The regular discipline of personal and corporate prayer marks the lives of Christians. Prayer is the way a disciple enjoys an intimate relationship with God. Through prayer God’s will is discerned and greater clarity is gained for our journey. Prayer allows us to intercede for the needs of the neighbor. Prayer is powerful. Indeed, God’s creative, redeeming and healing power is often directed through prayer.

Jesus modeled the power and importance of prayer and provides our inspiration to embrace a prayerful stance toward all moments of life. The Lord’s Prayer and Luther’s interpretation in the Small Catechism provide ample instruction for the content and elements of prayer and a prayerful life.

In his daily practice of prayer, Martin Luther stood in a long tradition of prayer that had communion with God as its goal. While much mystical prayer led to contemplation and sought ascent to God, Luther directed prayer to being sent into the world. Engagement with the Word sustains Christians in the world; engagement with the world drives Christians back to the Word. The daily discipline of prayer nurtures Christian disciples for service in the world.

Part of a disciple’s job description is to pray frequently.

 

Being Prayerful at Home

Even though Christians gather on the Lord’s Day – Sunday – for public worship, much of our time is spent in the home. We first learn the words, the gestures, and the songs of faith in the home. We discover our essential identity as a community of faith in the home.

    * As you begin your day, preview your day’s activities and pray for the people you will meet.
    * In times of conflict, stop and take a moment to ask God to help you ‘let go’ and make a new start.
    * Set up a space in your home for prayer
    * To pray, just start talking. Or, stop talking and allow God’s presence in a moment of silence.

“Wait before God in quietness. Only those who attend the whispers of grace can hear him speak.” 

Christians are intentional about fostering household prayer, not because God needs or demands it, but because the words and songs, the customs and prayers of the household can lead us to see all of life from the perspective of faith. Whether one lives alone or with others, it is important to cultivate a simple pattern of daily and seasonal prayer.

Prayer and reading can take place anywhere in the home: in a bedroom, out in the garden or yard, around the table, in the living room. Throughout the seasons of the year, the place of prayer can vary. In this season of Advent, we may choose to pray around the Advent wreath, close to the Christmas tree, next to a nativity scene, near a cross.…

Some people kneel as they pray, others stand or sit. Some people pray while walking, running, or working. The simple gestures of everyday life – open arms in welcome, an embrace, a handshake, washing, planting, eating – can be gestures of prayer. The more momentous transitions of life – birth, leaving home, entering school, moving and separation, marriage, sickness, birthdays and reunions, dying and death – can be the opportunities for household prayer.

Family Prayer Ideas

    * Nurture natural ways to pray. God doesn’t ask for grand and glorious words. God will hear our voice anytime, anywhere and for any reason.
    * Make bedtime a time of personal attention and rich conversation. Read, sing and reflect on the joys and frustrations of the day. Encourage all to let go of their worries and believe that God cares for them.
    * Offer brief, spontaneous prayers for a new day’s challenges, - “Lord, please help Lynn with her test today. Amen.”

Prayers for Families

“There is nothing that makes us love a person so much as praying for him.”
                                                            - William Law, 18th Century Anglican mystic

O God, we thank you for our home and family;
For love and forbearance, for friends and foes,
For laughter enjoyed and sorrow shared, for the daily bread of your bounty in good times and bad. Help us to be mindful of your gifts and glad to show forth your praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God of all humankind, make the roof of our house wide enough for all opinions, oil the door of our house so it opens easily to friend and stranger and set such a table in our home that our whole family may speak kindly and freely around it.

You alone are our hope, O God of our salvation.
Your love breaks down walls that isolate and divide us.
Your love heals, forgives and makes us whole again.
Restore us, O God of our salvation. Reconcile us, that we may be a family, and live.

O God of love and mercy, help us to understand our children as they grow in years and in knowledge of your world. Make us compassionate for their temptations and failures and encouraging in their seeking after truth and value in their lives. Stir in us appreciation of their ideals and sympathy for their frustrations; that with them we may look for a better world than either we or they have known, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Blessings

Parents may bless their children just as friends may bless each other by placing their two hands on the head of the other person. It is an intimate gesture as old as Abraham and as new as the mother who places her hands on the head of her young child.

“The Lord bless you and keep you, now and forever.”

“May the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding,
guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
                                         - Philippians 4:7

“God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.” 

“May the Lord bless your going out
and your coming in
from this time on and forever more.” 

                                  - Psalm 121:9

Advent

“In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us.” 

“The longing of Advent is often portrayed in scripture and poetry as a longing for light…To long for light is to long for fulfillment, for wholeness. To long for light is to long for transformation.”
– from Welcome Home
O God most high,
For you we wait, for your coming we watch,
For your reign we prepare, in your promise we rejoice,
Open our eyes that we may see you.
Open our hearts that we may receive you.
Open our lips that we may praise you.
Open our hands that we may serve you. Amen.
from Welcome Home

“Lord, come to me, my door is open.”
                                            - Michael Quoist

God of love,
Strengthen our hearts in holiness.
Prepare us to meet the Lord Jesus
When he comes again with all his saints. Amen.
                                   - from Welcome Home

“Come, Lord, work upon us,
Set us on fire and clasp us close
Be fragrant to us,
Draw us to thy love,
Let us run to thee

         - Augustine, 354-430, from The Complete Book of Christian Prayer

Table Grace for Advent
O God our hope, we look for signs
of your coming among us.
May this food and drink refresh us
and fill us with gratitude
as we eagerly wait and watch
for the promised day of salvation
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
                      - from Welcome Home

Morning Prayer

“O Lord in the morning you hear my voice.” Psalm 5:3

The prayer of the morning is a prayer of praise. Our world is light again. The things of the night – fear, exhaustion, discouragement, loneliness – are chased away by the rising sun. These may find their way into our day, but the prayer of the morning proclaims that they shall not prevail; God’s love wraps us around.

Luther’s Morning Prayer
 

I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father,
through Jesus Christ your dear Son,
that you have protected me through the night
from all harm and danger,
and I ask that you also protect me today from sin
and every danger,
so that my life an actions may please you.
Into your hands I commend my body, my soul,
and all that is mine.
Let your holy angels be with me,
so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Psalm 108:2-4
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn.
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples,
and I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your steadfast love is higher than the heavens,
and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Dorothy’s Morning Prayer
Dear God, I’m just a little child.
Take care of me today,
guide my footsteps, calm my fears, and guard me while I pray.
Help me with my lessons and teach me to obey,
make me kind and honest, and let me be yours today.
God bless my mom and daddy, my brothers and sisters too
and may we all meet you in heaven when the trials of life are through. Amen.

A Prayer of Bonhoeffer
O God, early in the morning I cry to you. Help me to pray and to concentrate my thoughts on you; I cannot do this alone. In me there is darkness, but with you there is light; I am lonely, but you do not leave me; I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help; I am restless but with you there is peace. In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience; I do not understand your ways, but you know the way for me.
from The Complete Book of Christian Prayer


Table Prayer
“When you open your hands, they are filled with good things.” Psalm 104:28

Meal prayers are prayers of blessing. To bless is to praise and thank God: to recognize the wonder, beauty and goodness in each person, an object, an action. Even when one eats alone, such care for the blessing is in order. from Teach Me To Pray

Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts
which we are about to receive from thy bounty;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord Jesus, be our Holy Guest.
Our morning joy, our evening rest,
And with our daily bread impart
Your love and peace to every heart. Amen.

Thank you, God, for milk and bread
and other things so good.
Thank you, God, for those who help
to grow and cook our food.

Our Father, we are grateful for this family,
who hand in hand form one unbroken circle.
Help us to do your will, as caring individuals
and as a loving family. Amen

With the sun, moon, and stars,
With the deep sea, hills, and trees,
With all creeping things and flying birds,
We give you praise, O Lord our creator.
We offer you thanks for the gifts of this table,
Signs of your love and mercy.
We bless you for your Son,
Who is our life, health, and salvation,
Our food and drink, now and forever. Amen.
from Welcome Home

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, you heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen

We praise your holy name that out of your plenty
you have so well remembered our necessities. Amen

Evening Prayer
Let my prayer come like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice. 

The prayer at bedside has many moods: the night itself, one’s physical weariness, the anticipation of sleeping and dreaming, and the concern for the problems of the day. These converge around the bed as we kneel to pray.

Luther's Evening Prayer

I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father,
through Jesus Christ your dear Son,
that you have graciously protected me today,
and I ask you to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong,
and graciously protect me tonight.
For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine.
Let your holy angel be with me,
so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.

 

Book of Common Prayer
Keep watch, dear Lord,
with those who work, or watch, or weep this night,
and give your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend the sick, Lord Christ;
give rest to the weary, bless the dying,
soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted,
shield the joyous;
and all for your love’s sake. Amen.

When going to bed, make the sign of the cross and say,
The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and peace at the last.

Bedtime Prayers with Children
I will lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety. Psalm 4:9

All praise to you, my God, this night
For all the blessings of the light.
Keep me, oh, keep me, Kings of kings,
Beneath your own almighty wings.

Thy holy wings, O Savior, spread gently over me
And let me rest securely through good and ill in thee.
Oh, be my strength and portion,
my rock and hiding place,
and let my ev’ry moment be lived within thy grace.

The Lord is my shepherd, I need nothing more. 

                                                       - Psalm 23:1

Stay with us, Lord. 

                     -Luke 24:29

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay
Close by me forever and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in your tender care
And fit us for heaven to live with you there.

Jesus Christ, a child so wise,
Bless my hands and fill my eyes.
Watch me as I sleep in bed,
Help me in the days ahead. Amen.

Prayers for the Sick 

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

O God, we thank you for our bodies, and the power that you give us to keep and make them well. Give us a realistic faith in your power and goodness, and when we go through the valley of suffering and sickness, help us to trust in your loving care and power. Amen.

Healing power of Jesus Christ,
Fall afresh on me,
Healing power of Jesus Christ,
Fall afresh on me,
Touch me, stir me, unfold me, love me.
Healing power of Jesus Christ,
Fall afresh on me.
Howard Booth, from The Complete Book of Christian Prayer

Prayers for the Unemployed

O God who rejoices in both our work and play,
I come before you
Unemployed,
Afraid,
Shaken in my trust.
When I lose courage and hope while searching for work,
Be my rock and safety.
When I find it hard to believe in my talents,
Revive in me an appreciation
of the gifts you have given me.
When I begin to doubt my worth,
Help me to remember that I do not need to earn your love.
When my fears take hold and start to overwhelm me,
Let me find comfort in your care and those I love,
and in their love for me.
Thank you for all who continue to support
and encourage me during this difficult time.
May it somehow bring us closer to one another
And to you.

Prayers for the Journey

Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
- Lutheran Book of Worship (Prayer 251).

O most loving father, you want us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing except losing you, and to lay all our cares on you, knowing that you care for us. Protect us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds in this mortal life may hide us from the light of your immortal love shown to us in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayers for Peace 

“True peace is not for the spineless or self-absorbed. It has nothing to do with passivity or resignation. Peace demands honesty. It entails the burden of duty. Peace requires deeds of love.”

God, source of all light,
We are surrounded by the darkness of the injustices
experienced by your people,
the poor who are hungry and who search for shelter,
the sick who seek relief,
and the downtrodden who seek help in their hopelessness.
Surround us and fill us with your Spirit who is Light.
Lead us in your way to be light to your people.
Help our home to be salt for our community
as we share your love with those caught in the struggles of life.
We desire to be your presence to the least among us
and to know your presence in them as we work through you
to bring justice and peace to this world in desperate need.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.

We light this candle for peace, Lord.
May its light scatter the darkness;
May its flame be a symbol of hope;
May its burning be a sign of faith,
Joining with many other lights for peace.
We light this candle for peace.
May our lives be an expression of peacemaking;
May we seek to be lights in a dark world,
Pointing to you, Jesus, the Prince of Peace,
And following you in the way of peace.
Let the candle burn, as a sign for peace,
Offered to you.

O God, lover of all people;
we pray for peace
in our hearts and homes,
in our nations and our world;
the peace of your will,
the peace of our need.


A Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon;
where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we 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;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

“O God, make us children of quietness and heirs of peace.”
                                                    - Clement of Rome, 1st Century


Bibliography
Works Quoted Above

Huck, Gabe. Teach Me To Pray:A Way of Prayer. New York: Phoenix Press, 1986.

The Complete Book of Christian Prayer. New York: Continuum Publishing Co., 1995

Lutheran Book of Worship. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1978.

Welcome Home: Scriptures, Prayers and Blessings for the Household, Year of Luke. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, l997.

Table Graces: Prayers of Thanks, Beilensen, Nick, editor. New York: Peter Pauper Press, Inc. 1987.

Suggested Prayer Resources (available from Augsburg-Fortress, Tel: 800-328-4648)

A Beginner’s Guide to Prayer by Richard J. Beckman
Looks at the rhythms of the prayer life, the sense of God’s absence and presence, the Holy Spirit and prayer, the language we use and the Lord’s Prayer. Looks into Jesus’ practice and teaching about prayer, other biblical examples, and the prayer experiences of people today.

Daily Readings from Luther’s Writings, by Barbara Dunn
A year-long devotional volume. Themes include vocation, God’s Word, prayer, faith alone, good works, music, and the church. Selections taken from Luther’s works.

Doing Faith: Basic Practices for Growing Christians
Emphasis on the inward (prayer, worship, meditation, learning) and outward (service, witness, stewardship, celebration) movement of Christian faith and life.

A Life to Live, A Way to Pray, by John B. Coburn (out of print)

The Pocket Guide to Prayer, by Gary Egeberg
A practical book for anyone seeking a more fulfilling prayer life.

Prayer: Beginning Conversations With God, by Richard J. Beckman
Exploring the basics of prayer.

Seeking God’s Face: A Prayer Journal
Each page includes an inspirational passage about prayer and space for you to capture your thoughts.

Welcome Home: Scripture, Prayers and Blessings for the Household, Year of Luke