Category: prayer

3 Prayer for leaders


 
 

Here are 3 prayers to help us pray for “leaders worthy of the name”, and to pray for ourselves; we are people of influence too.

#1

Prayer for good leaders

There are so many people of influence in our world, Jesus,
Those with loud voices and deep pockets,
those with large lives and wide networks.
But, where are the leaders?

As we struggle to keep our broken humanity
from splintering into countless irreparable fragments;
As we wrestle with our greed and arrogance,
our ignorance and short-sightedness,
our violence and coldness,
our carelessness and narcissism,
Where are the leaders?

Raise up for us, O God, leaders worthy of the name,
men and women who like Christ
are unafraid of challenge,
unashamed of serving,
and unattached to their own personal gain;
men and women who like Christ
call to the best within us,
and then lead the way.

And, in our own small spheres, God,
may we be the leaders we seek.
Amen.

 
~ written by John van de Laar and posted on Sacredise.

#2

A prayer for good government

O God,
give Your love of justice to those who rule our land.
Help them to rule with wisdom and compassion,
so that the poor and powerless may be treated fairly and with justice.
Open their ears to the cries for help from those caught
in cycles of poverty, abuse or violence.
Give them wisdom to know how best to respond,
and courage to do the right thing, even when it may not be popular.
Under their rule, may the people flourish;
may there be lasting peace and plenty for all. Amen.

 
~ posted on re:Worship

#3

Prayer of commitment
based on Matthew 22:15-22

 
Let us pray that the Lord may guide our world.
pause

Lord, mighty God,
you lead the world and all humanity to their destiny in you.

Give to the leaders of the world and of our country
a vision of the future that is both imaginative and realistic,
and respectful of human rights and dignity.

Help us to bear witness in everyday life
to the values of the gospel
and to be involved in the work
of freedom, integrity and justice.

May we thus build up a community
that foreshadows our heavenly homeland.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

Reminder

DAY OF PRAYER: 31 October 2026

Light in the darkness

See the Church of Scotland website for details and resources.
 

 

The Fullness


 

 
Francis of Assisi wrote,

… let us desire nothing else,
let us want nothing else,
let nothing else please us and cause us delight
except our Creator, Redeemer and Saviour,
the only true God,
Who is the fullness of good …

 
~ quoted by Jan Richardson on paintedprayerbook.com

Prayer after Communion

O God,
the Eternal Fullness and centre of light,
we offer you thanks for your boundless kindness.
You made us, who are weak,
able to enjoy the sweetness of your words,
and to share in the divine mysteries.
Eternal praise be to you!

 
~ New Orders for the Mass for India (adapted),
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #952

From the blog
Before history and forever
Burning desire
3 Prayers for my soul
 

Grace-full


 

A few grace-full verses to ponder.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
 
John 1:16
Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
 
Colossians 4:2-6
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

A prayer for Ordinary Time *

* the season between Pentecost and the beginning of Advent

Creator Redeemer Sustainer God,
How extraordinary is Your “ordinary time.”
How uncommon is the commonplace in Your Kingdom.
The mundane is made miraculous,
full of holy opportunities.
The smallest joy a jubilee!

Created anew may we grow tall and
“grace-full” in Your likeness.

Redeemed by Your sacrifice may we come
to know the depths of Your love.

Sustained by Your Spirit may we be steadfast
and shining in Your service.

We humbly ask that You continue to bless us
with all we need for
the living of these days—
these wondrous ordinary days—.
that our everyday lives may be gifted
to experience the vitality of Christian community,
to share Your message of hope,
reaching out to the poor and hurting,
and bringing glory and honor to You, our God. Amen.

 
~ written by Deborah Harris, posted on re:Worship

DAY OF PRAYER: 31 October 2026

Light in the darkness

On Saturday 31 October, congregations, presbyteries and small groups across the Church of Scotland are invited to come together for an hour of prayer, praying for the light of Jesus to transform our Church, our communities across Scotland, and the places around the world where the Church worships and serves.

See the Church of Scotland website for details and resources.
 

Full of meaning

 
 
From time to time I reread Penelope Wilcock’s books, The Hawk and the Dove, The Wounds of God and The Long Fall.

Here’s a scene I marked in my copy of The Long Fall to share with you. Take a moment to take it in – the setting, the poetry, the offering.

 
Two friends are outside in the “aromatic darkness of the physic garden” to see the stars. Peregrine, the former abbot of the monastery, is in a wheelchair, recovering from a stroke. Brother Tom reflects on his friend’s predicament and what this starry night offers him, by way of healing.

What a relief it must be, Tom reflected, to be away from the geometry of man-made things, feeling the wild, anarchic beauty of the night wind’s caress and seeing the random flung scattering of the stars, to a man who has lost the ability to interpret patterns, who has been baffled and defeated by codes and schemes these long dismal weeks. It must have been like putting down a great burden to come out here where there was no pattern, no code, only the wordless immediacy of life. Tom thought on the times in his life when everything had seemed to be disintegrating. There had been such a healing reassurance in the rhythm of natural things. Maybe, he pondered, maybe it was not that it had no pattern, but that human beings were part of the design, and couldn’t look at it because it didn’t exclude them, only restored them to themselves.

Day and night, the dance of the stars, the cool fingers of the breeze … it wove men into its purpose like single threads. Even the broken ones could be woven together with the others to make the whole thing beautiful. There had to be a pattern, surely, because it was not empty of meaning, all this. It made more sense than anything. It was just that the pattern was not so much of a code … more like a dear, familiar face.

 
~ from Chapter IV, The Long Fall by Penelope Wilcock
 

Call to worship

Only the hungry search for bread.
Only the thirsty look for water.
This is a place for those who are hungry and thirsty in spirit.

Only those who ache for meaning will pursue it.
Only those who yearn for a deeper life will seek it.
This is a place for those who ache and yearn for something more.

So let us come here today with our hunger and thirst,
our unsatisfied longings, our heart-felt yearnings,
and let the God of life satisfy our souls.

~ written by Ann Siddall, posted on re:Worship

From the blog
Restless / restore
Bloom where you’re planted
Unite my divided heart
 

Full and overflowing


Spotted on the sidewalk in Tilburg, NL  (Photo: Irene Bom)
 

A prayer

Mighty God
we rejoice in your reckless and extravagant love
scattered among us
and found in the mud and thorns of life.

We rejoice
that your will for us and for the world
is not one of carefully apportioned judgement
or neatly wrapped rewards.

Praise be!
Your aim and desire for all your creation
is a cup full and overflowing with good wine,
a banquet for all to share,
a harvest of full and ripe grains,
a growing tree in which all can make their nest.

Your gifts, freely offered,
are life in all its fullness,
hope in abundance,
peace that passes understanding,
love that none can measure
from which nothing can separate us.

~ written by Terry Hinks,
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #187
 

From the blog
In the school of prayer with Terry Hinks
Thank you. For work
God loves stories
 

Tune in to God’s voice

 

3 prayers by Angela Ashwin to tune your heart to God’s voice – in the day-to-day, in the Scriptures and in the stillness.

Prayer for guidance and discernment

Jesus my Teacher,
guide me along your way,
and help me to piece together
    the jigsaw of life in your kingdom.
When I make decisions,
lead me to the heart of the matter,
and when I face conflict,
do not let my own panic drown out
    the still, small voice of your wisdom.

by Angela Ashwin, from The Book of a Thousand Prayers, #143

 

Using the Bible/Jesus the Word

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of the Scriptures.
As I reflect on the Bible,
make me open to your wisdom,
receptive to your will
and courageous in my response;
in the love of Jesus,
Rabbi, Teacher, Friend.

by Angela Ashwin, The Book of a Thousand Prayers, #168

 

Prayer in quietness

Lord, make us people of stillness.
Help us to be empty before you,
that we may be filled with your peace;
teach us to be quiet in your presence,
that we may listen to your words;
and give us confidence to expose our whole being to you,
and meet you in the silence.

by Angela Ashwin, The Book of a Thousand Prayers, #627

From the blog
In the school of prayer with Michael Mayne
Before history and forever
To keep our hearts in tune
 

Voice training


 

Jan Richardson writes,

“There is ground that becomes holy only when we remain long enough to see the blessing that can emerge from struggle, that shimmers through only after the dust the struggle kicks up finally begins to settle.”

 

A prayer

Lord, train us to hear your voice. When it is time to grieve, help us to grieve. When it is time to rejoice, help us to rejoice. When we grow weary, be the strength in our weakness. May your most beautiful and perfect will, not ours, be done. Amen.

from Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals by Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Enuma Okoro, p. 393

From the blog
Precious dust
Singing creation’s song
Quiet my heart
 

Sweet voice

 

“ … the best in us lies deeper than our words.”

(Pico Iyer)

 
from Silence, Solitude, and the Art of Surrender: Pico Iyer on Finding the World in a Benedictine Monastery  (www.themarginalian.org)

A prayer

after hearing or reading Scripture

Good Jesus, as you have graciously allowed me here to drink in the sweetness of your Word, so at the last, I pray, You will bring me into your presence, that I may listen to your voice which is the source of all wisdom, and watch your face forever.

 
~ written by The Venerable Bede (673/3 – 735),
from 2000 Years of Prayer compiled by Michael Counsell, p. 87
 

From the blog
Ever blooming
Open time for pause and restoration
Theme: Still small voice  [prayer sheet]
 

The perfect circle

Blessing in the Round

For those who want to save their life will lose it,
and those who lose their life for my sake,
and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.   Mark 8:35

 
This blessing
cannot help it;
it’s the way
it was designed.

Lay it down
and it rises again.

Release it
and it returns.

Give it away
and it makes a path
back to you.

There is no explaining
how it delights
in reappearing
when you have ceased
to hold it,
no hiding the sly smile
it wears
when it shows up
at your door,
no mistaking the wonder
when it circles back around
just at the moment
you thought you had
spent it completely,
had poured it out
with abandon
where you saw
the deepest thirst for it,
had put it entirely
in the hands
of those desperate
in their hunger.

But here it is,
the perfect circle of it
pressing into your hand
that curls around it
and then lets go,
receiving
and releasing
and receiving again
like the breath
that does not belong to us
but sets us in motion.

 
~ written by Jan L. Richardson, and posted on The Painted Prayerbook.

Prayer

It is too easy, God,
for faith to become an escape
    — a way to avoid the pain of being human and alive;
or a path to success
    — a way to persuade the universe to give us the things we want;
or a system of control
    — a way to bend others to our will

But the faith you offer is different, Jesus,
    more dangerous and compelling;

It’s the faith that carries the cross,
    that embraces death
        and lays itself down for the sake of others;

It’s the only faith that can lead us to resurrection
    to life renewed and overflowing.

We praise you for this faith, God,
    and open our hearts to receive it.

Amen.

 
— written by John van de Laar, posted on Sacredise

From the blog
To Emmaus and back
May we know the hope – here, now
Theme: Change my heart, O God  [prayer sheet]
 

Open circle


 

Opening prayer

inspired by Matt 15:21-28, Rom 11:1-2, 29-32, and Is 56:1, 6-8

With open arms You welcome all who call on Your name —
      who acknowledge You as Lord, and look to You in faith.
No one stands outside the circle of Your mercy and love.
And so we come to offer You our worship —
      to declare that You are our God,
      and that we are Your people,
      called and chosen by You from the very beginning.
Through the presence of Your Holy Spirit
      open our eyes to see You here;
      open our minds to receive Your truth,
      and our mouths to speak and sing Your praise.
For You alone are God —
      worthy of all praise and worship,
      now and to the end of time.
Amen.

 
from re:Worship

From the blog
Wonder-full psalm
Life that gives life
Taste the goodness