Why a site about prayer?

The purpose of this site is to encourage us to each go deeper in our prayer life. One way that we do that is by praying together. Another way we do that is by praying individually yet collectively on the same prayer themes. Our hope is that as we share prayers and reflect on them and pray over them at the same time in our individual lives, the Holy Spirit will speak to each of us and allow us to encourage and edify one another in prayer.

Monday, December 4, 2017

Advent Week One

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.



Weekly Collect for Advent Week 1 from the Book of Common Prayer



Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Show Me Your Glory


Lord, please turn my eyes
and my heart on you.
And show me your glory.



By Laurie Aker, from Thistlebend e-devotional, November 14


Monday, October 30, 2017

Faith, hope and charity

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.




Weekly collect for October 29 from the Book of Common Prayer




Monday, October 23, 2017

Jesus Prayer Expanded

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.

“LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.”
-Psalm 143:1 NIV

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Believe The Gospel

Father, let the gospel be what
my world is centered upon.
Please make it uppermost in my
thoughts and life everyday.
Help me to preach the gospel to
myself moment by moment.
And live it out each passing hour.
Amen.



By Laurie Aker, "Do You Believe the Gospel?," Thistlebend eMoment, Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Partakers of Heavenly Treasure


O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


Weekly Collect for October 1, from the Book of Common Prayer



Monday, September 25, 2017

Prayer of confession

Please forgive me when
I believe my feelings
instead of choosing faith.
Please forgive me when
I listen to my thoughts
instead of your voice.
Please forgive me when
I rely on my own insight
instead of your wisdom
and your Word.

Your love is perfect.
Your ways are perfect.
Your glory is forever.


Amen.



By Laurie Aker, Thistlebend Email Devotional, Friday, September 22, 2017

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Graft in Our Hearts

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.



Weekly collect for Sept. 3 from the Book of Common Prayer




Monday, August 28, 2017

Psalm 91:1-2


Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”



Psalm 91:1-2, NIV


Sunday, August 20, 2017

Prayer of St. Augustine

Lord Jesus, let me know myself and know Thee,
And desire nothing save only Thee.
Let me hate myself and love Thee.
Let me do everything for the sake of Thee.
Let me humble myself and exalt Thee.
Let me think nothing except Thee.
Let me die to myself and live in Thee.
Let me accept whatever happens as from Thee.
Let me banish self and follow Thee,
and ever desire to follow Thee.
Let me fly from myself and take refuge in Thee,
that I may deserve to be defended by Thee.
Let me fear for myself, let me fear Thee,
and let me be among those who are chosen by Thee.
Let me distrust myself and put my trust in Thee.
Let me be willing to obey for the sake of Thee.
Let me cling to nothing save only to Thee,
and let me be poor because of Thee.
Look upon me, that I may love Thee.
Call me that I may see Thee,
And forever enjoy Thee.




Prayer attributed to St. Augustine



Sunday, August 13, 2017

The Deeps

LORD JESUS,

Give me a deeper repentance,
a horror of sin,
a dread of its approach;
Help me chastely to flee it,
and jealously to resolve that my heart
shall be thine alone.
Give me a deeper trust,
that I may lose myself to find myself in thee,
the ground of my rest,
the spring of my being.
Give me a deeper knowledge of thyself
as Saviour, Master, Lord, and King.
Give me deeper power in private prayer,
more sweetness in thy Word,
more steadfast grip on its truth.
Give me deeper holiness in speech, thought, action,
and let me not seek moral virtue apart from thee.
Plough deep in me, great Lord,
heavenly Husbandman,
that my being may be a tilled field,
the roots of grace spreading far and wide,
until thou alone art seen in me,
thy beauty golden like summer harvest,
thy fruitfulness as autumn plenty.
I have no Master but thee,
no law but thy will,
no delight but thyself,
no wealth but that thou givest,
no good but that thou blessest,
no peace but that thou bestowest.
I am nothing but that thou makest me,
I have nothing but that I receive from thee,
I can be nothing but that grace adorns me.
Quarry me deep, dear Lord,
and then fill me to overflowing
with living water.



From "The Valley of Vision" p 134-135, edited by Arthur Bennett

Sunday, August 6, 2017

Prayer of St. Teresa

Govern everything by your wisdom, O Lord, so that my soul may always be serving you
in the way you will
and not as I choose.
Let me die to myself so that I may serve you;
let me live to you who are life itself.

Amen.



Attributed to St. Teresa Of Avila




Sunday, July 30, 2017

Multiply Your Mercy

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.




Weekly collect prayer from the Book of Common Prayer for week of July 30

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Prayer of St. Francis

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;
it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.



Prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi



Sunday, July 9, 2017

Soften Our Hearts

O Lord, have mercy on us.
Soften our hard hearts
and create a longing in us
for Christ and Christ alone!




by Laurie Aker, “A Time to Fast.” Thistlebend eMoment Friday, July 7, 2017 

Monday, July 3, 2017

Holy Temple prayer


Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.



Weekly collect prayer for July 2 in the Book of Common Prayer


Sunday, June 25, 2017

Psalm 23

PSALM 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.
 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Friday, June 16, 2017

A Servant's Prayer

Father, tune my ears to the heart drops all around me. I want to begin to live alert — to be ever on the lookout for where I might serve You by loving and serving others. Give me eyes to see the needy, ears to hear the hurting, a smile to encourage the weary, and hands ready to help those who need it. I want to be sensitive to the times You gently tap me on the heart, urging me to put love in action. May I willingly share my home, my food, my resources, and my time with whomever you send my way. When people look at me, may they instead see only You. Thank You in advance for the joy that comes from serving. In Jesus’ name. Amen.




From Devotionals Daily email, "Ordinary Holiness", by Karen Ehman, on June 16.


Monday, June 12, 2017

Whole Heart Prayer

I am asking, Lord God,
that you would change my heart.
Cut through the apathy
and indifference.
Quench the doubt and unbelief.
Give me a love for you
that is whole-hearted.



From Thistlebend E-moment devotional on June 5, 2017.



Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Pentecost Prayer - II

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.



An alternative weekly collect for the Day of Pentecost in the Book of Common Prayer.


Sunday, June 4, 2017

Pentecost prayer

O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.



The Day of Pentecost weekly collect from the Book of Common Prayer



Monday, May 29, 2017

Prayer of Confession

Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry
and we humbly repent,
for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us
and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name.
Amen.



From the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer



Sunday, May 21, 2017

Weekly Collect Prayer

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.



Lectionary weekly collect prayer for week beginning May 21



Monday, May 15, 2017

New Temple Prayer

Fill in the blank each time you pray.


By your great mercy, we are Living Stones fitted together in Your New Temple. May your Spirit and Presence be known through our _______________________.




contemporary lectionary prayer based upon 1 Peter 2:2-10


Monday, May 8, 2017

Resurrection Promise


Mighty God,
in whom we know the power of redemption,
you stand among us in the shadows of our time.
As we move through every sorrow and trial of this life,
uphold us with knowledge of the final morning
when, in the glorious presence of your risen Son,
we will share in his resurrection,
redeemed and restored to the fullness of life
and forever freed to be your people. Amen.




From Revised Common Lectionary, weekly prayers, copyright Augsburg Fortress



Sunday, April 30, 2017

Psalm 63

Psalm 63 (New Living Translation)

1 O God, you are my God;
    I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
    my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
    where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in your sanctuary
    and gazed upon your power and glory.
3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
    how I praise you!
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
    lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
    I will praise you with songs of joy.
6 I lie awake thinking of you,
    meditating on you through the night.
7 Because you are my helper,
    I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
8 I cling to you;
    your strong right hand holds me securely.
9 But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin.
    They will go down into the depths of the earth.
10 They will die by the sword
    and become the food of jackals.
11 But the king will rejoice in God.
    All who swear to tell the truth will praise him,
    while liars will be silenced.

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Calvary's Anthem

HEAVENLY FATHER,

Thou hast led me singing to the cross

      where I fling down all my burdens

        and see them vanish,

  where my mountains of guilt are levelled

    to a plain,

  where my sins disappear, though they are

    the greatest that exist,

  and are more in number than the grains

    of fine sand;
For there is power in the blood of Calvary

  to destroy sins more than can be counted

    even by one from the choir of heaven.

Thou hast given me a hill-side spring

  that washes clear and white,

    and I go as a sinner to its waters,

      bathing without hindrance

        in its crystal streams.

At the cross there is free forgiveness

    for poor and meek ones,

  and ample blessings that last for ever;

The blood of the Lamb is like a great river

    of infinite grace

  with never any diminishing of its fullness

  as thirsty ones without number drink of it.
O Lord, for ever will thy free forgiveness live

  that was gained on the mount of blood;

In the midst of a world of pain

  it is a subject for praise in every place,

    a song on earth, an anthem in heaven,

      its love and virtue knowing no end.

I have a longing for the world above

  where multitudes sing the great song,

  for my soul was never created to love

    the dust of earth.

Though here my spiritual state is frail and poor,

  I shall go on singing Calvary’s anthem.

May I always know

  that a clean heart full of goodness

    is more beautiful than the lily,

  that only a clean heart can sing by night

    and by day,

  that such a heart is mine when I abide

    at Calvary.



excerpt from The Valley of Vision by Arthur Bennett, p 314-315

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Easter Day Prayer

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.




From the Book of Common Prayer

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Holy Saturday Prayer

Father,
Creator of heaven and earth,
Grant that as your son Jesus lay dead in the tomb,
on this holy Sabbath,
That we may wait along with him,
and the holy apostles
and blessed Virgin Mary,
for his glorious resurrection,
on Easter morning.
And, that along with all the saints,
grant us the grace
to boldly celebrate
his conquering of sin and death. Amen




By David Bennett, The ChurchYear.net Prayer Book



Sunday, April 9, 2017

Freedom

O HOLY FATHER, thou hast freely given thy Son,
O DIVINE SON, thou hast freely paid my debt,
O ETERNAL SPIRIT, thou hast freely bid me come,
O TRIUNE GOD, thou dost freely grace me with
salvation.

Prayers and tears could not suffice to pardon
      my sins,
  nor anything less than atoning blood,
  but my believing is my receiving,
  for a thankful acceptance is no paying of the debt.
What didst thou see in me?
  that I a poor, diseased, despised sinner
    should be clothed in thy bright glory?
  that a creeping worm
    should be advanced to this high state?
  that one lately groaning, weeping, dying,
    should be as full of joy as my heart can hold?
  that a being of dust and darkness
    should be taken like Mordecai from captivity,
      and set next to the king?
    should be lifted like Daniel from a den
      and be made ruler of princes and provinces?
Who can fathom immeasurable love?
As far as the rational soul exceeds the senses,
  so does the spirit exceed the rational in its
    knowledge of thee.
Thou hast given me understanding to compass
    the earth,
  measure the sun, moon, stars, universe,
  but above all to know thee, the only true God.
I marvel that the finite can know the Infinite,
  here a little, afterwards in full-orbed truth;
Now I know but a small portion of what
    I shall know,
  here in part, there in perfection,
  here a glimpse, there a glory.
To enjoy thee is life eternal,
  and to enjoy is to know.
Keep me in the freedom of experiencing
  thy salvation continually.




from Valley of Vision, by Arthur Bennett, p. 100-101

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Prayer for Pardon

Almighty God, who does freely pardon all who repent and turn to Him, now fulfill in every contrite heart the promise of redeeming grace; forgiving all our sins, and cleansing us from an evil conscience; through the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.




taken from The Book of Common Worship, 1946 

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Prayer of Confession

O God, teach us of our need,
where we are in need of forgiveness,
where we are in need of grace,
where we are in need of your careful discipleship.

We confess we seldom hear Your words first,
We are moving so fast we run right past You.
Please help us to slow down this week to drink in
Your special counsel to each one of us.
We want to heed Your wisdom, and cut ties with
arrogance, and let go of our need to control.

We trust you; in Your hands we are safe.
We are trying to believe You will not hurt us as You shape us.

This week we want to surrender to Your guidance.
This week we want to lay down fears at Your feet.
This week we want to be surprised by Your Spirit's voice.
This week we want to see Your light for the path ahead.
This week we want to know the fellowship of your church.

Turn our pride into humility.
Turn our anger into peace,
Turn our defense into hospitality,
Turn our emotional exhaustion into rest,
Turn our anxiety into patience.

Help us remember we have nothing to prove
When we are Yours.

We ask in the name
of the Father,
of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.


Prayer of Confession from Sunday worship gathering, New Life Christian Fellowship, March 12, 2017

Sunday, March 5, 2017

Savor

"Father, give me eyes to see the glory of the moments you are living in. Teach me to slow down and breathe you in. I ask for a new perspective on life and love and joy. I ask for a newness in my heart to really live life and enjoy the privilege of the air in my lungs and life in my soul. You are the Giver of Life and I thank you in this moment for giving me the gift of life. I ask, God, that you help me to not waste it with empty busyness and clutter of the soul. Come in my heart and make space. Space for stillness. Space for joy. Space for laughter. Space for life. I receive the remodeling of my inner space...make room Holy Spirit, room for you. Show me the beauty of the seasons and help me to see, truly see."


prayer by Melissa Helser, pg. 20, "Cultivate, Volume 1"

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Love Shed Abroad

GRACIOUS GOD,

My heart praises thee for the wonder
        of thy love in Jesus;
He is heaven’s darling, but is for me
  the incarnate, despised, rejected,
  crucified sin-bearer;
In him thy grace has almost out-graced itself,
In him thy love to rebels has reached its height;
O to love thee with a love like this!
My heart is stone, melt it with thy love,
My heart is locked, let thy love be the master key
    to open it;
O Father, I adore thee for thy great love
    in the gift of Jesus,
O Jesus, I bless thee for resigning thy life for me,
O Holy Spirit, I thank thee for revealing to me
    this mystery;
Great God, let thy Son see in me the travail
    of his soul!
Bring me away from my false trusts to rest in him,
    and him only.
Let me not be so callous to his merit
    as not to love him,
  so indifferent to his blood
    as not to desire cleansing.
Lord Jesus, Master, Redeemer, Saviour,
  come and take entire possession of me;
  this is thy right by purchase.
In the arms of love enfold and subdue
    my wilful spirit.
Take, sanctify, use my every faculty.
I am not ashamed of my hope,
  nor has my confidence led me into confusion.
I trusted in thee regarding my innumerable sins,
  and thou hast cast them behind thy back.
I trusted in thee when evils encompassed me,
  and thou broughtest me out into a wealthy place.
I trusted in thee in an hour of distress,
  and thou didst not fail me, though faith trembled.
O God of the eternal choice,
O God of the restored possession purchased
    on the tree,
O God of the effectual call,
Father, Son, Holy Spirit,
  I adore thy glory, honour, majesty, power,
    dominion for ever.


Excerpt from Valley of Vision, by Arthur Bennett, p 252-253

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Lord's Day Eve

GOD OF THE PASSING HOUR,

Another week has gone and I have been
preserved
in my going out,
in my coming in.
Thine has been the vigilance that has turned
threatened evils aside;
Thine the supplies that have nourished me;
Thine the comforts that have indulged me;
Thine the relations and friends that have
delighted me;
Thine the means of grace which have edified me;
Thine the Book, which, amidst all my enjoyments,
has told me that this is not my rest,
that in all successes one thing alone is needful,
to love my Saviour.
Nothing can equal the number of thy mercies
but my imperfections and sins.
These, O God, I will neither conceal nor palliate,
but confess with a broken heart.
In what condition would secret reviews
of my life leave me
were it not for the assurance that with thee
there is plenteous redemption,
that thou art a forgiving God,
that thou mayest be feared!
While I hope for pardon through the blood
of the cross,
I pray to be clothed with humility,
to be quickened in thy way,
to be more devoted to thee,
to keep the end of my life in view,
to be cured of the folly of delay and indecision,
to know how frail I am,
to number my days and apply my heart
unto wisdom.



Excerpt from Valley of Vision, by Arthur Bennett, p 352-353

Monday, February 13, 2017

Weekly Collect Prayer: Feb 12

O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.



from the Book of Common Prayer



Sunday, January 29, 2017

The Praises of God and the Blessing

You are the holy Lord God
Who does wonderful things.
You are strong. You are great. You are the most high.
You are the almighty king. You holy Father,
King of heaven and earth.

You are three and one, the Lord God of gods;
You are the good, all good, the highest good,
Lord God living and true.

You are love, charity; You are wisdom, You are humility,
You are patience. You are beauty, You are meekness,
You are security, You are rest,
You are gladness and joy, You are our hope, You are justice,
You are moderation, You are all our riches to sufficiency.

You are beauty, You are meekness,
You are the protector, You are our custodian and defender,
You are strength, You are refreshment, You are our hope,
You are our faith, You are our charity,
You are all our sweetness, You are our eternal life:
Great and wonderful Lord, Almighty God, Merciful Saviour.



A prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, archived on http://www.ofm.org/francesco/pray/pray04.php

Monday, January 23, 2017

Opening Clenched Fists

Dear God,
I am so afraid to open my clenched fists!
Who will I be when I have nothing left to hold on to?
Who will I be when I stand before you with empty hands?
Please help me to gradually open my hands
and to discover that I am not what I own,
but what you want to give me.
And what you want to give me is love—
unconditional, everlasting love.
Amen.


by Henri Nouwen




Sunday, January 15, 2017

The Son as Savior

Holy God, you gather the whole universe
into your radiant presence
and continually reveal your Son as our Savior.
Bring healing to all wounds,
make whole all that is broken,
speak truth to all illusion,
and shed light in every darkness,
that all creation will see your glory and know your Christ. Amen.



From the Revised Common Lectionary, Second Sunday after Epiphany, intercessor prayers of the people

Sunday, January 8, 2017

Prayer of Pause


My Father, train my soul, today, to pause. When the enemy attacks, hurling words that causes me to take my eyes off of you. . . When I feel weak, and helpless to do anything but fail again.
I will stop.
I will look up.
No matter what comes, I will say, "but you, O Lord, are my helper."




From Amy Carmichael, You are my Hiding Place



Monday, January 2, 2017

Leaning Prayer

My Father, you welcome me into your presence - and that's a wonder in itself.  More than I can imagine.  then you invite me to lean against you...and a bolt of self-reliance resists.
But I want to trust you.  To relax the weight of my fears and anxieties against you.  To rest, to know how fully trustworthy you are.  Help me, Father.
I reach for your hand, feel your firm grip....and I lean my weight against you now.



From Amy Carmichael, You are my Hiding Place

Sunday, January 1, 2017

Prayer for New Year's Day

Let us pray, at the start of a new year, for all people, in all places, and in every kind of need. We pray for your church across the world and here in our hometown. May this be the year when people of faith are known by their love and their unity. Enable us to lead by example and show that all can live in harmony and mutual respect, recognizing their similarities and celebrating their differences. May this be the year when we keep our resolutions to be faithful in our Christian lives, to let our love shine forth and to live less for ourselves and more for others. 

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.


New Year Day Intercessions by Mrs Alison Holden