Hello Reader,

From the rugged Rocky Mountains and the sweeping Prairie skies, to the forested lakes of Central Canada and the salt-sprayed shores of the Maritimes, Canada’s natural landscape is among the most breathtaking in the world. Winding through this vastness are thousands of trails that make it possible for ordinary people to step into and experience this beauty.

Yet, before these paths became well-tread, they were untamed wilderness. They required those who went first to navigate the unknown. Over time, and through countless footsteps, these paths gradually became defined, marked so that those who would come after could follow and experience the same goodness.

In the same way, common prayers are an ancient practice, prayed by those who have sought to follow Jesus throughout the entire history of the Church. Ancient Christians understood a profound truth: our actions and words fill more than just our schedules — they actively shape our hearts. When Jesus taught His disciples the Lord’s Prayer, he wasn’t handing them a script to recite; he was laying down a trellis upon which he would form their souls.

Sometimes, common prayers are like a thesaurus that gives us vocabulary to what is already in our hearts, allowing us to say a resounding "amen" along with those who have gone before us. Other times, they act as an anchor, giving us the words to voice to God a desire for what we would like to be true of our hearts, gently pulling our affections toward Him when our own inspiration runs dry.

In the following pages, you will find a short collection of prayers written specifically for the ordinary rhythms of a student’s life. We invite you to choose a few that resonate and pull them out to pray throughout your day. 

The assumption is that God is always actively at work around and within each of us. We hope that these prayers will help to transform ordinary moments like your commutes, your exams, your in-between times and your social life into deeply spiritual moments, opening your eyes to the everyday opportunities you have to be with God, grow in community, and live on mission.

With hope, and on behalf of the authors on the following pages,

Sam Yeung, Toronto