Praying with the Saints

Reading and praying along with written prayers has been an encouragement to countless followers of Christ through the ages. Doing this is one way of being blessed. Here are a few prayers worthy of our praying along with:

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will always lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. There fore, I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. -Thomas Merton, monk of Gethsemene Abbey, Kentucky, d. 1969, from "Thoughts in Solitude"

O, God, help us to pray and concentrate our thoughts on you. We cannot do this alone. In us there is darkness, but in you there is light. We are lonely, but you leave us not. We are feeble in heart, but with you there is peace. In us there is bitterness, but with you there is patience. We do not understand your ways, but you know the way for us. Help us, O God, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German Lutheran pastor, 1945

Wilt thou forgive that sinne where I begunne,
   Which is my sin, though it were done before?
Wilt thou forgive those sinnes through which I runne,
   And do them still: though still I do deplore?
      When thou has done, thou hast not done,
         For I have more.
Wilt thou forgive that sinne by which I wonne
   Others to sinne? And, made my sinne their doore?
Wilt thou forgive that sinne which I did shunne
   A yeare or two: but wallowed in a score?
      When thou has done, thou hast not done,
         For I have more.
I have a sinne of fear, that when I have spun
   My last thread, I shall perish on the shore;
Swear by thy self, that at my death thy Sun
   Shall shine as it shines now, and heretofore;
      And having done that, Thou has done,
         I have no more.
         -John Donne, Anglican priest, 1572-1631

The eyes of all wait upon you, O LORD,
     And you give them their food in due season.
You open wide your hand
     And satisfy the needs of every living creature.
                         -Psalm 145:16-17

Give us grace and strength to forbear and persevere. Give us courage and gaiety and a quiet mind, spare us to our friends, soften us to our enemies, bless us if it may be in all our innocent endeavors, if it may give us the strength to encounter that which is to come that we may be brave in peril, constant in tribulation temperate in wrath and in all change of fortune and down to the gates of death loyal and loving to one another. -Robert Louis Stevenson, from his Memorial at St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh

We give thanks to you, O God,
even for this terrible time,
but only because we trust that you are in it,
working for the good of us all
and sanctifying to us our deepest distress.
Amen.-from Rediscovering New Testament Prayer by John Koenig

At every moment of our existence, you are present to us, Father, in gentle compassion. Help us to be present to one another, so that our presence may be a strength that heals the wounds of time and gives hope that is for all persons, through Jesus, our Lord and Brother.-from the Benedictine monks of Weston Priory, Vermont

Writer Anne Lamott suggests these two basic prayers as a good place for anyone to start. An "Amen" at the end is optional:

"Help me, help me, help me"

"Thank you, thank you, thank you."

Finally, Collects are prayers said at the beginning of a worship service, so named because the prayer in a way attempts to collect and focus the minds of all present. They have additional, perhaps almost accidental, benefits though. One is they teach us about the nature of God and the benefits God bestows. Humanity might fracture into a million intitutions when attempting to follow God, but we are surely virtually united in where we look for what we want-that is once we get past looking to ourselves for eternal or requests whose accomplishment is incomprehensible

Collects from The Book of Common Prayer, Marked for Daily Use

A Collect for Sundays
O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of you Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Collect for the Renewal of Life (Mondays)
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness during the day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Collect for Peace (Tuesdays)
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, you humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

A Collect for Grace (Wednesdays)
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Collect for Guidance (Thursdays)
Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Collect for Fridays
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

A Collect for Saturdays
Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all you works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Three Collects for Mission
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before your for all members of you holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.

The General Thanksgiving (Daily)
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

-thanks for some of the above from web friends at an Episcopal seminary