Prayers

"I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken" (Acts 2:25)

A Prayer of Invocation:
Lord, if You are not present, where shall I seek You? If everywhere, why do I not see You present? I ask You, Lord, teach me to seek You, and show Yourself to the seeker because I can neither seek You unless You teach me, nor find You, unless You show Yourself to me. Let me seek You in desiring You and desire You in seeking You: let me find You in loving You and love You in finding You.
(Anselm)

A Prayer of Adoration:

O God, Whom to know is to live and to serve, You who are the health and joy of the soul: With my lips and my heart and with all that might which I have, do I praise, bless and adore You, who lives and reigns One God, world without end. Amen.
(Anselm)

A Prayer for Divine Assistance:
Lord God, You have placed me in Your Church as a bishop and pastor: You see how unfit I am to fulfill this great and responsible office. Had it not been for Your wisdom and guidance, I would long since have brought everything to destruction. Therefore do I cry unto You. Most willingly do I desire to give and conform my mouth and heart to Your service. I desire to teach the people, and long, continually, to be taught Your Word. Use me as a laborer in Your vineyard, dear Lord. Only do not forsake me, for if You forsake me, I alone shall bring everything to nothing.
(Luther)

Prayers for the Holy Spirit:

Holy Spirit, Paraclete, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, the Treasure of good things and the Bestower of life: Come and dwell in us, and purify us from every stain, and save our souls in Thy goodness....
(Midnight Office, Greek Church)

Almighty, everlasting God, lighten our eyes with the light of Your Spirit, that we sleep not in evil deeds, but with the help of His grace, may ever watch in Your commandments and, when Christ comes, may pass to the reward of our high calling, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Dionysius, the Carthusian)

O merciful Lord, Who understands the groaning of the contrite heart before it is expressed, make us, we pray, the temple of the Paraclete, to the end that we may be crowned with the shield of celestial mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Thomasius)

A Prayer Before Reading Holy Scripture:
Almighty, everlasting God, Lord, Heavenly Father, Whose Word is a lamp to our feet and a light on our way: Open and enlighten my mind that I may understand Your Word purely, clearly and devoutly, and fashion my life according to it, in order that I may never displease Your Majesty, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Johannes Bugenhagen)

A Prayer Before Study:
Almighty God,...without whose help labor is useless, without whose light search is vain: invigorate my studies and direct my inquiries, that I may, by due diligence and right discernment, establish myself and others in Your holy faith, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Samuel Johnson)

A Prayer for Divine Guidance:
O Holy Spirit, Love of God, infuse Your grace and descend plentifully into my heart; enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there Your brightening beams. Dwell in the soul that longs to be Your temple. Water that barren soil, over-run with weeds and briars and lost for want of cultivating and make it fruitful with Your dew from heaven. O come, true Refreshment of them that languish and faint. Come, You who are the Star and Guide of them that sail in the tempestuous sea of the world. Come, You are the only haven of the tossed and ship-wrecked. Come, You who are the Glory and Crown of the living, and the only Safeguard of the dying. Come, Holy Spirit, in much mercy and make me fit to receive You, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Augustine)

A Prayer to Do God's Will:

O good Jesus,...teach me to do Your will, that led by Your good Spirit I may reach that blessed City where is eternal day, and One Spirit among all, where is certain safety, and safe eternity, and eternal peace and peaceful happiness, and happy sweetness and sweet enjoyment, where You live.....
(Gregory the Great)