A Father's Prayer
This is the best dowry of hopes, wishes and prayers I would be able to offer:
May God give you the grace of wit and wisdom to understand that rainbows are only the result of showers, dust, and hope.
May you always have joy in the morning and trust in the evening and may your sorrows be short and without scars.
May your lives have a spirit neither bent by belligerence nor broken by failure; may you simply love each other.
May you share with each other spring flowers, dirty dishes, music, rain, death, mushrooms, a measure of boredom, strawberries, and God.
May that God never make you immune to the wonderful afflictions of real love, making you instead farsighted to each other's faults, tongue-tied to criticism, and short of memory to petty hurts and slights.
May God provide the confidence and serenity that comes only from the assurance of each other's fidelity and the tolerance, as years go by, of wrinkles and gray hairs, short tempers, curlers, and Monday mornings.
May no one steal from you laughter at the top of the stairs or giggles and whispers in a dark room.
May you keep a hunger for each other, the appetite to taste tomorrow, and deep knowledge of and devotion to your past, heritage and families.
May you perpetuate trust, the radiation of vitality, kind answers to sharp questions and sharp humor to unkind attitudes.
May your fights be fierce and short, and may each truce be warm and long and held in each other's arms before the sun comes up.
May you walk with wise men, sing loud songs at late hours, share secrets, have healthy children, and provide smiles for lonesome strangers and prayers for those without hope.
May you never forget small things; smiles, birthdays, holding hands, family, old friends, the neglected, and the simplicity of saying please and thank you.
May you keep a warm, generous, and happy house where love is the insulation and God is present. May your children be friends of God's child, Jesus.
May your union bring a smile to the face of the Holy Spirit and may he live in your pots and pans, in your hope and aspirations.
- Author Unknown
Appropriate for many faiths
Prayers
Evening Prayer
O God! I go to sleep, awaken, live and die by You and to You is the final gathering. I go to sleep and the evening has come with the Dominion belonging to the God. All praise is due to God, there is no partner with Him, there is none worthy of worship besides Him, and to Him is the final gathering.
- Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
O God! I go to sleep, awaken, live and die by You and to You is the final gathering. I go to sleep and the evening has come with the Dominion belonging to the God. All praise is due to God, there is no partner with Him, there is none worthy of worship besides Him, and to Him is the final gathering.
- Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
The Greatest Parent
It seems, dear God, that my children are growing
too quickly up and away from me.
I don't know what to say to them anymore.
They are no longer the little girls I used to know.
Help me to learn to trust their judgment, and to entrust their safety to You,
The Greatest Parent of all.
- Beliefnet member RevVic
It seems, dear God, that my children are growing
too quickly up and away from me.
I don't know what to say to them anymore.
They are no longer the little girls I used to know.
Help me to learn to trust their judgment, and to entrust their safety to You,
The Greatest Parent of all.
- Beliefnet member RevVic
Prayer Before Eating
We thank Great Spirit for the resources that made this food possible; we thank the Earth Mother for producing it, and we thank all those who labored to bring it to us. May the wholesomeness of the food before us, bring out the wholeness of the Spirit within us.
- Beliefnet member revwhiteeagle
We thank Great Spirit for the resources that made this food possible; we thank the Earth Mother for producing it, and we thank all those who labored to bring it to us. May the wholesomeness of the food before us, bring out the wholeness of the Spirit within us.
- Beliefnet member revwhiteeagle
How Great Is Your Goodness
How great is your goodness, dear Lord!
Blessed are you for ever!
May all created things praise you, O God,
for loving us so much that we can truthfully speak
of your fellowship with mankind, even in this earthly exile;
and however virtuous we may be,
our virtue always depends on your great warmth
and generosity, dear Lord.
Your bounty is infinite.
How wonderful are your works!
- St. Teresa of Avila
How great is your goodness, dear Lord!
Blessed are you for ever!
May all created things praise you, O God,
for loving us so much that we can truthfully speak
of your fellowship with mankind, even in this earthly exile;
and however virtuous we may be,
our virtue always depends on your great warmth
and generosity, dear Lord.
Your bounty is infinite.
How wonderful are your works!
- St. Teresa of Avila
Let Me See Release From My Addiction
O Lord, with each new day, help me to be strong and continue to trust you.
Bring into my eyes and heart
an honesty that sees my true situation
and finds support in your goodness and guidance.
Let me see release from my addiction
and a renewed joy in living from this day forward.
- Maureen Pratt
O Lord, with each new day, help me to be strong and continue to trust you.
Bring into my eyes and heart
an honesty that sees my true situation
and finds support in your goodness and guidance.
Let me see release from my addiction
and a renewed joy in living from this day forward.
- Maureen Pratt
Prayer to Overcome Sin
O everlasting God, let the light of Thine eternity now fall upon my passing days.
O holy God, let the light of thy perfect righteousness fall upon my sinful ways.
O most merciful God, let the light of Thy love pierce to the most secret corners of my heart and overcome the darkness of sin within me.
- John Baillie
O everlasting God, let the light of Thine eternity now fall upon my passing days.
O holy God, let the light of thy perfect righteousness fall upon my sinful ways.
O most merciful God, let the light of Thy love pierce to the most secret corners of my heart and overcome the darkness of sin within me.
- John Baillie
Prayer for Trust in Jesus
O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness
and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love, and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and strengthening power,
so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You,
we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose, Your will through all things.
- St. Ignatius of Loyola
Christian
O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness
and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love, and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and strengthening power,
so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You,
we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose, Your will through all things.
- St. Ignatius of Loyola
Christian
Celebration of Freedom in America
Lord God Almighty, in whose name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant, we beseech thee, that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Christian
source: Book of Common Prayer 1979
Lord God Almighty, in whose name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant, we beseech thee, that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Christian
source: Book of Common Prayer 1979
The Right Path
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.
The Beneficent, the Merciful.
Master of the Day of Judgment.
Thee do we serve and Thee do we beseech for help.
Keep us on the right path.
The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favors. Not (the path) of those upon whom Thy wrath is brought down, nor of those who go astray.
- Qur'an 1:1-6
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.
The Beneficent, the Merciful.
Master of the Day of Judgment.
Thee do we serve and Thee do we beseech for help.
Keep us on the right path.
The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favors. Not (the path) of those upon whom Thy wrath is brought down, nor of those who go astray.
- Qur'an 1:1-6
Prayer of Thanksgiving for Surprises
For a friend's unexpected call,
for a letter unforeseen,
for the sunlight bursting through thick clouds,
for a porpoise frolicking in the water,
for seals basking in the sun,
for an invitation to dinner on a lonely eve,
for a request to "come along";
for all the wonderful surprises of life
we give you thanks, O God of joy. Amen.
- Vienna Cobb Anderson
For a friend's unexpected call,
for a letter unforeseen,
for the sunlight bursting through thick clouds,
for a porpoise frolicking in the water,
for seals basking in the sun,
for an invitation to dinner on a lonely eve,
for a request to "come along";
for all the wonderful surprises of life
we give you thanks, O God of joy. Amen.
- Vienna Cobb Anderson
Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace
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,
not so much to be understood as to understand,
not so much 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 awake to eternal life.
- St. Francis of Assisi
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,
not so much to be understood as to understand,
not so much 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 awake to eternal life.
- St. Francis of Assisi
Great Spirit Guide Us
Grandfather, Great Spirit, you have been always,
And before you nothing has been.
There is no one to pray to but you.
The star nations all over the heavens are yours,
And yours are the grasses of the earth.
Grandfather, Great Spirit, fill us with the light.
Teach us to walk the soft earth as relatives to all that live.
Help us, for without you we are nothing.
- Black Elk (1863-1950)
Grandfather, Great Spirit, you have been always,
And before you nothing has been.
There is no one to pray to but you.
The star nations all over the heavens are yours,
And yours are the grasses of the earth.
Grandfather, Great Spirit, fill us with the light.
Teach us to walk the soft earth as relatives to all that live.
Help us, for without you we are nothing.
- Black Elk (1863-1950)
Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.
- Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.
- Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)
Aashaajee Jug pati jug naath Sri Islam Shah
ham man tere umaayo ji
Kaayam swaami hansa ji naa raajaa
Janpudeep me Shah aavo
Haree anant anant - Haree anante jo swaami Shah
anante jo ant tunhi janne ji
Ek ne maare Shah, ek ne taare ane
ek ne Haree var aale....................Haree anant....1
Oh Lord Shri Islam Shah, the Lord and the Master of the age
We beg you to be the only one in our hearts(or our hearts magnify in your presence)
The Lord of Resurrection and the King of the soul
Come to the Indian subcontinent(our home,hearts)
Haree You are eternal and unlimited, Haree You are the
Lord of countless souls or eternity
You are the only Knower of the limits of the unlimited
To one He punishes, to the other He liberates
And He brings another under the protection of the Lord
(makes him/her a better momin or true believer)
ham man tere umaayo ji
Kaayam swaami hansa ji naa raajaa
Janpudeep me Shah aavo
Haree anant anant - Haree anante jo swaami Shah
anante jo ant tunhi janne ji
Ek ne maare Shah, ek ne taare ane
ek ne Haree var aale....................Haree anant....1
Oh Lord Shri Islam Shah, the Lord and the Master of the age
We beg you to be the only one in our hearts(or our hearts magnify in your presence)
The Lord of Resurrection and the King of the soul
Come to the Indian subcontinent(our home,hearts)
Haree You are eternal and unlimited, Haree You are the
Lord of countless souls or eternity
You are the only Knower of the limits of the unlimited
To one He punishes, to the other He liberates
And He brings another under the protection of the Lord
(makes him/her a better momin or true believer)
The Great Invocation
From the point of Light within the Mind of God
Let light stream forth into the minds of men.
Let Light descend on Earth.
From the point of Love within the Heart of God
Let love stream forth into the hearts of men.
May Christ return to Earth.
From the centre where the Will of God is known
Let purpose guide the little wills of men --
The purpose which the Masters know and serve.
From the centre which we call the race of men
Let the Plan of Love and Light work out
And may it seal the door where evil dwells.
Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth.
From the point of Light within the Mind of God
Let light stream forth into the minds of men.
Let Light descend on Earth.
From the point of Love within the Heart of God
Let love stream forth into the hearts of men.
May Christ return to Earth.
From the centre where the Will of God is known
Let purpose guide the little wills of men --
The purpose which the Masters know and serve.
From the centre which we call the race of men
Let the Plan of Love and Light work out
And may it seal the door where evil dwells.
Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth.
An Evening Family Prayer
Lord, behold our family here assembled.
We thank you for this place in which we dwell,
for the love that unites us,
for the peace accorded to us this day,
for the hope with which we expect the morrow;
for the health, the work, the food and the bright skies
that make our lives delightful;
for our friends in all parts of the earth. Amen.
- Robert Louis Stevenson
Lord, behold our family here assembled.
We thank you for this place in which we dwell,
for the love that unites us,
for the peace accorded to us this day,
for the hope with which we expect the morrow;
for the health, the work, the food and the bright skies
that make our lives delightful;
for our friends in all parts of the earth. Amen.
- Robert Louis Stevenson
ejee u(n)chaare kott bahu vechanaa
neeche vahe daree-aav
hure dareeyaa vandee maachhalee
saa(n)heeyaa taarann aav
hure darshan veenaa baavaree
baalam gher aav saajan gher aav
ba(n)do bhuleeyo taaree ba(n)dagee
saa(n)heeyaa surat bataav...hure...........................1
The citadel(fort) is built very tall and very far on the high ground,
down below flows the sea, I am a fish in the sea, O my Master!,
come to save me.
I am uneasy without the glimpse of your face, O my Lover,
come to my home, O my Master come home.
I am your created being who has forgotten the means of your worship.
O my Lord, give me an awakening (of my soul).
neeche vahe daree-aav
hure dareeyaa vandee maachhalee
saa(n)heeyaa taarann aav
hure darshan veenaa baavaree
baalam gher aav saajan gher aav
ba(n)do bhuleeyo taaree ba(n)dagee
saa(n)heeyaa surat bataav...hure...........................1
The citadel(fort) is built very tall and very far on the high ground,
down below flows the sea, I am a fish in the sea, O my Master!,
come to save me.
I am uneasy without the glimpse of your face, O my Lover,
come to my home, O my Master come home.
I am your created being who has forgotten the means of your worship.
O my Lord, give me an awakening (of my soul).
Salutation to the Dawn
Look to this day!
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course
Lie all the verities and realities of your existence:
The bliss of growth;
The glory of action;
The splendor of achievement;
For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is only a vision;
But today, well lived, makes every yesterday
a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
- Attributed to Kalidasa
Look to this day!
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course
Lie all the verities and realities of your existence:
The bliss of growth;
The glory of action;
The splendor of achievement;
For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is only a vision;
But today, well lived, makes every yesterday
a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
- Attributed to Kalidasa
Prayer for Difficult Times
Your word is a lantern to my feet
and a light upon my path.
I have sworn and am determined
to keep your righteous judgments.
I am deeply troubled;
preserve my life, O Lord, according to your word.
Accept, O Lord, the willing tribute of my lips,
and teach me your judgments.
My life is always in my hand,
yet I do not forget your law.
The wicked have set a trap for me,
but I have not strayed from your commandments.
Your decrees are my inheritance for ever;
truly, they are the joy of my heart.
I have applied my heart to fulfill your statutes
for ever and to the end.
- Psalms 119: 105-112
Your word is a lantern to my feet
and a light upon my path.
I have sworn and am determined
to keep your righteous judgments.
I am deeply troubled;
preserve my life, O Lord, according to your word.
Accept, O Lord, the willing tribute of my lips,
and teach me your judgments.
My life is always in my hand,
yet I do not forget your law.
The wicked have set a trap for me,
but I have not strayed from your commandments.
Your decrees are my inheritance for ever;
truly, they are the joy of my heart.
I have applied my heart to fulfill your statutes
for ever and to the end.
- Psalms 119: 105-112
Prayer for Peace
Oh God, lead us from the unreal to the Real. Oh God, lead us from darkness to light. Oh God, lead us from death to immortality. Shanti, Shanti, Shanti unto all. Oh Lord God almighty, may there be peace in celestial regions. May there be peace on earth. May the waters be appeasing. May herbs be wholesome, and may trees and plants bring peace to all. May all beneficent beings bring peace to us. May thy Vedic Law propagate peace all through the world. May all things be a source of peace to us. And may thy peace itself, bestow peace on all, and may that peace come to me also.
Oh God, lead us from the unreal to the Real. Oh God, lead us from darkness to light. Oh God, lead us from death to immortality. Shanti, Shanti, Shanti unto all. Oh Lord God almighty, may there be peace in celestial regions. May there be peace on earth. May the waters be appeasing. May herbs be wholesome, and may trees and plants bring peace to all. May all beneficent beings bring peace to us. May thy Vedic Law propagate peace all through the world. May all things be a source of peace to us. And may thy peace itself, bestow peace on all, and may that peace come to me also.
Prayer for Courage During Illness
O Lord, even as I suffer from my illness,
I believe in your might.
Even as I am besieged by armies of pain,
I seek refuge in you.
Help me to feel your presence even more firmly
in my life.
Give me courage to face anything, to endure everything
--with you by my side.
- Maureen Pratt
O Lord, even as I suffer from my illness,
I believe in your might.
Even as I am besieged by armies of pain,
I seek refuge in you.
Help me to feel your presence even more firmly
in my life.
Give me courage to face anything, to endure everything
--with you by my side.
- Maureen Pratt