17th Century Scottish Prayer

From ghoulies and ghosties and long legged beasties and things that go bump in the night, may the good Lord deliver us.

Francios Fenelon

Even if no command to pray had existed, our very weakness would have suggested it.

Pass me not O gentle Savior, hear my humble cry; while on others thou art smiling, do no pass me by.

Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer, that calls me from a world of care, and bids me at my Father's throne, make all my wants and wishes known!

 

I fully am persuaded and joyfully declare, I'm never left unaided, my Father hears my prayers.

Thank you, Lord, for the assurance that the past is settled and the present and future are in Your hands.  (Larry W. Wilson, Daily Fellowship with God, 8 October)

Thank you, Lord, for enabling me to be at peace with myself and with others.  (Larry W. Wilson, Daily Fellowship with God,  23 October)

 

Sir Richard Chichester

Day by day, day by day,  O dear Lord, three things I pray: To see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, follow thee more nearly, day by day.

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer!

Frederick Denison Maurice

The Lord's Prayer may be committed to memory quickly, but it is slowly learnt by heart.

The things, good Lord, that we pray for, give us the grace to labour for.  (St. Thomas More)

Lord, ... I am discouraged, take away the blindness of my wavering faith.  (Billy Graham, Day by Day, 25 October)

God, help me be emotionally present in the relationships I choose to be in.  (Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go, 25 June)

O Lord, give me the courage to use tough love when that is what loved ones need.  Help me to challenge them when I see they are involved in self-destructive behavior.  (Minute Meditations from the Popes, 28 October)

Help me to see beyond the negatives in my life.  Allow me to nuture a positive attitude so that I may be truly and honestly grateful for the good in my life.  (This New Day, 21 October)

Help me today to be gentle, considerate and courteous -- not only with others but with myself.  Help me to grow into a mature and thoughtful person.  I am willing to change.  (This New Day, 25 October)

Help me to be more aware of Your presence every day, as I take time to quiet my mind, praying for Your strength and guidance.  Help me to feel the spiritual changes within and grant me the peace that comes through prayer and meditation.  (This New Day, 30 November)

 

Billy Graham in "Unto the Hills, 26 October

If this nation was born in a meeting based on prayer, some of its most important decisions being made only after careful prayer to God, how can we go on unless there is renewed emphasis on prayer today?

Holy Spirit, guide me into all truth when I read Your word this week.  (Joni Tada, More Precious Than Silver, 24 October)

Today, I pray for the courage to be who I am, true to myself, in the presence of my [friends] and family.  I also pray for the courage to ask for what I need.  (Perry Tilleraas, The Color of Light, 23 October)

Help me, O God, to show imagination in coming to grips with problems that I would prefer to avoid.  (Three Minutes a Day, Vol. 9, October 25)

Lord Jesus, move the hearts of those who lead our country.  May Your Spirit guide them.  (Minute Meditations from the Popes, 22 October)

God grant me the sense of proportion to judge the difference between an incident and a crisis.  (One Day at a Time in Al-Anon, 19 October)

May I not let a day go by, O Father, without thanking You for the ordinary joys I may take for granted.  (Three Minutes a Day, Vol. 9, 24 October)

The Promise of a New Day, 18 October

Let's not confuse war with patriotism, we're all citizens of the whole world, and war hurts our human family.

May I be what You intend.

Lord, help me to realize the power of my words.  (Minute Meditations from the Popes, 5 October)

Let my word be just and charitable, always building up and not tearing down.  (Minute Meditations from the Popes, 5 October)

O Lord,, grant me insight into the choices I make.  (Minute Meditations from the Popes, 8 October)

J.C. Ryle

A man's state before God may always be measured by his prayers.

Norman Vincent Peale

Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for all the days you have given us.  Grant, O Lord, that we may demonstrate in our lives that every day, be it dark or sunlit can be a good day.  Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  (Positive Thinking for Every Day of the Year, 19 October)

O God, incline my heart to follow in Jesus' way.

Protect me from every evil way.

Let me keep my body fit and healthy.

Lord, touch my life today in the personal yet powerful way You have touched people through the ages.  (Joni Tada, More Precious Than Silver, 21 Oct)

Let me accept my family and friends as they are, even when they do not understand or approve of my program.  Help me to detach with love, always remembering that you are guiding me to become more content with myself and others.  (This New Day, 12 Sep, adapted)

If I feel overwhelmed today, remind me that You will carry me through.  I am learning that good things take time.  Show me how to slow down.  (This New Day, 15 Oct)

 

Show me new ways to appreciate the gift of family, Lord.  (Three Minutes a Day, Vol. 38, 12 October)

Teach me to deny my selfish desires and obey Your commandments.

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

Oh God, enable me to discipline my will so that in hours of stress I may honestly seek after those things for which I have prayed in hours of peace.  (John Baillie, A Diary of Private Prayer, adapted)

Lord, help me to set a good example for others.  (Three Minutes A Day, Vol. 38, 1 Oct)

Help me, God, to be open to feeling whatever I need to feel to be healed and healthy.  (Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go, 3 Oct)

Comfort me in time of distress.

Help us, Lord, to understand where we can make change and help us to have the courage to do so.  (Three Minutes A Day, Vol. 38, 5 Oct)

 

O heavenly Father, I praise and thank you for the peace of the night.  I praise and thank you for this new day.  I praise and thank you for all your goodness and faithfulness throughout my life.  You have granted me many blessings; now let me also accept what is hard from your hand.  You will lay on me no more than I can bear.  You make all things work together for good for your children.  (Dietrich Bonhoefer)

Norman Vincent Peale

Our Heavenly Father, help us to remember that when things go wrong it could very well be that we are wrong ourselves.  Make us right.  Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  (Positive Thinking for Everyday of the Year, 5 October)