Category Archives: Prayers

An Always and Everything Prayer

(Reposted from livingwithchrist.us)

 

The greatest among you must be your servant.

Jesus, as I go about my day today,
I will have many opportunities to put
others ahead of myself.
Help me to recognize those times
and to respond as you would have me respond.

I will have opportunities
to practice humility.
Help me to recognize those times
and to not take myself too seriously.

People will not always treat me
the way I deserve to be treated.
Help me calm my anger
and to respond with compassion.

Someone might criticize me
and make me feel small and foolish.
Help me to forgive and to turn
my pain over to you.

I may face times
when others take credit
for my work.
Help me to seek justice justly,
and to let go of what
is best forgotten.

I will meet people who need
my help or at least a kind word.
Help me to help them without
expecting praise and thanks.

I will be in a position
of power over others.
Help me to use this power
justly and selflessly
and for the benefit of all.

Lord, I will have many opportunities
to put this prayer into practice.
Forgive me when I fail,
and help me always to try again.
Amen.

A Prayer for Holiness

Lord Jesus,
I fear I am like your neighbors–
it’s still easier to see holiness in
the lives of special people like saints and popes
than in the day-to-day lives most of us lead.

Today, Jesus, help me
to open my eyes
to the everyday holiness
all around me.
And help me to pray:

For spouses,
that they may grow in holiness through
their self-giving love for one another.

For parents,
that they may grow in holiness
through their self-giving love
for their children.

For single persons,
that they may grow in holiness
through their self-giving love for
family, friends, and the world.

For clergy,
that they may grow in holiness
through their self-giving love
for their people.

For religious,
that they may grow in holiness
in their self-giving love
for one another in their communities
and for the people they serve.

For workers and businesspeople
that they may grow in holiness
through their work.

Lord, no matter our vocation,
help us to answer your call
to grow in holiness;
help us all to be models
of self-giving love for one another
and to pass it on to the next generation,
so that the love we learn to practice
may spread throughout the world.
Amen.

~reposted from livingwithchrist.us

Prayer on the Feast of St. Nicholas

Lord of miracles,

Open my eyes that I might see
the beauty and goodness of your world,
and open my eyes to the ways we have marred its beauty.
Open my eyes to the beauty and goodness of all your people,
and open my eyes to all the ways we exploit, wound, and kill each other.
Open my eyes to my own sinfulness,
that I may repent and live your life of compassion
and forgiveness a bit more deeply.
Open my eyes to the needs of the people around me.
Open my eyes to all the ways you come to me today.
Open my eyes to all the signs of love and kindness
others give to me today.
Open my eyes to all the signs of your coming in this Advent season.
Open my eyes to all the ways
I can be a sign of your coming in my work today.
Open my life, Lord, to this wonderful, graced world,
and the signs of your coming kingdom.
Open my eyes always, Lord, to your presence around me and in me.

Amen.

~Reposted from livingwithchrist.us.
(A prayer for today from an Orthodox Hymn to Saint Nicholas.)