help me to be myself, striving to do better, and to look forward in appreciation to You, Father, for all Your Blessings around me.
I ask Your help in honesty, to You, myself, and others.
To admit my faults, I ask Your forgiveness and Your mercy and accept Your great love.
I ask You to help me read Your word, Lord Jesus and grant me the grace to go by Your promises and facts, not my feelings.
Please help me today, Lord, to take the opportunities You give me to share the goodness You have given me with others.
I thank You for this day, Lord, for the time You've given me.
Please help me to use it for Your honor and Your glory, in Jesus name.   Amen.(Marlys Foster in The Lutheran Prayerbook)

 

God help me let go of my fears about defining and understanding the nature of my present relationships. (Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go, 20 August)

Guide me into clarity -- clear, healthy thinking. (Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go, 20 August)

Empower me to make appropriate, healthy choices. (Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go, 20 August)

Keep guard over our thoughts, words, and actions, and make us pleasing in Your sight this day.

Lord, bless this day, which is a precious gift from You.  I thank You for every day that I live.  Life is a wonderful gift, and one that I can never hope to repay.  (Wisdom from the Bible, 17 August)

May God be with me and with his messenger whom he will send to greet me and lead me to heaven.  May the Lord who is great and blessed look upon me, have pity on me and grant me peace.  May he give me greater strength and courage that I may not be fearful or afraid.  For the angels of God are about me and God is with me wherever I may be.  (Jewish Prayer, adapted)

Send me the right thought, word, or action.  Show me what my next step should be.  In times of doubt and indecision, please send Your inspiration and guidance.  (Alcoholics Anonymous)

I pray today and each day that my thoughts, words, and actions may be Divinely led.  I pray that I can move forward in confidence knowing my steps are guided.  (Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go, 11 Feb)

Father, I need Your strong hand in my life.

Keep me from becoming anxious.

Help me to pay attention to the things of the mind, and spirit, O Lord.  (Three Minutes a Day, Vol. 9, 16 August)

God our Father, hear our morning prayer and let the radiance of Your love scatter the gloom of our hearts.  The light of heaven's love has restored us to life: free us from the desires that belong to darkness.  (Shorter Christian Prayer, Week 1, Tuesday morning)

O God, the Father of lights, from whom cometh down every good and perfect gift: mercifully look upon our frailty and infirmity, and grant us such health of body as thou knowest to be needful for us; that both in body and soul we may evermore serve thee with all our strength; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  (John Cosin - 1595-1672)

Lord, teach me the art of patience while I am well, and give me the use of it when I am sick.  In that day either lighten my burden or strengthen my back.  Make me, who so often in health have discovered my weakness presuming on my own strength, to be strong in my sickness when I solely rely on thy assistance.  (Thomas Fuller - 1608-1661)

Lord, help us to differentiate between the important and the trivial in our lives.  (Three Minutes a Day, Vol. 38, March 29)

Teach me the way I should go. (Psalm, 143:8)

Father God, I pray for the ability to use difficult times to grow and change. (Three Minutes a Day, Vol. 38, 24 March)

Thank You, Lord, for the many ways in which You touch our hearts each day. (Three Minutes a Day, Vol. 38, 18 March)

Give me courage to change my mind.  (John Baillie, 14th Night)

Clear my mind of needless thoughts.  (Billy Graham, Day by Day, 15 August)

Show me the lessons I need to learn.  (Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go, 5 February)

Lord, I want to listen, before I speak.  (Lloyd John Ogilvie, God's Best for My Life, 15 August)

'Tis good, Lord, to be here!

O God of mercy, guide me toward spiritual growth.

Prepare me for times of temptation.

O God, give me a quiet mind.

Help me to walk in a spirit of constant prayer.

Help me embrace the discipline necessary for my own good, Lord. (Three Minutes a Day, Vol. 38, 15 March)

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below:
Praise him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Bishop Thomas Ken (1637-1711)

Higher Power, help me become ready to let go of my resentments.  Bring any resentments that are hidden within me, and blocking me, to the surface.  Show me what I need to do to take care of myself by letting go of resentments, and then help me to do that.  (Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go, 20 January)

Lord, I know there is a solution.  Please help me find it.

Father, I thank You that you have heard me.  (John 11:41)

Help us, Lord, to look beyond the obvious. (Three Minutes a Day, Vol. 38, 22 February)

At daybreak be merciful to me.

Help me to be compassionate and caring.

Inspire me, O Lord, to be prompt, intelligent and courageous in my everyday life.

O God, give me power to follow after that which is good.  (John Baillie, 6th night)

Increase my faith, Lord, so that I may not be anxious or fearful.

 

Thank You, Lord, for teaching me to be content in any situation.

God give me vision and understanding to know what you want me to do and faith and strength and courage to do it. (Bean Robinson, quoted in Positive Thinking for a Time Like This, p. 154)

Help me today!

In times of distress, I call to You.  Father light my path that I may find my way to You. (Three Minutes a Day, Vol. 38, 28 June)

 

 

 

I've posted all of the Arrow Prayers from my Rolodex collection.  In the last couple of months I haven't been recording as many as I did in the past.

Next, I'm going to post some longer prayers and poems that I have collected and enjoyed.

 

The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying.  He fears nothing from prayless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion.  He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.  Samuel Chadwick

We cannot drop out of human involvement without endangering our spiritual health.

(One Day At a Time in Al-Anon, 13 July)

Fretting is caused by planning without God.

(Oswald Chambers, 4 July)

Lord Jesus, may my faith in You and Your abundant promises be ever increasing each day. (Billy Graham, Day by Day, 29 July)

As it is, I am content.  (Janell Moon, How to Pray Without Being Religious, p. 29)

Thank You for this day, the loving people in my life, the bird outside my window. (Janell Moon, How to Pray Without Being Religious, p. 25)

Give me the good sense, Lord, to think things through before I act. (Three Minutes A Day, Vol. 9, 24 May)

Deliver me from my negative personality. (Food for Thought, 6 July)

 

This is my prayer: grace and forgiveness, an arrow shot through the storm to sun and light.

(Janell Moon, How to Pray Without Being Religious, p. 84)

Guide Me!

Thank You, Lord, for loving me in spite of my shortcomings and defects of character.

Thank You, Lord, for new direction, insight, values, priorities and possibilities. (Larry W. Wilson, Daily Fellowship with God, 30 July)

Let me find a way.

Rid my heart of anxiety and fear.

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for the peace of today in me and around me. (Janell Moon, How to Pray Without Being Religious, p. 163)

Protect us.

Let the best happen.

Affirmation

I will live today in the liberating assurance that God has heard my prayers and is active in answering in a way that is best.  I will not compete with Him in trying to do His job by continuing to worry.  I will “go my way,” leaving the matter in his hands. (Lloyd John Ogilvie - God’s Best for My Life, 9 June)

Let me accept my journey.

Thank You for the change I need.

Thank You for helping me find my prayer.

Let me be a vehicle for positive change.

Here I am, a wreck.  Be with me.

Spirit I accept Your guidance.

Help me live through this.

As I pray, I become!

Affirmation

Today I'll experience self-control by refusing to let my moods master me.

(Larry W. Wilson, Daily Fellowship with God, 27 April)

Lord, as I grow older, may I be blessed with faith enough to make the journey from aging body to ageless life. (Frank Topping, Prayers for Every Need, p. 102)

O Lord, send Your spirit into my heart so that my every thought may conform to Your will and my every action give witness to Your love. (Minute Meditations from the Popes, 30 July)

Make me sensitive to the state of my emotions and physical health, I pray.  (Food for Thought, 15 June)

Let me keep in mind how uncertain is my hold upon my bodily life. (John Baillie, A Diary of Private Prayer, 15th day)

Help me to something.

God, please help me do Your will.

Teach me, O Holy Spirit, to face my own responsibilities and problems, not run away from them.  (Three Minutes A Day, Vol. 9, 6 April)