Sample Prayers - Helpful Prayers
sample prayers for all occassions
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A Sample Prayer of Personal Renewal
(When you are unsure of where you will spend eternity)
Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving me of my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make
me the kind of person You want me to be. Amen
Graduation Prayer
Father,
I have knowledge, so will You show me now,
How to use it wisely and find a way somehow
To make the world I live in a little better place,
And make life with its problems a little bit easier to face.
Grant me faith and courage and put purpose in my days,
And show me how to serve Thee in effective ways.
So my education, my knowledge and my skill
May find their true fulfillment as I learn to do Thy will.
And may I ever be aware in everything I do,
That knowledge comes from learning, and wisdom comes from You.
Amen.
A Morning Prayer
"Dear Lord, I give you my hands to do Your work; I give You my feet to go Your way; I give You my eyes to see as You see; I give You my tongue to speak Your words; I give You my mind that You may think in me; I give You my spirit that You may pray in me. Above all, I give You my heart that You may love in me - love the Father and love all humankind. I give You my whole self, Lord, that You may grow in me, so that it is You who lives, works and prays in me. Amen."
Benediction Prayer
Therefore, may the blessing of the LORD be upon you, and may you know the joy of putting his name upon others. For indeed, blessed are those who walk in the light of God's face.
~Jill Carattini
A Prayer - When You are Fearful
Father God, I am feeling fearful today. Life seems to be uncertain and out of control. I recall that the Bible tells me “Perfect love casts out fear”. You alone are Perfect Love, so would you please cast out the fear I feel and replace it with confidence in your sufficiency.
Psalm 121 tells me that you never slumber or sleep, so I will trust you to take care of me - moment by moment, day by day. In Jesus name. Amen
A Prayer about Commitment
Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. For it is your business, not mine. You will know every shade of my suffering; You will care for me with your perfect fatherhood.
-George Mac Donald
Please Make Me New!
Heavenly Father,
Thou hast made me, be pleased to new-make me.
I am thy work, complete me;
I am thy harp, tune me;
I am thy child, teach me.
-Charles Spurgeon
In God's Will
Lord Jesus, keep me in Your will. Don't let me go mad by poking about outside it.
-Corrie Ten Boom
A Prayer of Confession
Forgive us, Lord . . . for the things we have done that make us feel uncomfortable in Your presence. All the front that we polish so carefully for men to see does not decieve You. For you know every thought that has left its shadow on our memory. You have marked every motive that curdled something sweet within us.
We acknowledge--with bitterness and true repentance--that cross and selfish thoughts have entered our minds; we acknowledge that we have permitted our minds to wander through unclean and forbidden ways; we have toyed with that which we knew was not for us; we have desired that which we should not have.
We acknowledge that often we have decieved ourselves where our plain duty lay.
We confess before You that our ears are often deaf to the whisper of Thy call, our eyes often blind to the signs of your guidance,
Make us willing to be changed, even though it requires surgery of the soul and the therapy of disipline.
Make our hearts warm and soft, that we may receive now the blessing of Your forgiveness, the benedicition of Your "Depart in peace . . and sin no more." Amen
-Peter Marshall
A Prayer for When You Need Wisdom and Direction
Father God, there are so many decisions to make and I don’t seem to know what is the best for now or for the future. You said if we lack wisdom, all we need to do is ask you. I really need you to pour wisdom into my mind today. Thank you!
A Prayer for Success
And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain." So God granted him what he requested. I Chronicles 4:10 NKJV
A Prayer for When You are Weak or Ill
Father, I am feeling lousy today. I ache all over and feel very weak. You said that your grace was sufficient for me. Please strengthen me. Give me joy inspite of how I feel physically. Amen
A Prayer for the Young Women of the World
Father God, thank you for all the young women in the world. Give them dreams that are bigger than themselves--so they will have to trust you to make their dream come true. Give them a will and heart to be all you created them to be. Help them to work hard and be successful.
Enable them to be generous to those who are less fortunate. Give them hearts full of love and compassion.
Give them the strength to say "no" to activities that they would later be remorseful about--that they would do what is right for them and for the world around them. Help them to be kind to others.
Protect them from people who would harm them physically, emotionally and mentally.
Let them know that allowing You to direct their way is the smartest thing they can do. In Jesus wonderful and powerful name. Amen
A Prayer for Others
Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give Your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend Your sick ones, O Lord Christ. Rest Your weary ones. Bless Your dying ones. Soothe Your suffering ones. Pity Your afflicted ones. Shield Your joyous ones. And all for Your love's sake. Amen
-Father Timothy Kavanagh
A Prayer for Prodigals
Prayer FROM ISAIAH 33
(Taken from Living in His Presence by Sylvia Gunter)
Isaiah 33:
33:2: Oh Lord, be gracious to us who stand and pray for these wayward ones _____________. We have long waited for You to intervene. Be our strength every morning and our salvation in this distress. Keep us steadfast in intercession with clean hands and a pure heart.
33:5: Lord, be exalted, for You are the King. Fill the home of Your covenant families with Your righteousness.
33:6: Be the sure foundation for our times and provide us a rich store of salvation, wisdom and knowledge. Let us know the fear of the Lord, which is the key to Your treasury of good gifts and answered prayer.
33:10: Arise, Lord, stand up and show Your power to all these children of Yours.
33:13: Stop the wayward ones whose hardened hearts are running away from You. Make them hear what You have done for them. We stand in prayer and acknowledge that Your power alone can release these loved ones from their captivities.
33:15: O consuming Fire, cause _________ to walk righteously and speak what is right, to reject dishonesty, to stay away from wickedness and to reject the conspiracies of destruction and death through the bondages and addictions in their lives.
33:17: Let ________’s eyes see their King, bow their knees and acknowledge that You reign in the universe and have rightful claim on their lives as their Lord.
33:19: This is spiritual warfare, and the evil one has fiercely and violently contested for ________’s life. The battle is the Lord’s, and Jesus is the Victor, so their parents and family stand in Your authority to receive Your promises of victory. Let _______ not be consumed with arrogance, self-centeredness and rebellion any longer. Free them from the oppression of everything that is foreign to Your purposes for their life.
33:20: You have the power to make _______’s life an offering of service and worship before You. You are at work in them to will and to do Your good pleasure. Set them in Your peace, stability and permanence.
33:21: Be their Mighty One, a wide river of defense and protection that no enemy can cross to destroy their life.
33:22: You ARE THE Judge, the Lawgiver and the King. Save _________ as You promised.
33:24: Break the power of iniquity that binds them, and forgive them completely of all their sins. Restore _______ to health—body, soul and spirit. We ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Used by permission.
A Prayer for When You Need more Faith
“Teach me to treat all that comes to me with peace of soul and with firm conviction that your will govern all. Amen.”
-Elisabeth Elliot
A Prayer When You Want to be Reflecting Christ
Lord, make my life A window for Your light to shine through and a mirror to reflect Your love to all I meet. Amen.
Make Me an Instrument
“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; and where there is sadness, joy.”
St. Francis of Assisi
A Prayer When You Feel like You have Failed.
Dear God, The little plans I tried to carry through Have failed. I will not sorrow. I'll pause a little while, Dear God, And try, again, tomorrow.
A Prayer for a Dream
Father, Once I had such big dreams, so much anticipation of the fufture. Now no shimmering horizon beckons me: my days are lack-lustre I see so little of lasting value in the daily round. Where is your plan for my life?
You have told us that without vision, we perish. So, Father in heaven, knowing that I can ask You to deposit in my mind and heart that particular dream, the special vision You have for my life.
And along with the dream, will You give me whatever graces, parience, and stamina it takes to see the dream through to fruition? I sense that may involve adventrues I have not bargained for.
But I want to trust You
enough to follow even if you lead along new paths.
I admit to liking some of my ruts.
But I know that habit patterns
that seem cozy nests from the inside,
from Your vantage point
may be prison cells.
Lord,
if you break down
any prisons of mine
before I can see the stars and catch the vision,
then, Lord, begin the process now.
In joyous expectation.
Amen.
-by Catherine Marshall
A Prayer for Conflict Resolution
Dear God, when your son Jesus died and rose from the dead, He broke down walls of hostility. Father, you know the conflict I am having right now. I don't know how to resolve it. You are our Savior. Please save and restore this relationship. Amen
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
For health and strength and daily food,
We praise your name, O God. Amen
A Prayer before Meals
Bless us oh Lord and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, through thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord...Amen
A Prayer for our Children and Grandchildren
Lord, I am so glad that you know each of our children and grandchildren by name. Thank you for sending a whole hedge of angels around each child. Thank you for protecting them all today. Father, would you please turn their minds and hearts toward You and pleasing you. Thank you!
A Prayer for When You are Down-Sizing (Moving)
Lord, I really don’t what to move. I like it here - there are so many memories. I am comfortable here because it is familiar. I know it is to large for me (us) now – to much work, but I have such mixed feelings. I don’t like the thought of all the changes.
I am so glad you never change. You are and always will be a constant in my life. Help me to remember that when I am packing and unpacking. Amen.
Prayer for a Pastor
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of leadership you have given to our pastor. It is a holy calling. It's a calling to watch over himself and the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made him overseer. The church has been bought with the blood of your son, on the cross. The responsibility you have given to our pastor is awesome. He too is tempted and tried by the enemy. He has many responsibilities be it in his family or in the community and so it is our prayer that he would be kept from the evil one and that you would empower him to live a godly life, so that out of his fullness he would share the message of the gospel boldly. Help our pastor this week as he searches the Word and Your will for the congregation. Will you grant him the health and strength he needs to share your message in humility and with clarity. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Prayer for a Pastor's Wife
Dear Father in heaven, I thank you for my pastor's wife. I thank you she loves you and serves you so faithfully. I pray very specially for her today. I pray You will help her cope with all the unexpected things that come into her day. Help her to accept the interruptions as opportunities to serve. Help her to support her husband and learn to go with the flow of his full life. Help her to manage her household well. Just fill her with yourself today. Help her to allow your Holy Spirit to have full control of her life and may she take strength from you as she meditates on You and Your Word. Give her a hug today. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
A Prayer to Put on the Whole Armor of God
Heavenly Father, I praise and worship you because you are God. I am honored to be your servant and I take my stand today against the devil and his schemes against me, my family and my ministry. Father, as I take up each piece of the armor, please secure it in place on me.
I take up the shield of faith and extend it over myself. It extinguishes all the fiery darts of the evil one.
I put on the helmet of salvation, which protects my mind from the enemy's attacks. I have the mind of Christ.
I put on the breastplate of righteousness, which covers my body with the righteousness of God. In Christ, every foothold of evil has been washed away and I am clothed in righteousness!
I gird my loins with the belt of truth. Your word, O God, is truth. Father, sanctify me according to your word and remind me through the Holy Spirit of the truth that destroys the lies of sin.
I shod my feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. I have peace with God through the blood of Jesus. I have favor with God and with man. I walk in my inheritance as an adopted son of God and have authority over evil in Jesus' name.
I will use the Sword of the Spirit by speaking the Word of God as it applies to whatever situation I may face today. Father, please remind me of your Word via the Holy Spirit.
I will continue to pray in the Spirit throughout the day, and intercede for all Christians as the Holy Spirit prompts me. I believe that the Holy Spirit is interceding on my behalf according to my prayers.
Thank you, Father, for the whole armor of God. Please surround me with your hedge of protection as I move forward on the spiritual battlefield today. I praise and worship you now and forever, Amen."
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